Wellbeing of Future Generations
Introduction to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act
The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act aims to improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales by asking 44 Public Bodies (https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-02/spsf-1-core-guidance.PDF including Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board to think about the long-term impact of the decisions they make.
These 44 bodies also have to consider how they work in accordance with the sustainable development principle. In this Act “sustainable development” means that the body must act in a manner which seeks to ensure that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The law is ground breaking and Wales is unique as the only nation in the world to have introduced such an Act. The United Nations said “What Wales is doing today; the World will do tomorrow”.
The Act has put in place seven interconnected goals; which all link to one another; to ensure that all 44 Public Bodies are working towards the common aim of achieving a Wales that we all want and that we are proud of.
Megan’s Life animation
This short animation explains the positive impact the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act will have throughout Megan’s life and tells you more about what we are doing and why.
The Act tasks the 44 Public Bodies to plan and deliver their services using five ways of working that will ensure they are sustainable and that support the seven goals of the Act. These five ways of working are:
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Long term – the importance of balancing short-term needs with the need to safeguard the ability to also meet long-term needs |
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Prevention – how acting to prevent problems occurring or getting worse may help public bodies meet their objectives |
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Integration – considering how the public body’s well-being objectives may impact upon each of the well-being goals, on their other objectives, or on the objectives of other public bodies |
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Collaboration – acting in collaboration with any other person (or different parts of the body itself) that could help the body to meet its well-being objectives |
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Involvement – the importance of involving people with an interest in achieving the well-being goals, and ensuring that those people reflect the diversity of the area which the body serves |
Working in this way will contribute to the implementation of the Social Service and Well-being (Wales) Act and support delivery of A Healthier Wales
More detail about the Act and its requirements can be found in the Essentials Guide
For more information about the Well-being of Future Generations Act please contact: https://gov.wales/well-being-future-generations-wales-act-2015-guidance