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  • 6 minutes
  • 18/11/2021
12086

National Social Value Conference Wales Concludes

The winners from Social Value For Future Generations Awards 2021 at National Social Value Conference Wales, hosted by Social Value Portal.

Social Value For Future Generations Awards 2021 – Winners Announced

We announced the winners of the first ever Social Value for Future Generations Awards 2021 as the second National Social Value Conference: Wales came to an end yesterday.

Future Generations Awards 2021

Organisations across public, private and third sectors were recognised for delivering outstanding social value initiatives to communities in Wales. They did this by embedding social value and the seven goals of the Wellbeing Future Generations (WBFG) Act into their processes.

The judges were particularly impressed with how many organisations led the way by including the principles of Future Generations into their decision making. By focusing on real data, they are showing how businesses in Wales can measure and report on the improvements they have made to the lives of those in their communities.

Guy Battle, CEO, Social Value Portal said:

“We have been delighted to see so many delegates attend our second annual National Social Value Conference: Wales and are extremely pleased to see social value being adopted so wholeheartedly across the country. 

“The awards celebrate everything that social value generation is trying to achieve; organisations coming together to deliver place-based schemes that benefit society as a whole, ensuring that we leave a positive, lasting legacy for generations to come.”

Despite a very high calibre of entries, nine organisations have been recognised for delivering outstanding initiatives. As well as a further four being highly commended.

Prosperous Future Generations Award – winner

Firstly, Transport for Wales won for their sustainable office fit out in Llys Cadwyn. By using the WBFG Act to map goals, initiatives implemented included:

  • Minimum wage across all suppliers
  • Working with a local supply chain
  • Working with social enterprises to deliver the work

Sustainability and Resilience Award – winner

Secondly, Ysgol Pen Rhos primary school worked with HLM Architects to regenerate a derelict site, rejuvenating the landscape and integrating it into the design for the new school. Furthermore, the school are sharing facilities with the local community, taking a truly holistic approach to benefit everyone.

Highly commended: Global engineering, management and development consultancy Mott Macdonald was highly commended. They received this accolade for their innovative approach to building coastal defences by integrating community benefits in Colwyn Bay.

Cohesive Communities Award – winner

Our third winner is Cardiff based building contractor, Knox & Wells, who partnered with CUBE, a Barry based volunteer charity. As a result of the partnership, they created a team of specialists to support families living with, or affected by:

  • Mental health
  • Suicide
  • Grief
  • Loss
  • Domestic abuse
  • Substance abuse

Additionally, the project focused on male mental health, which is the number one killer in the construction industry.

Highly commended: The Enbarr Foundation was highly commended for its Beacon of Hope project in Deeside. The project started its transformation work with the local community in 2018.

Welsh Culture and Language Award – winner

Next, Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd won for leading the way in actively promoting the use of the Welsh language in the construction industry in Wales. They are the first construction company to use the ‘iaith gwaith’ logo on their hard hats, the first to adopt Welsh Language Commissionals and have also established a Welsh Language Champions Group.

Public Sector Leadership Award – winner

Powys County Council won for its Home-Grown Homes Project. The project succeeded in delivering a fundamental shift in the way social housing is built in Wales. Furthermore, aims to meet the demand for more housing whilst also tackling big issues including:

  • Climate change
  • Fuel poverty
  • Quality social housing
  • Foundational and circular economies

Additionally, the project worked with an entirely Welsh timber supply chain, building the financial case for farmers and landowners to plant trees. As well as developing training programmes to ensure that Wales has the necessary skill sets to take these initiatives forward.

Highly commended: Hywel Dda Health Board were highly commended for their ‘Local Needs’ led approach. Furthermore, as one of the first health sector organisations in Wales to engage with social value.

Pioneering Equality Award – winner

Set up by INFRA Skills Ltd and RSS Infrastructure Ltd, the Journey Into Rail Project works to upskill members of local communities near the railway. A four week long, fully funded course was offered, training delegates in:

  • Rail construction
  • Civil engineering
  • Fending
  • OLE
  • Arboriculture
  • Health and safety competencies

The initiative has been running since 2019. Since then it has provided 368 new frontline staff and a workforce with an average age of 35, with minority groups representing 28% of the overall group.

Health and Wellness Award – winner

Halo Leisure supports vulnerable and isolated people. Including people with complex health conditions, such as dementia, and their carers to stay physically active and socially connected. As well as improving access to information and advice, and keeping people connected, Halo managed to encourage more people to be active during and after lockdown than even before the pandemic.

Highly commended: Construction, property & services company BAM was highly commended for demonstrating how a private sector organisation can provide wellbeing programmes for its own people.

Voluntary and Third Sector Leadership Award – winner

Housing association Bron Afon introduced a simple but innovative tool. The tool translates the vision of a sustainable Wales into real and tangible outcomes for the community. The organisation adopted the seven well-being goals and ways of working introduced by the WBFG Act to guide decisions and actions. As a result, Bron Afon’s community funding scheme, Pitch 4 Pounds, helped to maximise contributions to the goals and social values as part of community projects seeking funding from Bron Afon.

Private Sector Leadership Award – winner

Last but not least, the social mobility pledge by Cardiff based law firm Blake Morgan aligned all of its activities with the WBFG Act and the Welsh Government’s Wellbeing Objectives. Including, measuring outcomes and using the firm’s expertise to help clients maximise community benefits, such as the Cardiff Commitment.

The Cardiff Commitment brings the public and private sectors together to work in partnership to connect young people to employment opportunities. They have also signed up to the Social Mobility Pledge and supported GO Wales, partnering with Cardiff University to provide work experience opportunities.