Colleges across Wales have reaffirmed their commitment to creating learning and working environments where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging, with the launch of a new Cynefin Charter led by ColegauCymru.
Signed by all further education colleges in Wales, the Charter places equity, diversity and inclusion at the heart of the sector’s approach to education and training.
Rooted in the Welsh concept of cynefin - a deep sense of belonging to a place, community or culture - the Charter sets out a shared vision for colleges to be places of respect where learners and staff feel safe to be their authentic selves and can thrive.
The Charter recognises that a sense of belonging is fundamental to wellbeing, safety, happiness and success. It also celebrates the unique cultural and linguistic identity of Wales, ensuring that the Welsh language and the diverse heritage of local communities remain central to inclusive college cultures.
A key principle within the Charter is the recognition that individuals may experience multiple and overlapping forms of discrimination. Colleges therefore commit to addressing barriers related to factors such as race, faith, disability, gender, sexual orientation and socio-economic circumstances, while prioritising wellbeing and anti-racism across their institutions.
The Charter also reaffirms the sector’s continued commitment to anti-racism, building on the work already underway across Welsh colleges to challenge racism, remove structural barriers and ensure that colleges are safe, inclusive places for Black, Asian and minority ethnic learners and staff.
Through the Charter, colleges commit to:
- Putting equity, diversity and inclusion at the heart of leadership - embedding EDI across governance, strategy and decision-making.
- Championing diversity in teaching and learning - ensuring curricula reflect the richness of modern Wales and the wider world.
- Creating cultures where everyone can thrive - fostering inclusive environments that support the wellbeing and success of learners and staff.
- Working with communities as civic anchors - strengthening social cohesion through partnership, listening and mutual respect.
Importantly, the Charter also commits the sector to measuring its impact. Colleges will set clear equity, diversity and inclusion objectives, monitored at Board level, with progress reported annually. Data will be used to identify and close gaps in recruitment, retention and attainment, while learner and staff voices will help evaluate whether a genuine sense of cynefin is being experienced within colleges.
ColegauCymru Chief Executive, David Hagendyk, said,
"The launch of the Cynefin Charter marks a defining moment for further education in Wales. In our nation, Cynefin is more than just a word; it is the profound connection between a person and the place where they feel they truly belong. By formalising this Charter, we are ensuring that this sense of belonging is not left to chance, but is instead woven into the very fabric of our institutional DNA.”
By signing the Cynefin Charter, ColegauCymru and its member colleges are demonstrating a shared commitment to building college communities where everyone feels valued, supported and connected.
Further Information
Cynefin Charter
Learn more about the work we’re doing to support equality, diversity and inclusion across the FE sector:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Amy Williams, Policy Officer
Amy.Williams@ColegauCymru.ac.uk
