For some time now we have seen the need for an incorporated organisation, ideally a charity (Charitable Incorporated Organisation), that will take responsibility for the Wales Food Manifesto and the popular annual Wales Real Food and Farming Conference (WRFFC). 

An organisation with charitable status would be able to apply for grant funding, thus removing the financial risk that so far has been borne by freelance organisers. While the WRFFC is our main activity at present, our charity would also extend the reach of the conference, with online events, publications and other activities to be decided, enabling us to contribute year-round to the development of food and farming in Wales.

We have already drawn up a constitution and made an application to the Charity Commission for an organisation called CyFAN Cymru, where CyFAN stands for Community for Food, Agriculture and Nature, and ‘Cyfan’ is Welsh for ‘Whole’.  This was rejected, but we have taken their response on board and are keen to try again, as we believe that there is a clear, strong need for what we offer.

Our Mission is to bring people together to create a platform to re-design and renew food and farming systems and land use in Wales and our full Vision, Mission and Aims document is here.

We now want to recruit a small number of committed and suitably experienced people who will join us in taking this work forward. It will be a demanding role, particularly in the early stages, and we suggest that applicants should be able to commit to: 

  • During the set-up phase, half a day a fortnight for meetings and emails plus occasional days for in-person meetings
  • When the organisation is established, up to four one-day in-person meetings a year
  • Working to promote the success of the new organisation at every opportunity, including attendance at the Conference, Royal Welsh Show and other events, and engaging with all appropriate networks.  (You would not be required to help with practical arrangements for the Conference unless you wish to.)

We are particularly keen to hear from people with one or more of the following: business skills, experience of organisational development (especially of charities), and strong networks in Welsh public life.

Could this be you? If you have a vision of a food and farming system in harmony with healthy and thriving communities, interwoven with a rich natural environment, and reflecting the distinctive character of Wales, please contact Jane Ricketts Hein and Jane Powell in the first instance, for an informal discussion: info@wrffc.wales. 

And of course, we welcome any other offers of support for this important work.

May 2024

Images: Jane Ricketts Hein, Jane Powell, rad stuff photo video.