Welsh Deputy Minister sees Communities First work in Carmarthenshire
The Welsh Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty has visited Carmarthenshire to see the good work being done by Communities First.
Deputy Minister Vaughan Gething AM visited the Carmarthenshire Communities First Cluster along with Llanelli MP Nia Griffiths and Llanelli AM Keith Davies when he was shown the work of the Carmarthenshire Communities First programme.
Carmarthenshire County Council was awarded £1.35m from the Welsh Government to be the Lead Delivery Body to manage the Carmarthenshire Communities First Cluster.
Cluster Manager Amy Hawkins said: “The Carmarthenshire Cluster has a total population of 21,796 and covers 14 areas within the top 20 per cent of the most deprived areas in Wales, including Glanymor, Tyisha, Llwynhendy, Bigyn, Lliedi, Felinfoel, Hengoed, Trimsaran and Pantyffynnon.
“Our aim is to increase people’s opportunities and reduce inequality through promoting Healthy Communities, Prosperous Communities and Learning Communities.”
Prosperous Communities focuses on increasing the numbers of people accessing education, entering employment, using computers and the Internet, and increasing household income.
Healthy Communities focuses on improving wellbeing and reducing obesity and limiting long term illness and Learning Communities works to improve pupils’ achievements, improve primary school attendance and increase the numbers of adults that have qualifications.
The Deputy Minister met Hannah Oliver from Felinfoel and her three-year-old daughter Lexie who were looking at healthy meal information on a computer.
Hannah said: “It is great that computers can be used for learning, not just games. I’ve just qualified as a hairdresser and am going to volunteer with Communities First.”
Deputy Minister Vaughan Gething AM visited the Carmarthenshire Communities First Cluster along with Llanelli MP Nia Griffiths and Llanelli AM Keith Davies when he was shown the work of the Carmarthenshire Communities First programme.
Carmarthenshire County Council was awarded £1.35m from the Welsh Government to be the Lead Delivery Body to manage the Carmarthenshire Communities First Cluster.
Cluster Manager Amy Hawkins said: “The Carmarthenshire Cluster has a total population of 21,796 and covers 14 areas within the top 20 per cent of the most deprived areas in Wales, including Glanymor, Tyisha, Llwynhendy, Bigyn, Lliedi, Felinfoel, Hengoed, Trimsaran and Pantyffynnon.
“Our aim is to increase people’s opportunities and reduce inequality through promoting Healthy Communities, Prosperous Communities and Learning Communities.”
Prosperous Communities focuses on increasing the numbers of people accessing education, entering employment, using computers and the Internet, and increasing household income.
Healthy Communities focuses on improving wellbeing and reducing obesity and limiting long term illness and Learning Communities works to improve pupils’ achievements, improve primary school attendance and increase the numbers of adults that have qualifications.
The Deputy Minister met Hannah Oliver from Felinfoel and her three-year-old daughter Lexie who were looking at healthy meal information on a computer.
Hannah said: “It is great that computers can be used for learning, not just games. I’ve just qualified as a hairdresser and am going to volunteer with Communities First.”
Volunteer Emma Davies said: “I have been volunteering for about six years with Communities First and love it.
“I’ve gone from starting a community group with friends to doing my ‘Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector’, teaching parents about healthy affordable eating. I’m finding that the community just wants to learn more.”
Deputy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “I’ve been very impressed. I’m really interested to see the Communities First Cluster team and the mix of staff and volunteers. We know that without the volunteer engagement Communities First would not reach as far and as deep as it should in the communities it is designed to serve.
“I look forward to coming back to see what progress they are making.”
MP Nia Griffiths said: “It’s encouraging to see the very clear focus of the relaunched Communities First programme with staff who are well qualified to tackle some of the really difficult problems of our communities such as financial management, health problems and the need to increase skills to be able to compete in today’s job market.
“I look forward to them being able to make a very real difference to our communities.”
AM Keith Davies said: “Communities First is working with people who need support. It is an excellent idea. They are giving children the opportunity to learn with their parents which will help when they start school.
“They are promoting healthy living which is important. Another good idea is the walking group for older people, which will help them keep fit but also prevent isolation as they will be going out and meeting people.”
“I’ve gone from starting a community group with friends to doing my ‘Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector’, teaching parents about healthy affordable eating. I’m finding that the community just wants to learn more.”
Deputy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “I’ve been very impressed. I’m really interested to see the Communities First Cluster team and the mix of staff and volunteers. We know that without the volunteer engagement Communities First would not reach as far and as deep as it should in the communities it is designed to serve.
“I look forward to coming back to see what progress they are making.”
MP Nia Griffiths said: “It’s encouraging to see the very clear focus of the relaunched Communities First programme with staff who are well qualified to tackle some of the really difficult problems of our communities such as financial management, health problems and the need to increase skills to be able to compete in today’s job market.
“I look forward to them being able to make a very real difference to our communities.”
AM Keith Davies said: “Communities First is working with people who need support. It is an excellent idea. They are giving children the opportunity to learn with their parents which will help when they start school.
“They are promoting healthy living which is important. Another good idea is the walking group for older people, which will help them keep fit but also prevent isolation as they will be going out and meeting people.”
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