A new publication from Local Trust, Progress happens at the speed of trust, explores how universities and communities can work together to create lasting, place-based change.

The report features four community-university partnerships from across the UK. We are pleased that one of the case studies focuses on the work taking place here in North Wales through the partnership between Wrexham University, Wrexham County Borough Council and Cyngor Gwynedd.

A North Wales story of civic collaboration

The North Wales case study explores how a public authority-university partnership has grown into a wider regional ecosystem for learning, evidence, engagement and systems change.

At the centre of the story is the North Wales Insight Partnership, which brings together public services, universities, communities and partners across the region to improve well-being and strengthen the way decisions are informed by local insight.

Rooted in the Well-being of Future Generations Act, the partnership has developed around three core commitments: using data, evidence and research well; involving citizens and communities meaningfully; and using insight to support wider systems change.

Why trust matters

The title of the report captures one of its strongest messages: progress happens at the speed of trust.

For the North Wales partnership, trust has been essential. It has created the conditions for people and organisations to work across boundaries, test new approaches, share learning and focus on what matters to communities.

The case study highlights how Wrexham University’s civic mission work has helped create a neutral and practical space for collaboration across the region. This has supported work on well-being assessments, community narratives, climate change risk, children and young people’s voice, and wider systems leadership.

As Nina Ruddle, Head of Public Policy Engagement at Wrexham University, says in the report:

“We keep going on, because we are the ones that are influencing the system.”

Why this matters for Agenda Cymru

This is exactly the kind of learning Agenda Cymru exists to share.

The report recognises the growing body of regional and local insight being generated across North Wales through partnership working, community engagement and public service collaboration.

By sharing these stories, Agenda Cymru helps make that learning visible, not as static evidence sitting in a report, but as practical insight that can inform decisions, strengthen relationships and support action across the region.

Examples featured in the report include the Children’s University, the North Wales Climate Change Risk Assessment, and the Co-produced Community Narratives project. Together, they show a way of working that starts with relationships, listens carefully to communities, and uses evidence to shape action.

Read the publication

You can read the full Local Trust publication here: Progress happens at the speed of trust: A case study report of community-university partnerships for place-based change