New Report: Sustainable Wales’ housing decarbonisation priorities.

2026 Senedd Manifesto Recommendations

Sustainable Wales’ housing decarbonisation priorities.

Sustainable Wales is Wales’ first and longest-running grassroots sustainable development organisation. We work with individuals, communities, voluntary groups, schools, educators, local authorities, public sector bodies, businesses, civil servants and politicians to offerconstructive and practical solutions and encourage a passion for sustainable living.

Wales has some of the oldest and least efficient housing stock in Europe, while our energy bills are among the highest in Europe. For many households every day sees them making an impossible choice between heating or eating.

Housing is integral to peoples’ perception of place and decarbonising homes in Wales will bring significant benefits across a series of social and economic spheres and should be a priority for all parties ahead of the 2026 Senedd election.

As an organisation, we have significant housing policy-related experience developed over multiple projects over the past 20 years. We are also fortunate to have Advisors and Trustees with considerable experience in Welsh housing and housing decarbonisation.

We have set out our position in this report.

(updated) Bridgend Adapts - Building a climate resilient community together. Maesteg Meeting

Update post event:

-       Kathryn’s Bridgend Adapts presentation drew attention to the Public Service Boards’s Climate Change Risk Assessment  Report pinch-points, outlining the need for communities to prepare now for localised responses and she recommended the development of a community-based network.

-       The LA presentation provided a quite detailed overview of the CC Risk Assessment report, that there are potential risky areas, reinforcing the need to adapt. Common concerns emerged - that there is not enough funding within local authorities to take action.

-       A strong agreement that the community sector can play a key role in climate adaptation but support is needed. A feeling that our idea of a Climate Adaption support network would be a way forward and enable a closer link with the LA and the Public Service Board.

Thanks to EGIN for their support for this event.

Advert for the event

INVITATION TO ALL COMMUNITY GROUPS AND REPRESENTATIVES

Maesteg Town Hall ( Y BOCS OREN )

Tuesday 1st July, 12,30 PM FOR 1PM START CLOSE 3 - 3.30PM

Run by Egin Mentor Margaret Minhinnick

Free refreshments and open to all

Speakers include Kathryn Warren (Sustainable Wales) and Helen Hammond (Public Service Board)

RSVP Eventbrite or bridgend-adapts@sustainablewales.org.uk

GWAHODDIAD I BOB GRŴP A CHYNRYCHIOLYDD CYMUNEDOL
Bridgend yn Addasu – Adeiladu cymuned sy’n wydn i’r hinsawdd gyda’n gilydd

Neuadd Dref Maesteg (Y BOCS OREN)

Dydd Mawrth 1af Gorffennaf, 12.30yp AM 1yp DECHRAU, YN CAU 3 – 3.30yp

Wedi’i redeg gan Egin Mentor Margaret Minhinnick

Adloniant am ddim ac yn agored i bawb

Siaradwyr yn cynnwys Kathryn Warren (Cymru Gynaliadwy) a Helen Hammond (Bwrdd Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus)

RSVP drwy Eventbrite neu bridgend-adapts@sustainablewales.org.uk

Eventbrite link:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bridgend-adapts-pen-y-bont-ar-ogwr-yn-addasu-tickets-1392381974969?aff=oddtdtcreator

Or contact bridgend-adapts@sustainablewales.org.uk to book.

Read Letter from the Future by Chloe Woodhouse

Chloe Woodhouse

Chloe Jade Woodhouse is a graduate of English Literature and Creative Writing. She is 23 years old and excited to develop her career as a performer. She is currently using her creativity to help teach, write poetry, and volunteer with local communities. 

Chloe's letter is addressed to our current future from a point in her past. Her letter hopes to capture the breadth of dystopia which daily life has become. Trying to trace dystopias evolution, spot its history, sharing her honest reflections. The letter joins others in 'from the future' series which are reacting, feeling, and drawing attention to the forces behind our global crisis.

Read Letter from the Future

Previously published Letters

Cam Elizabeth & Mike Erskine join the team of advisors for Sustainable Wales

We welcome the knowledge and experience of Cam Elizabeth and Mike Erskine to the team of advisors to Sustainable Wales.

Cam Elizabeth

Cam Elizabeth is a film producer and content writer, with a background in social research and project evaluation. Cam specializes in network building and creating content that is co-produced with community members. Seven years ago, Cam co-founded Mud and Thunder, a creative partnership working for social and environmental justice. Recent Mud and Thunder highlights include producing a podcast about community supported agriculture for DTA Wales, creating a research film for Circular Economy Newport, and making a series of films for Sustainable Wales.

Cam is also a qualified gardener and runs a community garden project in Monmouthshire.

Mike Erskine,

MSc Sustainable Development

Mike is a co-founder of Mud and Thunder, digital media changemakers working for environmental and social justice. He believes in the power of storytelling to help create change and follows community centred approaches to media creation, giving voice to community members and involving people in the telling of their own stories.

Over the last twelve years Mike has created films and digital stories on a range of topics including climate change, community energy, land ownership, nature connection and health, and regenerative farming. He has worked with organisations across Wales and the UK from the likes of Welcome to Our Woods in the Rhondda Valley, to Marine Conservation Society in Sussex, and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority.

Mike is also a keen fell runner and you’ll often find him outside exploring a mountain, river or even a local park.

Launch of "My Life and Times: Memories of Penyfai"

Robert Minhinnick

“My Life and Times: Memories of Penyfai” is Ivor Thomas’s description of a tiny south Wales village.

Ivor was my grandfather, and his book, published by Culture & Democracy Press, is launched in the Garden Room, Court Colman Manor, Pen-y-fai, Bridgend CF31 4NG, 7.30pm, Wednesday, April 23rd 2025. 

Entry £5, which ensures a copy of this astonishing memoir. Otherwise £10. On sale in SUSSED.

Gardener, miner, rugby-player, Labour councilor, social activist, the centre of much of his life was ‘The Tavern’, the vanished village pub, where he was born. Ivor continues to be an enormous influence on my writing and environmental work.

This memoir, of a man who was born, died and buried in the same street, flares like a firework.

Readings by myself and others of Ivor’s family, with members of Bridgend Writers’ Circle, whose energy has created this event. Music and song from Laura Wainwright, in the gorgeous surroundings of the Garden Room.