New Academy Launches to Empower Wales’ Next Generation of Changemakers
17/02/2026Bridgend College, is proud to partner with the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner, The Open University in Wales and Unloc, to launch Newid – the Future Generations Changemaker Academy. This pioneering initiative is designed to empower young people across Wales to lead systemic change and shape a sustainable future, aligned with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act.
The Academy’s vision is to enable systemic change by empowering young people to lead their own futures. By creating opportunities for participants to drive local and national action on the 7 Well-being Goals, the programme aims to fill a critical gap for Further Education (FE) learners aged 16–25. This new pathway connects school-level leadership with the established national Future Generations Leadership Academy for those aged 18–30, already established by the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner.
Participants will engage in a comprehensive fundamentals programme that includes leadership training, critical thinking, and social justice. The delivery model features a blend of immersive and digital experiences, including the focus on changemaker projects, designed to deliver tangible and meaningful change at a local and national level, in response to some of the biggest challenges facing young people. It is hoped that a final event will be hosted at the Senedd, where changemakers will showcase their projects to policymakers and decision-makers.
Beyond personal development, the Academy is committed to diversity, ensuring that young people least likely to engage in wider society are given a platform, empowering them through their own changemaker projects to make a real difference and improve societal issues which matter most to them.
Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner, said:
“Shaping a better future for Wales must be an urgent and collective priority and that’s why we’re so proud to support the Newid pilot, an initiative that aligns closely with the long‑term impact we strive to make as a team.
“Real, lasting change happens when we invest in young people and amplify their voices, and by backing their ideas and leadership today, we’re helping to build a greener, inclusive and thriving Wales for generations to come.”
Joe Baldwin, Deputy Principal of Bridgend College, said:
“There has never been a more important time to empower young people to find their voice and make a real difference to their future and to their communities. Newid represents the culmination of more than a year of collaboration and planning with partners, with young people shaping the academy – we are absolutely delighted to have launched the pilot.”
Dr Donna Smith, Senior Lecturer in Politics at Open University, said:
“This collaboration builds on our Open Societal Challenges Changemakers research and Active Citizenship hub resources on democracy. As research and evaluation lead, we look forward to providing evidence-based recommendations for the post‑pilot phase and supporting young people as they develop the skills and confidence to drive political and social change.”
Unloc’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Hayden Taylor said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to be launching the Future Generations Changemaker Academy with such a prestigious group of partners, bringing fresh, dynamic energy to the young people of Wales, developing systemic change, and empowering the next generation to become the Changemakers of the future. Through our programmes, workshops and projects we’ll be creating opportunities for young people to drive real and impactful change in their lives, schools, colleges and communities, we can’t wait to get started.”
