Programme now Ended

Wales for Peace programme activities finished in December 2018. This website is now an archive for work undertaken over the WW1 centenary period from 2014-18 by communities, volunteers and partners Wales-wide, in uncovering the story of Wales' Peace Heritage from WW1 to today. The project aimed to inspire future generations to become active in international issues, and this work will form the foundation of WCIA's new Global Action Programme under development for 2019-24. 

For 2019, WCIA will be retaining two Wales for Peace staff members on a part-time basis, to support the transition from Heritage Lottery Funded activities to WCIA's new 2019-24 programmes. You can contact them via walesforpeace@wcia.org.uk or post to: 

Welsh Centre for International Affairs, Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3AP

Craig Owen - Head of Wales for Peace   

Craig OwenA leading figure in Welsh internationalism over the last 15 years, Craig joined WCIA from WCVA (Wales Council for Voluntary Action), where as International Manager since 2007 he developed the Wales Africa Community Links programme. This supported 150 civil society organisations delivering 500 projects on learning, partnership building and community development between Wales and Sub-Saharan Africa, and sharing practice with European partners. In 2010 Craig surveyed 930 organisations and published the report 'Welsh Civil Society and the MDGs'; and in 2014, on Wales' 'Communitarian approach to Internationalism through Citizen Initiative'.

Craig previously worked on Oxfam International’s Tsunami Relief Programme in Indonesia, with a major focus on peace building in the conflict-stricken province of Aceh. Craig wrote a blog from Aceh which was followed by people throughout Wales and worldwide. As Wales Campaigns Coordinator with Oxfam Cymru, Craig led work on ‘Make Poverty History’, ‘Control Arms’ (securing an International Arms Trade Treaty) and on Fair Trade. He has travelled extensively and gained international experience of peace building and practical community initiatives as far afield as South Africa, Ethiopia, Uganda, Lesotho, Indonesia, Cambodia, Angola, Israel and Palestine. Craig has led public and youth outreach work with Oxfam and during 2 years as President of NUS Wales (National Union of Students), and as a students union officer at Aberystwyth University, where he studied Geography and Geology. In his spare time, Craig volunteered as an outdoor pursuits leader and events organiser with the LGBT charity OutdoorLads until 2018; and having been living with the cancer Multiple Myeloma since December 2016, he volunteers and is an ambassador for Maggie's Centres in South Wales.

In 2019, Craig will be supporting WCIA to develop a new 'Global Action' programme. 

Jane Harries - Learning Coordinator    

Jane has been a lifelong peace and humaJane Harriesn rights activist, most recently coordinating Cymdeithas y Cymod - the Fellowship of Reconciliation - through whom she has also worked with Urdd Gobaith Cymru supporting young people in developing the International Peace & Goodwill message. Jane is a languages expert and fluent Welsh speaker; she taught and was Head of Dept for Modern Languages at Cymer school in RCT, prior to 5 years as Wales Education Advisor for the NSPCC, and 7 years in Welsh government as lead for children's rights and young people’s participation. Jane spends several weeks each year in Palestine & Israel co-facilitating Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) workshops, building on her involvement as a Human Rights Monitor with EAPPI, about which she is writing this blog.

Jane’s role is delivering the Wales for Peace project’s ambitious Learning Strategy - developing bilingual teaching and curriculum resources; delivering conferences and events for schools, youth & community groups; facilitating networking and advocacy on Peace Education, and ultimately establishing a world-leading ‘Peace Schools’ scheme for Wales.

In 2019, Jane will be supporting WCIA to embed 'Peace Schools' in the Global Learning programme.

Wales for Peace Contributors over 2014-19

Programme Coordinators
Several ‘core’ WCIA staff members were involved with Wales for Peace over multiple years between 2014-18, and consequently have developed the broadest knowledge base and ‘peace heritage expertise’:
  • Head of Wales for Peace – Craig Owen (continues at WCIA as Global Action & Heritage Coordinator)
  • Learning Coordinator – Jane Harries (continues at WCIA as Peace Schools Advisor)
  • Finance & Volunteering Administrator – Fi Gilligan (now with National Museum of Wales)
  • South Wales Communities / Exhibitions & Engagement Coordinator – Ffion Fielding (now Exhibitions Team at National Museum of Wales)
  • Temple of Peace Heritage Coordinator – Mari Lowe (April 2017-Autumn 2018; progressed on to Cardiff Story Museum)
  • North Wales Communities / Community Participation Coordinator – Awel Irene (Oct 2016-July 2018; retained as WCIA Associate)
  • Communications & Volunteering Support – Susie Ventris-Field (now WCIA Chief Executive from 2018)

Wales for Peace Team

The following staff members joined WCIA to deliver substantial parts of the Wales for Peace programme between 2015-18:

  • WCIA Chief Executive – Martin Pollard (to Summer 2018 – progressed to head the Learned Society for Wales). Martin coordinated and crafted the original ‘Wales for Peace’ project concept and HLF Bid.
  • Finance & Report Manager, Holly Ireland (Dec 2017-Jan 2019; progressed on to digital consultancy)
  • Acting Project Manager – Tara Jane Sutcliffe (March-Oct 2017); covered period whilst Head of WfP was being treated for Cancer, progressed on to UNA Exchange as Director.
  • North Wales / Volunteering Coordinator – Fiona Wyn Owens (Jan 2017-April 2018; progressed to Mencap Cymru ‘Our Social Networks’ project)
  • Poppies Volunteering Coordinator – Megan Cynan Corcoran (Aug-Dec 2016; progressed to Gwynedd Museums Volunteering Coordinator)
  • North Wales Coordinator – Hanna Huws (July 2015 – Sept 2016; progressed to Ynys Mon Refugees Resettlement)
  • Youth Coordinator – Noam Devey (July 2015-May 2016; progressed to ‘Show Racism the Red Card’)

Wales for Peace Associates

Delivery of the project would not have been possible without the expertise and support of a number of key ‘Associates’, who have taken on and delivered contracted pieces of work or advisory roles that have often far exceeded the basic requirements of their commissions:

  • Oral Histories and Filmmaking – Tracy Pallant and Amy Peckham
  • WCIA Peace Heritage Web programming - James Maiden (We Dig Media)
  • Archives and Digitisation – Anna Carlile, Stuart Booker, Rob Laker, Emily Franks, Hannah Sweetaple 
  • Temple80 ‘Artists in Residence’ – Jon Berry, Ify Iwobi, Will Salter, Ness Owens, Jon Chase
  • Exhibition Consultancy – Emma Lile (Remembering for Peace, Belief & Action), Katherine Hann (Wales for Peace)
  • Temple80 Events Support – Zoe Binning
  • Temple80 Programme Development - Emma West and Carrie Westwater 
  • Llangollen International Eisteddfod – Sarah Baylis with Awel Irene
  • Temple Tours Development - James Cowan
  • Belief & Action – Aled Eirug
  • Belief & Action – Cyril Pearce
  • Refugees & Sanctuary – Christophe Declercq
  • Peace Garden Mosaic workshops – Maureen O’Kane
  • Peace Map & CRM System Programming – Simon Parker (Forcatious Ltd)
  • Website – Richard Glover, Dan Mann (Gloversure, Welshpool) 

WCIA Trustees

WCIA pride themselves in being one of Wales’ leading charities for good governance – having been runners-up for WCVA’s ‘Best Governance Award’ in 2018 – and throughout the programme the following trustees have championed and supported WCIA’s Peace Heritage work. 

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