Preview
Vital Signs Wales 2015
PREVIEW CONTENTS Introduction 3 Strong Communities 4 Rurality 6 Arts, Culture & Heritage 8 Vital Conversation: Ely, Cardiff 10
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Community Foundation in Wales thanks our partners, supporters and everyone who has given their time to participate in our focus groups and respond to our community survey. Your insights and reflections have given us a unique glimpse into communities the length and breadth of Wales.
The Vital Signs trademark is used with permission from Community Foundations of Canada, our partner and supporter in Vital Signs.
Welcome to a preview of Vital Signs Wales 2015, Wales’s first guide to matching needs with philanthropy. In advance of our upcoming release, we thought we would share with you some of the highlights. The Community Foundation in Wales walks alongside people who want to make a difference in communities across Wales. We match donors and do-ers, helping people who are philanthropic - in families, businesses and charitable trusts - to give effectively and to make the impact they are committed to achieving. Our mission statement confirms our faith that communities create solutions based on their needs. And our ambition is to build our endowment - a sustainable source of charitable funding to support smaller, innovative, responsive and inspiring people, projects and charities. Vital Signs is a global project, run by community foundations which listen to, understand and appreciate the communities in which they work on behalf of their clients. It takes the temperature of how our communities are faring, and asks people across Wales what’s working and where we could all prioritise our actions – be these actions personal, professional or philanthropic. Dovetailing with our recent publication ‘A Portrait of Philanthropy in Wales’, Vital Signs highlights examples of community need and action, helping us all to give, and to give better.
Thank you for your interest in the work of the Community Foundation in Wales.
How we are doing We asked volunteers and community leaders from all sectors across Wales about the key issues in their communities. Four focus groups, three with community representatives in Ely, Mid-Rhondda and Bro Aberffraw, and one with the Social Responsibility Officers of the Church in Wales yielded some fascinating insights into community priorities. Our community survey received over 330 individual responses, with people rating their communities across 10 core themes, according to the grades below. A B C D E
Everything is great Things are going well The situation is OK Things aren’t going very well Things are going very badly
A note about the data This is a summary of our Vital Signs Wales 2015 programme. All the sources for the statistics included in this publication can be found in our detailed Vital Issues report which is available to download from our website www.cfiw.org.uk
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STRONG COMMUNITIES How we are doing: C Everything is OK
60%
of people give to charity, more than any other UK nation.
People in Wales have a strong sense of belonging to their community, as demonstrated by the commitment of over 900,000 volunteers who underpin the work over 33,000 community organisations and charities. However with community facilities increasingly under threat of closure there are questions about the impact this may have on people’s ability to participate meaningfully in community life. There is added pressure on volunteers to play a greater role in the delivery of community services and a growing expectation on philanthropy to ‘plug the gaps’ and underpin local facilities such as libraries, leisure centres and youth services.
33,000 the number of community organisations and charities across the nation... one for every 90 people living in Wales!
82%
79%
agree that people in their local area treat each other with respect and consideration.
of people feel that they belong to their local area down from 85% in the prior year
79%
931,000
people volunteer or help out in community organisations
believe that in their area local people from different backgrounds get on well together.
66% WAS THE TURNOUT AT THE 2015 UK GENERAL ELECTION
42%
was the turnout at the 2011 National Assembly for Wales election
36%
was the turnout at the 2012 local council election 4
The importance of community facilities for building a sense of belonging A key conclusion from the Wales We Want report, published in 2015, was that “Future Generations need thriving communities based on a strong sense of place.”
“ Community and day centres are important for older people and others. These are places where older people can socialise, carry out activities, take up learning opportunities and volunteer. They play a pivotal role in combating social isolation and loneliness amongst older people.” - Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
Bringing communities together through play A 10-year Fair Share Trust programme managed by the Community Foundation in Wales walked alongside local people to strengthen communities on Anglesey through play. The programme had a panel of local residents who volunteered their time to advise on planning, priorities and grant-making. This capital investment created five ‘super playgrounds’ across the island, bringing communities together and consolidating the value, and joy, of play.
“ These local resources and engagement of the broader community have been very helpful in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.” - Local Police Officer
HOW PHILANTHROPY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Providing opportunities for people to get more involved in community life. Wales Council for Voluntary Action estimates that there are 211 million hours of volunteered time given each year, a monetary value of £2.2 billion or 4.6% of Wales’ GDP. Funding volunteer costs, community centres, family and community events and local clubs are all ways of getting local people active and engaged.
Friends of Pentre Gardens, Cardiff For many years Pentre Gardens was a dilapidated and under-used green space in the Grangetown area of Cardiff. Local volunteers changed that by bringing neighbours together to transform the park into a green space that everyone can enjoy, restoring a sense of pride in the community. Litter, dog mess and graffiti were removed and now families from all faiths and backgrounds unite through planting and play sessions run by volunteers.
Nurturing a sense of pride and ownership within communities. Through supporting projects which bring people together to respond to local issues such as neighbourhood watch groups, community orchestras and choirs, litter picks, friends of parks groups and community development organisations.
Funding grassroots community activities which tackle social isolation and anti-social behaviour. By funding older people’s clubs, diversionary sports activities, befriending projects and youth clubs.
Beaufort Community Hall, Blaenau Gwent After a successful campaign to oppose the closure of their community hall, local residents wasted no time in transforming the hall into a place which could bring the whole community together. A broad range of services and activities now run out of the hall, including a Mother and Toddler group, dance session for adults and children, and a craft club. An over 50s exercise class and luncheon club help to reduce loneliness amongst older people in the community.
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RURALITY
85%
How we are doing: C Everything is OK
of Wales is rural
One in three people in Wales live in rural communities. Powys, the largest local authority in Wales by area size, covers 25% of the landmass of Wales but has only 4% of the total population. Whilst the natural beauty and tranquillity of rural Wales is one of our nation’s key assets, rurality also brings its own issues for people living in these communities. Earnings are on average lower than in urban areas and house prices are less affordable. Transport, access to services and employment, and social isolation are also key issues, as is the fact that many of the people with acute needs are often hidden from official statistics. Identifying those most in need of support presents additional challenges for charities and community groups operating in rural areas.
67% of rural local authorities have average income levels below the Welsh average
49%
of rural communities have access to a general store
43%
of rural communities have a post office
46%
of people in rural areas rated public transport as good, according to a major survey of rural Wales Of all rural issues, public transport is the issue people are most concerned about
POWYS has the lowest average full-time earnings in Wales at
17%
of rural communities do not have a bus service on any day of the week
£472 A WEEK
£425 MILLION IS BEING SPENT BY WELSH GOVERNMENT AND BT TO ROLL-OUT BROADBAND TO 96% OF WALES BY 2016 6
ACCESS TO SERVICES IN WALES Wales Average Conwy Denbighshire Monmouthshire Carmarthenshire Gwynedd Anglesey Pembrokeshire Ceredigion Powys
This graph shows the local authorities with the highest proportion of small areas in the most deprived ten percent in Wales for access to services. The Welsh index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) is the Welsh Government’s official measure of relative deprivation for small areas in Wales of approximately 1,600 people. It is designed to identify those small areas where there are the highest concentrations of several different types of deprivation. The access to services domain measures travel times to 9 services, typically considered necessary for day-to-day day living, using private transport and public transport.
HOW PHILANTHROPY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Ensuring vulnerable people in rural communities receive care and support.
Helping people access key services.
Outreach services run by charities are effective at identifying the often hidden needs in rural communities and delivering key services to the elderly, young carers, people with mental health issues and those experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs.
For people who don’t have their own car, accessing key services can be a real problem, particularly for people with disabilities and older people. Community-run transport initiatives are an effective means of ensuring that people can access hospitals and GPs, as well as leisure and recreation activities.
Building stronger rural communities
Supporting the rural economy.
by supporting community initiatives which bring people together and help communities to thrive. Community halls, village festivals, newsletters and local websites enable people to get involved in community life and know what’s going on.
Many rural services have closed over recent years, and communityrun shops, pubs and libraries have shown the resilience and enterprise of local volunteers and ensured that services which are vital to the fabric of community life are maintained.
O Ddrws I Ddrws, Llyn Peninsular
Cwmni Nod Glas Cyf, Gwynedd
This much valued local project was set up in response to a survey of elderly residents on the Llyn Peninsular who identified transport as a real problem for them. There is very limited public transport available in the area, and so people living off these bus routes, and people with disabilities, find it difficult to travel which can lead to loneliness and not being able to get to key services. O Ddrws I Ddrws runs an ‘on call’ door to door service of cheap, flexible transport for elderly and immobile locals, as well as a valuable transport service for voluntary and community groups.
Small, rural villages form the backdrop of many people’s lives in Wales, but an idyllic setting can cause daily challenges. Cwmni Nod Glas Cyf, based in Dinas Mawddwy in Gwynedd, has been renovating a disused building to set up a community hub because their village had no such focus. This social enterprise has breathed new life into an old village shop which now contains a cafe, office facilities, two small flats for local residents and a hairdressing salon. The new community hub also has a gallery for local artists and craft producers to display and sell their work.
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ARTS, CULTURE & HERITAGE How we are doing: C Everything is OK
Wales is blessed when it comes to arts and culture. From the national Eisteddfod to the famous male voice choirs of the south Wales valleys, not for nothing is Wales known as the land of song. With more castles per head than any other nation in Europe, Wales also has a distinct and cherished heritage.
institutions such as Welsh National Opera and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. There is strong link between philanthropy and the arts too, perhaps best illustrated by the Davies Sisters, Margaret and Gwendoline, who bequeathed one of the UK’s finest collections of 20th Century art to the National Museum of Wales.
According to Baroness Kay Andrews OBE, who has recently authored a report for Welsh Government looking into culture and poverty, “Culture and heritage still occupy a uniquely important role in our national life”. Artes Mundi, the UK’s biggest art prize is located in Wales, as are globally renowned
But not everyone is benefitting equally. People from the most deprived communities are less likely to visit an arts event, heritage site or museum. Yet there is a compelling case that cultural participation is integral to education, builds confidence and a sense of identity, and is a tool for tackling poverty.
1.49% of people in Wales are employed in the creative industries, half the average of 3.02% for Great Britain
Over 150,000 people visited the Eisteddfod this year, a unique celebration of Welsh arts, culture and language
6 – UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN WALES RANGING FROM CASTLES TO INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE SITES, AND THE INCLUDING THE FAMOUS PONTCYSYLLTE VIADUCT AND CANAL
IN THE LAST YEAR
58% 59% 39%
of people have been to an arts event have visited a historic place have been to a museum
PEOPLE LIVING IN THE LEAST DEPRIVED COMMUNITIES IN WALES ARE
44%
40%
26%
more likely to visit an arts event
more likely to visit a heritage site
more likely to visit a museum
THAN PEOPLE LIVING IN THE MOST DEPRIVED COMMUNITIES PEOPLE WITH POST SECONDARY EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS ARE MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY TO VISIT AN ARTS EVENT AS THOSE WITH NO QUALIFICATIONS
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Culture and Poverty Baroness Kay Andrews OBE was invited by Welsh Government to explore how culture and heritage could help reduce poverty and raise ambition. Her report concluded that:
“ No-one should lose their right to experience the lifelong pleasures and interests that a love of reading, music, art, and theatre brings. Neither should they feel that the history and heritage of Wales, held in our cultural institutions, is not for them.” Welsh Government has responded with a pilot programme called ‘Fusion: Tackling Poverty through Culture’ and is working with selected Communities First cluster areas in Swansea,
Wrexham, Gwynedd, Cardiff, Newport and Torfaen to transform the life chances of people through exposure to the arts, culture and the historic environment.
Research by the Arts Council of Wales identified the most popular art forms by attendance Cinema Live Music (not including classical/jazz/world) Carnival and Street Arts Plays Art/Craft Galleries or Exhibitions
50.4% 42.7% 38% 34.4% 31.8%
HOW PHILANTHROPY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Funding community arts initiatives as a way of inspiring young people, raising aspirations and reducing social isolation. Community music projects can instil sense of purpose, pride and ambition in children. Arts initiatives are also a proven way of getting the most vulnerable and isolated people in our communities to participate in community life, make friends and reduce loneliness and isolation.
Enabling access to culture and the arts to people from low-income backgrounds. Outreach projects which take arts into the community, affordable ticket prices to performances and affordable transport can all make the arts more accessible to people in the most deprived communities in Wales.
Gwallgofiaid, Gwynedd Gwallgofiaid offers young people in Blaenau Ffestiniog the chance to develop their artistic flair and explore their local community though the visual arts and journalism. Based in an old courthouse, now transformed into a community café and meeting space, the organisation works with young people to produce a community magazine, short films celebrating Blaenau Ffestiniog and the surrounding area, and develop technical skills in lighting and sound engineering.
Preserving the heritage of Wales for future generations. Local conservation and preservation initiatives are often run by local volunteers, and our buildings, venues and monuments also serve as community facilities and tourist destinations.
Giving to the heart of our institutions safeguards their future. Supporting core costs, membership schemes, endowment campaigns and project fundraising initiatives ensures that the valuable and vital core work or our arts, cultural and heritage charities is preserved.
The Friends of Llanchaiach Fawr Manor House, Caerphilly Llanchaich Fawr Manor transports visitors back 400 years in an authentic rendition of life in rural Wales in 1645. With staff members acting the roles of the house staff and owners, visitors to the Manor can expect to hear, see and smell life as it was in the 17th century. Such is the authenticity of the place, even the cushions have been hand-sewn with a dedicated commitment to maintaining historical accuracy. The Friends group has been instrumental in raising funds to restore the manor house to its former glory and ensuring that visitors receive a unique historical experience.
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VITAL CONVERSATION: ELY, CARDIFF Ely is a community of 8,600 people based in the west of Cardiff, approximately four miles from the city centre. Our conversation with the people of Ely took the form of a focus group with local residents, volunteers and community leaders, alongside our community survey. Their responses – summarised below - shine a spotlight on the things people like about Ely, as well as the most pressing issues which local people feel should be addressed.
PRIORITY ISSUES Health People in Ely are concerned that local health services are overstretched and that there are fewer health visitors. They feel that there should be more information provided on what is happening to local health care provision. Residents reported problems with child obesity which has led to some children being bullied. Whilst there is a local mental health drop-in service on a Thursday, some think that there needs to be more provision so that people can get the support when they need it.
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Education & Learning Primary schools are well regarded but the local high school is closing, which means children will have to switch to a new ‘super school’ which is further away. Parents are concerned about travel times and bigger class sizes, as well as the impact the closing of a school will have on community life. There is a strong feeling that young people need to be better educated about important life skills, and that too many people are getting into debt or involved with drugs and antisocial behaviour.
Employment & Local Economy Many local people are working, but not necessarily feeling the benefits of work. In-work poverty is a problem, and there is a growing mindset that work doesn’t pay. Residents believe that locally there isn’t much work, and what there is, is often zero hours or minimum wage employment. Many of these jobs also have exclusivity clauses which means there is no guarantee of work, and employees are not able to supplement their hours through additional employment. Ely has some of the highest levels of economic inactivity in Wales and there is a sense that worklessness has become a generational phenomenon.
Arts, Culture & Heritage There are some excellent local programmes which are making access to arts and culture affordable and accessible. For example, the Sherman 5 programme, which is funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, has proved popular with local residents and provides free and subsidised access to performances at Sherman Theatre. The programme also recognises that transport can be a real barrier to access, so free organised transport is also provided.
Environment The Council’s refuse collection changes are proving unpopular at this early stage, and there is concern that this will lead to more rubbish on the streets. There is a feeling that the council could do more to look after local parks. However, there are some excellent volunteer organisations which take a real pride in looking after their community and work hard to keep the green areas of Ely clean, attractive and accessible to residents. An aspiration expressed by Ely residents was to have a park with more facilities and amenities to rival that of nearby communities such as Victoria Park.
Strong Communities People are clearly proud to live in Ely, and it has a fantastic community spirit. Volunteers make a huge difference running junior football teams,
maintaining parks, arranging day trips for older residents and organising community events such as the annual ELYmpics, which brings together children from all the primary schools in Ely for a fun sports day.
Disadvantage & Exclusion Local residents are concerned about the number of people experiencing in-work poverty, working long hours and getting nothing out of it. Statistically, Ely scores poorly when it comes to employment, education and health and many of the issues raised are inter-related. The community has played a central role in transforming external perceptions of Ely and people’s self-perceptions about what they can achieve. Whilst people in Ely are aware of the social and economic problems in their community, they don’t ‘live the statistics’. There is a real positivity about changing the community for the better by getting people active and involved, building confidence and addressing local issues together.
Transport Ely is by no means a rural area and statistics show that it has good access to services. Yet people in Ely feel that they share some of the same problems as rural areas when it comes to transport, especially around the cost of travel. Whilst competition has recently led to a reduction in bus prices, there’s a two bus mentality – if it takes that much effort
to get somewhere, it’s not worth it. For people on the minimum wage, travel is prohibitive – it’s disheartening to lose your first hour’s pay on the bus fare, especially when many local people only have part-time hours.
Housing and homelessness People without children are a low priority for housing and ‘sofa surfing’ is a hidden problem. Housing insecurity is a real concern amongst the residents of Ely, and some shared their stories about their fears of homelessness and the effect this had on their mental wellbeing. Increasingly, people are being forced to rent privately, which is more expensive and can place a real strain on individuals and families on low incomes.
Crime and safety There is a high perception of crime locally, but a feeling that other communities in Cardiff fare worse. Some older residents reported being afraid to be out of their homes late at night. Although there is a good relationship with local Police Community Safety Officers, the closure of Council funded youth clubs has led to more kids on the streets, and there is a concern that antisocial behaviour is going to get worse as a result. There was a feeling that Ely is a tolerant community but that sometimes people put up with stuff they don’t like because they have grown up with it and become used to it.
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HOW THE COMMUNITY IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Ely is a thriving community with an excellent culture of community action. A hub of the community is Action Ely & Caerau (ACE), the local community development charity, which is a place for people to come together to learn, to socialise and to volunteer. ACE’s time banking initiative has been particularly successful. Ely Garden Villagers was formed by local residents who came together to oppose the development of their local playing field. After a successful campaign the group now runs junior football teams on the playing fields and organises family fun days, litter picks and an annual bonfire evening. For older people in Ely, the community group Liberty provides a vital lifeline, reducing isolation by running day trips and opportunities to socialise and build friendships.
The residents of Ely take a real pride in maintaining their local environment. Friends of Mill Park, is a group of volunteers who worked tirelessly to rejuvenate a local park and return it to community use. It is now a place for children and families to relax and play. The volunteers maintain the park all year round involving children in litter picking, gardening and arts-based projects.
Case Study Making Music Changing Lives is an innovative charity which brings music to the children of Ely. Founded by the local Vicar, and former professional violinist Rev. Jan Gould, the project is based on the El Sistema model, which transformed the lives of street children in Venezuela. It works in partnership with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to offer children the chance to learn an instrument, be part of a community orchestra and experience regular live music performances. The students from the college act as musical mentors to the children helping them to develop confidence, focus and ambition. Jan was recently awarded a Point of Light Award by the Prime Minister in recognition of her work in establishing this pioneering charity.
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“We are proud that Ely has its own youth orchestra.”
“Crime and Safety has improved lots due to the hard work and commitment by community members.”
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A Community Foundation in Wales St. Andrews House 24 St. Andrews Crescent Cardiff CF10 3DD E T F W
info@cfiw.org.uk +44 (0)2920 379580 +44 (0)29202 20816 www.cfiw.org.uk /cfinwales @cfinwales Registered Charity 1074655 Company Number 03670680