Last night in Pontypridd, representatives from across the Valleys gathered for the launch of Cymunedoli Cymoedd: A Valleys Story. This isn’t just another report; it’s the culmination of three community assemblies held in South Wales, inspired by the principles of Cymunedoli first developed in Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The discussion was filled with hope, but it also contained a crucial and honest admission: if our communities truly want change, we have to take responsibility for it ourselves. This powerful message was reinforced by a short film, The Coal Beneath Our Feet, The Wind Above Our Heads, which explored our identity as a people rooted in a deep sense of place and history.
For over a year, our team at Common has been working in the South Wales Valleys, and we’ve seen first-hand the immense need and opportunity to develop projects that empower local people to challenge the status quo. It’s a time for action, not just words.
A comment from Leanne Wood during the evening brought to mind the theatrical production Nye. It served as a powerful reminder that we, as both institutions and individuals, must be strategic and organized. Real change doesn’t happen by accident; it requires preparation and the willingness to take a seat at the decision-making table.
It’s our hope that this report marks the beginning of a true community movement. One that shifts the responsibility—and the benefits—of local regeneration directly into the hands of the people who live here. The story of the Valleys is still being written, and it’s time for us to pick up the pen.
Mark Hilleard, Common head of projects