We’re delighted that Awel Aman Tawe has been featured in the new Community Transport Association (CTA) Wales Manifesto 2026, highlighting the vital role community‑led action plays in creating fair, sustainable and locally resilient transport solutions.
At the heart of this feature is Sachá Petrie, our Community Development Officer, who spoke powerfully about why grassroots climate action isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s essential for building the thriving, connected future our communities deserve.
In the manifesto, Sachá shares a message that echoes across all our work at Awel Aman Tawe:
“Awel Aman Tawe’s core mission is rooted in tackling the climate emergency and supporting resilient communities. Community‑led climate action is not just a desirable add-on; it’s fundamental to achieving our long-term goals and ensuring a sustainable future for our area.”
— Sachá Petrie, Community Development Officer
Why our communities must shape local climate solutions
One of the strongest themes running through the CTA Manifesto is that local challenges need local solutions — and nowhere is that more true than in rural transport.
Transport touches every part of life: work, health, education, social connection. But the challenges in the Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire valleys are very different from those in cities or coastal centres. From limited public transport routes to vulnerability during extreme weather, local issues can’t be solved by top‑down planning alone.
As Sachá explains:
“Community-led initiatives like ours are uniquely positioned to understand the local context. This means solutions are tailored to our community’s specific needs, addressing issues like rural transport access, vulnerability to extreme weather, or the availability of local resources.”
A community‑designed transport system is one that people actually use — because it reflects their lived experience.
Co‑creating solutions means long‑term success
Awel Aman Tawe has always believed in co-creation: working with people, not doing things to them.
Whether it’s community transport, shared e-bikes, or programmes helping people reduce their energy use at home, we see again and again that when people help shape a project, they feel ownership. They advocate for it. They maintain it. And they help it grow.
Sachá puts it beautifully:
“When the community is involved from the ground up, they feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for the initiatives. This significantly increases the likelihood of success and long-term sustainability, as solutions are not imposed but rather co-created.”
This principle sits at the centre of the CTA Manifesto’s call to accelerate community-led climate action across Wales — recognising that communities already hold much of the knowledge and creativity needed to reach net zero fairly.
A proud moment for AAT — and a reminder of the work ahead
Being included in the CTA Manifesto is a testament to the dedication of our teams, partners, volunteers and residents who work tirelessly to improve local transport and build resilience in our area.
But it’s also a reminder: the transition to a fair, low‑carbon Wales must be community powered.
From supporting rural residents to get to hospital appointments, to helping people reduce car dependency, to building local energy ownership, we’re committed to making sure no community is left behind in the shift to a sustainable future.
We’re proud to see CTA Wales amplify this message, and we’re excited to continue working with partners to push for transport equity, climate resilience, and real, practical change that starts from the ground up.