Join the Movement

If any of what we’ve shared in this series has resonated with you – if you’ve found yourself nodding along, or feeling that familiar fire in your belly – then we want to invite you to get involved.

We’re not here to build something for ourselves. We’re here for the region – for the people, communities, and businesses that call this place home. And we believe that real change happens when we stop working in silos, and start working together.

It’s Time for a Different Way of Working

Too often, we see brilliant people doing good work – but doing it alone. Operating in isolation, stuck in systems that pit us against each other, as if we’re in competition. That mindset belongs to an old economy – one built on individual gain, not collective wellbeing.

At 4theRegion, we believe in something different.  We believe in collaboration, generosity, openness. In the idea that when we share what we’re working on, when we really listen to each other, and when we find ways to align our efforts – everyone benefits.

You’re Not On Your Own

Whatever you’re working on – a business idea, a community project, a new campaign, a piece of research – there’s space for it in this movement. And there are others who want to help.

Come along to one of our events. Have a conversation. Talk about what you’re doing. Share your challenges. Listen to what others are up to. Let’s explore how we can support each other – not just in words, but through practical collaboration.

Become a Member

Our members are at the heart of everything we do. Becoming a member means you want to be part of this regional movement – contributing your voice, your energy, and your insight to help shape a better future.

As a member, you can:

• Join one of our mission-led steering groups (focussed on things like local supply chains, youth empowerment, the green economy, and more)

• Share updates and opportunities through our network

• Help co-create the projects and partnerships that will shape the region’s future

And more than anything, membership is a commitment – to collaboration, to shared values, and to being part of something bigger than yourself.

This isn’t about ticking boxes or delivering short-term outputs. It’s about long-term transformation. And it starts with us – showing up, opening up, and working together.

So – what are you working on? What do you care about? What’s your vision for the future of this region?

Let’s talk.

It’s a whole-system approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities we face, and everyone has a part to play.

Thank you for getting involved!

One of the most powerful things about 4theRegion is the people and organisations who make it what it is. We’re not a single organisation delivering a top-down programme. We’re a network – a regional alliance – made up of individuals, businesses, and groups who care about South West Wales and want to be part of creating a better future.

So, who is involved?

A Rich Mix of Sectors and Stories

Our members and supporters come from all walks of life. From creative agencies and universities, to small farms, manufacturers, housing associations and community groups – all united by a shared belief in collaboration, place-based action, and long-term thinking.

Here are just some of the people and organisations involved:

Bevan Buckland LLP – the region’s largest independent accountancy firm

Branding by Becca – local branding and design specialist, helping businesses tell their stories with clarity and style.

University of Wales Trinity Saint David – with campuses across Carmarthenshire and Swansea

Swansea University – a key regional anchor and strategic partner

Bluestone National Park Resort – leading in sustainability and local supply chains

Swansea Community Farm – a well-loved urban farm doing vital community work

Zombie Plastics CIC – transforming plastic waste into new products and solutions, putting circular economy into action.

Cwm Arian Renewable Energy – community-led renewable energy and projects in West Wales

The CAE – formerly known as the Centre for African Entrepreneurship, helping people pursue their Welsh Dream

Carl Gough – a storyteller and change agent now working to conserve sea grass

Gower College Swansea – supporting young people and regional skills development

JCP Solicitors – legal experts with offices across our region

Vicky Moller (Grwp Resilience) – long-standing advocate for local empowerment

Ben Reynolds (Urban Foundry) – urban regeneration, creative economy and meaningful placemaking.

Castell Howell Foods – a regional food distribution business committed to local farming

Waters Creative – a design and marketing agency, building a regional creative network

Circular Economy Innovation Communities – focused on systems innovation and circularity

Arvato CRM Solutions – providing customer services and jobs in the region

Gitti Coats (Haverhub) – championing place-based regeneration in Haverfordwest

James Dovey (Blueprint) – an innovative place-base changemaker working with young people in Llanelli

Phil McDonnell – Founder of Swansea Environment Forum and now driving the local food agenda in Neath Port Talbot

Mary Duckett (Bwyd Abertawe) – food systems change in Swansea

Swansea Building Society – embedded in our region and committed to supporting local businesses

This is just a snapshot – our network includes over 200 organisations and individuals, and it’s growing all the time.

A Shared Commitment to the Region

What connects all these diverse people and organisations is not a sector or size – but a shared commitment to South West Wales. A belief that we’re stronger when we work together. A willingness to collaborate, to share ideas, to show up and support one another.

Some are working in business. Others in education, health, farming, energy, the arts, or the public sector. Some lead big organisations; others are just getting started. Many are quietly doing good work behind the scenes.

Together, they form the beating heart of 4theRegion.

If you’re working on something that aims to contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of this region – whether it’s a business, a social enterprise, a campaign, or a community group – there’s a place for you here too.

A Culture of Connection

At 4theRegion, we’re often asked what it is we actually do. And to be honest, it’s not always easy to explain.

We’ve never wanted to build a traditional organisation. We’re trying to model a different way of working – one that values people, relationships, and shared purpose above all else.

We’re not here to run services or deliver projects for the sake of it. What we do is bring people together, hold space for conversation, and support collaboration – because we believe that’s where real, long-term change begins.

Positivity is a Strategy

One of our guiding principles is that positivity matters. In a world full of bad news and competing demands, it’s easy to feel disheartened. But when people hear what’s already happening – the good work, the local projects, the individuals making a difference – it shifts something.

It creates energy. It encourages hope. And it helps people see that change is not only possible, but already underway.

A big part of what we do is amplify that – sharing stories, celebrating local initiatives, helping people feel connected to something bigger. That positive sense of identity – of belonging to a place that’s full of potential – is not superficial. It’s empowering. It helps people act.

Helping the System See Itself

We’re inspired by systems thinkers like Donella Meadows, who wrote that “a sustainable system must be able to see itself.”

In fragmented systems, people don’t know what others are doing. They can’t see the patterns or possibilities. Everyone’s working hard, but often in isolation.

We try to shine a light on the system – not by analysing it from above, but by building shared awareness from within. Through conversations, events, newsletters and meetups, we help people see that they’re not alone – that their work is connected to a much wider movement for change.

That’s what we mean by “joining the dots”.

The Five Ways of Working

We align closely with the five ways of working in the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act:

• Long-term – Thinking beyond the next funding cycle or political term

• Prevention – Tackling root causes, not just symptoms

• Integration – Seeing how things connect, not working in silos

• Collaboration – Building trust, relationships, and shared ownership

• Involvement – Including people’s voices, especially those often left out

These aren’t just policy terms – they’re ways of being. And we try to live them, every day, in how we work with people across South West Wales.

Co-Creation, Not Consultation

In 2025, we’re focusing more intentionally on five mission-led steering groups – each one bringing people together around a key regional theme:

• Local Supply Chains
• Community Changemakers
• Youth Empowerment
• Positive Regional Identity
• The Green Economy

These groups are not advisory boards or working groups in the traditional sense. They’re spaces for co-creation – where people can bring their own projects, shape shared ideas, and collaborate to make things happen.

We’re not waiting for funding to drop from above. We’re identifying what’s needed now, and then working together to find the energy, resources, or support to move forward.

How We Work

• We hold space for conversation and connection

• We listen deeply and without agenda

• We grow awareness of what’s already happening

• We help people see opportunities for collaboration

• We value trust, consistency, and relationships

• We support co-creation, not competition

This isn’t always easy – and it’s certainly not fast. But it’s how we believe change happens: when people see the system more clearly, feel proud of what’s possible, and choose to work together, rather than alone.

4theRegion is a small organisation – just the two of us full time, plus a few amazing team members and freelancers who support different parts of the work.

We’re not a big institution. We don’t have a huge board or lots of funding. We’re a partnership, a friendship, and a shared commitment to doing things differently.

People sometimes assume we’re much bigger than we are – and maybe that’s because the vision is big. But behind everything we do is a small team of people working hard, with care and purpose, to help make this region better connected, more hopeful, and more joined-up.

We’re not perfect. We don’t have all the skills or answers. But we’re good at listening, at drawing people together, at spotting opportunities for collaboration. And we care – deeply – about this place.

We care about fairness, kindness, integrity. We care about the people we work with. We try to be generous and supportive. And we try to do things with heart, not ego.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy. Like many people trying to create change, we often feel tired, overwhelmed, or unsure. This work can feel lonely sometimes. But what keeps us going is the community around us – the friends, allies, and changemakers who remind us why it matters.

Zoe Antrobus

Co-Founder & Managing Director

Zoe leads on member engagement, business development and events – and she’s the person who keeps everything moving forward. With a background in enterprise support and events, she has a real talent for bringing people together and creating momentum.

Zoe is full of perseverance and positivity. She’s not afraid to pick up the phone, reach out, and keep inviting people into the conversation. She’s constantly working to involve new voices and explain why collaboration matters – always looking for connections and shared purpose.

Zoe is strong and capable – whether that means fixing a broken gate, putting up a shelf, or holding a whole conference together. She’s also mum to one daughter and brings a practical, upbeat energy to everything she does – helping people feel welcome, encouraged and ready to get involved.

Dawn Lyle

Co-Founder & Strategic Lead

Dawn leads on strategy, vision and communications – holding the big picture and working to shift the narrative around what economic success looks like in South West Wales. With a background in business and regional development, she brings insight and clarity to complex systems and long-term challenges.

She came to Swansea as a student and never left, starting her first business here in 2003. Like many who move to the region, she sees its strengths and opportunities with fresh eyes – and has spent the last two decades supporting local businesses, promoting place-based enterprise, and advocating for positive change.

Dawn is a passionate voice for wellbeing economics, community collaboration and systems thinking. She’s also mum to three children, and brings care, conviction and a deep sense of purpose to everything she does – always asking what’s needed next, and how we can do things differently.

Just people who live here

At its core, 4theRegion is a human organisation. You won’t get slick corporate comms from us. You’ll get real people, trying to do something meaningful, and inviting others to be part of it.

This is the work of relationships, and we’re hoping to be here for the long haul.

We started 4theRegion because something was missing.  So many brilliant people, doing good work – but disconnected from each other. So many conversations happening in silos. So many decisions being made without the people they affect. And so much energy, wasted or ignored, when it could be shaping something better.

It felt like no one was joining the dots. No one was bringing people together across sectors, across counties, across roles – to work towards a shared vision for our region.  That’s what we wanted to do.

We Believe in South West Wales

We believe this region is full of potential. Not just economic potential – though there’s plenty of that – but human potential. Community potential. Creative, caring, committed people who want to build a better future where they live.

But the systems we live and work within often make that harder than it needs to be. Funding is short-term and competitive. Organisations are under pressure. Collaboration takes time. And everyone’s overstretched.

We don’t have all the answers – but we do think we need to work differently. More openly. More locally. More collaboratively. That’s what 4theRegion exists to support.

We’re Tired of Quick Fixes

So much of our economy is about short-term wins. Growth for its own sake. Big promises that don’t materialise. Communities left out or left behind.

We think it’s time to reimagine what the economy is for.  For us, the answer is wellbeing. The wellbeing of people, places, and the planet. That means supporting the things that really matter – care, connection, meaningful work, strong communities, nature, fairness. Things that don’t always get measured, but absolutely matter.

That’s what we mean by a wellbeing economy. Not a utopia – but a shift in priorities. A long-term direction of travel. And it starts here, in our region, with the work we’re already doing together.

It’s Hard, But It Matters

We won’t pretend this is easy. Collaboration is hard. Systems change is hard. Trying to do things differently is hard.

But it’s also worth it. And it’s already happening – in small ways, all over the region. People coming together, sharing ideas, supporting each other, and building something new.

That’s why we’re here. To hold space for that. To keep showing up. To say: you’re not on your own.

We often get asked what 4theRegion actually is. Are we a business network? A consultancy? A campaign group?  The truth is, we don’t fit neatly into any of those boxes.

4theRegion is a regional alliance – a growing network of people, businesses, organisations and changemakers who all care deeply about the future of South West Wales. We exist to connect people, spark ideas, and support collaboration across sectors, all in service of a fairer, greener, more thriving region.

We’re not a lobbying group. We’re not affiliated with any political party. We’re not here to “fix” the region from the top down. Our belief is simple but powerful: change happens when people come together around shared purpose, shared values, and shared hope.

Dawn and Zoe set up 4theRegion because we believe in the power of collaboration.  Our strapline is, Working Together.

A Different Way of Working

We believe that many of the challenges we face – from inequality to climate breakdown – are symptoms of a broken system. And we believe the solutions are already here, in the creativity, compassion and commitment of people across our region.

That’s why we don’t deliver projects to communities. We create spaces with people – to listen, connect, and explore what’s possible.

Through big events like It’s Your County, or the Green Economy Conference, community-led initiatives like our local food partnerships, and informal gatherings like our Monthly Meetups, we help people and organisations find each other and work together.

Five Collaborative Missions

At the heart of 4theRegion is a simple question: What kind of region do we want to live in – and how do we make that happen?

To help guide our work, we’ve set out five long-term missions that we think matter for the future of South West Wales:

Strengthening Local Supply Chains

Supporting Community Changemakers

Empowering Young People

Promoting a Positive Regional Identity

Growing the Green Economy

Each of these is a strand of a bigger vision – to shift our economy so that it truly serves the wellbeing of people and planet.  A happier, healthier region with a thriving economy.

A Movement, Not a Membership Club

We have members, yes. But we’re not here to “sell” services or extract value from our network. Our aim is to build long-term relationships – based on trust, not transactions.

Whether you’re a sole trader, a large employer, a community group or a local resident, if you care about the future of this region, you’re part of the movement. And we’re so glad you’re here.