Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A problem with the sprinkler system installed at Llanelli’s Coleshill Centre caused a drop in water pressure at nearby homes. Carmarthenshire Council has apologised for the problem. The system was installed during the refurbishment of the building, which is now a regional Centre for Economic Inclusion, but has suffered problems in recent weeks. Staff were alerted over the weekend with water being pumped away from the building. Tests by contractors have confirmed a faulty pump, and work is underway to resolve the issue. Manager Allison Williams said: “We are aware that the problems have caused some inconvenience to our neighbours, and for that we want to apologise. We are working hard to rectify the problem, and hope that it will all be sorted in the next few days.” In a separate incident last month, the sprinkler system was activated by an over-heated kiln.

Cor Meibion Llanelli members presented a cheque for £100 to the STEPs III (3) project in Llanelli. The cash was raised as part of the choir's annual Christmas card appeal. Choir chairman Mel Harries said: "The choristers like to support a local charity every year with their Christmas card appeal and we know of the work of the STEPs III project through one of our choristers. "They do very important work on the project and we were delighted to do our little bit to help." Representatives of STEPs III, Tina Chapman and Liane Jones, attended the choir's weekly rehearsal to receive the cheque. They are pictured with Cor Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas (left) and choir chairman Mr Harries. More about the STEPs III project -  The STEPs III Coleshill Project, Llanelli is the third STEPs Project by Carmarthenshire County Council. Employment and education allows people to develop new skills throughout their lives in appropriate work settings....

The business plan behind Wales’ first ‘Centre of Economic Inclusion’, in Llanelli, has been boosted by a collaboration between Carmarthenshire County Council and Social Firms Wales (SFW). SFW, the National Support Agency for Social Firm Development - which is committed to the creation of employment opportunities for disadvantaged people, through the development and support of Social Firms in Wales - has been working closely with Carmarthenshire council managers to help move the business plan to its current position and to offer advice during the setting up of the new Coleshill Centre. Recently reopened after a £2million redevelopment, the ground-breaking centre aims to improve the lives and outcomes of disabled and disengaged people by building an enterprise-based community, promoting economic and social inclusion, providing support, training, employment, development and community opportunities for disabled, vulnerable, disengaged and long-term unemployed people. Coleshill also enc...

A £2million redevelopment has turned a former social centre in Llanelli into the first ‘Centre of Economic Inclusion’ (CEI) in Wales. The newly-opened Coleshill Centre aims to improve the lives and outcomes of disabled and disadvantaged people, by building an enterprise-based community which will provide a wide-range of opportunities. The ground-breaking venture will promote economic and social inclusion; provide support, training, employment, development and community opportunities for disabled, vulnerable, disadvantaged and long-term unemployed people. At the same time it will encourage social and economic development and work together with other groups and organisations who share the same goals. The refurbishment was handled by Llanelli-based architects the Lewis Partnership. Jon Hobden, Senior Development Manager for the Coleshill project: “The centre will continue to provide social, networking and peer support but, in addition, is providing training facilities, such as IT, ca...

The award-winning Lewis Partnership is playing a key role in the £2million refurbishment of Llanelli’s Coleshill Social Centre.  The centre is being transformed into an innovative ‘one stop shop’ for disabled and disadvantaged people. “This is a very exciting project for Llanelli and we are very proud to be associated with it,” said Philip Lewis, managing director of the Lewis Partnership. “As the architects for the project, we are closely involved with delivering the vision for the centre. “When it is complete, it will be called a ‘centre for economic inclusion’. “But that only goes a part of the way to describing the work which will go on there, “It will play a huge part in helping disabled and disadvantaged people to live independent lives.” Building work is progressing swiftly at the site on the edge of Llanelli’s People’s Park and should be completed by the end of May. Mr Lewis added: “This is a very innovative project for Llanelli involving all sorts of partnerships and ...

Those who want to get involved in developing the future of Carmarthenshire’s new Centre for Economic Inclusion are being asked to make their views known. The £2million centre, which will be based at Coleshill, Llanelli, will provide a wide range of support services to help people of all backgrounds prepare for sustainable employment, including people who have been disadvantaged because of disability or social circumstances. Through the centre, people will have access to training facilities and small business support, as well as personal development support such as health improvement and rehabilitation. The aim is to improve the social and economic prospects of people who have been unable to find and retain employment or training for a long time due to longstanding ill-health, disability or social barriers. Work is currently underway at the site, with its launch anticipated to take place in June. In the meantime, the team behind the development want to hear from people and organisations...

A £2million refurbishment of Llanelli’s Coleshill Social Centre will get underway in next summer, following a successful bid for European funding. Jointly funded through the Carmarthenshire County Council’s capital grant programme and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the transformation will create a Centre for Economic Inclusion to provide a wide range of support services for people who are economically inactive. Currently, Coleshill predominantly supports adults with physical disabilities and older people. On completion, it will attract younger physically disabled people, and a wider group of disadvantaged people including people with learning disabilities and others. The new Coleshill will continue to provide social, networking and peer support, but will also provide training facilities, such as IT, catering and woodwork; support for people who want to create small businesses; an ‘independent living’ information hub; and health improvement and rehabilitation support wit...