New findings from ASH Wales’ Annual Adult Population Survey 2025 show strong public support for tougher tobacco laws …
WTCA
Welsh tobacco control alliance
Working Together For a Smokefree Wales
manifestos for change
The next Welsh Government will shape the future of health in Wales. With one year to go until the 2026 Senedd elections, health and care organisations across the country are setting out bold, evidence-based priorities to protect communities, reduce harm, and support people to live longer, healthier lives.
At ASH Wales, we’re proud to be part of the Welsh Tobacco Control Alliance (WTCA), a coalition of charities, professional bodies, and public health organisations working towards a smoke-free Wales. Together, we’re calling for action on prevention, fairness, and community-led change.
This page brings together the manifestos of our WTCA partners – from cancer and heart charities to royal colleges, community networks and frontline services. While each brings its own expertise and priorities, the direction is shared: stronger leadership, better prevention and a Wales where everyone has the chance to live happier, healthier lives.
Shared Priorities Across Our Sector
While each organisation brings its own expertise and focus, a clear set of shared priorities has emerged. Together, we’re urging the next Welsh Government to commit to action that puts prevention first, tackles inequality and invests in a fairer future.
1. Prevention as the starting point, not the afterthought
There’s strong consensus that preventing illness - rather than simply treating it – must become a national priority.
From tobacco to obesity, cancer to pollution, organisations are united in calling for long-term, funded strategies that shift the balance of health policy toward prevention.
2. Tackling Deep-Rooted Health Inqualities
Poverty and poor health go hand in hand. We need to reach people who are too often left behind – from children in low-income families to those living with long-term conditions.
This includes making services easier to access in the community and designing policies that meet people where they are.
3. Investment in Community-Based Services
A shared call for care closer to home. From smoking cessation in food banks to pharmacy-led interventions and green social prescribing, partners are calling for services to be embedded in everyday community settings - not locked away behind hospital walls.
4. Joined-up leadership across government
A stronger, healthier Wales needs coordinated leadership. Partners want to see tobacco, health inequality, environment, education and wellbeing treated as cross-cutting responsibilities – with departments working together, not in silos. There’s also strong support for co-production with the third sector and local communities.
5. Bold, practical steps that can be delivered now
These calls aren’t vague. They’re specific, evidence-based and ready to go.
From rolling out targeted lung screening and scaling up youth health programmes to expanding green space access and legislating for cleaner air, these are policies that can deliver real change quickly.
Download Partner Manifestos
Why the 2026 Senedd Elections Matter for Health?
Preventing illness, rather than treating it, must become a national priority. From tobacco to obesity, cancer to pollution, organisations are united in calling for long-term, funded strategies that shift the balance of health policy toward prevention,
Our Manifesto
As Wales’ national voice for tobacco control, ASH Wales has set out a clear, practical vision for what the next government must deliver to achieve a smoke-free Wales by 2030.
Our manifesto calls for action across four key areas:
Prevention, tackling inequality, supporting innovation, and working in partnership to create lasting change.
This includes funding stop smoking services, tackling illegal tobacco and vapes, rolling out targeted lung screening, and embedding quit support in community settings like food banks and housing services.
We believe a smoke-free Wales is possible — but only with bold leadership and investment in the right solutions.
