Buy Social for Christmas 2024

It’s nearly Christmas!

As a busy year draws to a close, we want to shine a spotlight on the brilliant work of Welsh social businesses across the country.

All year round they make a huge difference to Welsh communities. This is the perfect time to learn more about a sector that can play a big part in your Christmas in more ways than you might think.

What would a Welsh social enterprise Christmas look like?

You could choose to pick up your cards, crafts or decorations from a market that is at the heart of their community. The Railway Gardens, once a derelict piece of land in Splott, Cardiff, has been transformed into a thriving, vibrant space by Green Squirrel, a climate action and community resilience organisation. They are holding a Winter Fair on December 7th that will bring independent, ethical and sustainable traders together – a perfect place to find the little pieces that will make your Christmas special.

The next thing to sort is presents. Fortunately, there are lots of places you can support the social economy and get high-quality gifts for your friends and family. For example, there’s Melin Tregwynt, a small whitewashed woollen mill that can be found in a remote wooded valley on the Pembrokeshire coast. There has been a mill on this site since the 17th century, and today it is owned by its employees – keeping the ethos, belief and tradition alive and rooted in its community. Check out their website to see the beautiful throws, blankets, cushions and clothing that would make a perfect gift for a loved one.

Another brilliant example of a social enterprise you can get your gifts from is Antur Waunfawr. They are an inspiring social enterprise in Gwynedd providing work opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, and on their online shop you can pick from a selection of food, drinks, wreaths and hampers knowing your money is going to an organisation that is making a huge difference to people’s lives.

Maybe the most important part of Christmas is the food. There are producers working in the Welsh social business sector across the country covering every part of your Christmas banquet – all creating delicious food and benefiting our communities as a whole. In lots of the big supermarkets and shops you can find Tregroes Waffles, whose range of crackers are perfect for festive sharing boards or as an accompaniment with some delicious Welsh cheese, and their coffee waffles rich in both indulgent flavour and heritage. Tregroes Waffles is a small, family-run bakery based in the Teifi Valley in South-West Wales that has become employee-owned and is thriving as a business strongly embedded in the community – a local institution.

The 2023 Welsh Social Enterprise of the Year was Câr-y-Môr – a community owned business using regenerative ocean farming, food security and sustainable job creation to improve the coastal environment and improve the wellbeing of the local community in Pembrokeshire. On their shop you can buy a wide range of delicious food – from laverbread to a Pembrokeshire Lobster – and all the money will go back into an innovative, impactful business that is doing good for people and planet.

Growing for Change is an Organic Market Garden based at Moelyci Farm, just outside Bangor. It is a project specifically for anyone in recovery from substance misuse and/or mental ill health, and they want to change the local food economy so that nutritious, organic produce is grown and available locally, at affordable prices. They have a range of products on offer, from chutney to cheese boards.

In North East Wales, Caffi Wylfa can help to take the pressure off and get your Christmas meal sorted. Glyn Wylfa has been established as a social enterprise and development trust by a committed team of Chirk residents to develop and refurbish the old Chirk Estate Office and surrounding site, known as Glyn Wylfa. The Caffi is a stylish and modern space that produces delicious food – the last day to order your takeaway Christmas dinner is 18th December!

At the heart of Christmas is the chance for us all to get together, celebrate and relax – and there are events taking place at social and community businesses across Wales. At Le Pub in Newport, a community-run live music venue, 14th December sees the Gŵyl y Gaeaf event that is celebrating everything Welsh this festive season. There will be tales of the Mari Lwyd, folk music, storytelling from Iwan and Aled Rheon and food & drink to warm the soul. All the proceeds from ticket sales and merch sold on the night will go to Feed Newport Food Bank. Get your tickets here.

This is just the start of the long list of social, community and employee-owned businesses that can help to make your Christmas special this year. When you spend your money with them, you know you are helping the Welsh economy, buying from a business that values and empowers its employees, and is committed to the community and sustainability. Each of the social enterprises mentioned and the thousands more across the country make a huge difference to people’s lives, and Christmas is the perfect time to learn more about them and help them to make the most of their impact.

Nadolig llawen i chi gyd!