Supporting and Developing a Vibrant Voluntary Sector
Annual Report 2013 - 2014
Our Vision, Principles and Aims Contents 1
Vision, Principles and Aims
2
Achievements and Performance
3-4
Volunteering
5-6
Young People’s Volunteering/ Wales Volunteering Project
7
Supporting Groups Working with Families
8
Young People’s Participation/ Making the Connections
9-12
Enterprising Communities
13
South East Wales Community Economic Development Scheme (SEWCED)
14
See CHANGE/Community Voice
15-16 Service User Involvement in Mental Health 17-18 Health, Social Care and Wellbeing/ Mental Health 19
Mental Health
20
Executive Committee Members
21
Staff Team
22-24 Accounts 25-26 Interlink Membership
VISION To support and develop a vibrant voluntary sector in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
PRINCIPLES • To take into account the needs of smaller groups • To promote equal opportunities and reach out to those individuals, groups and communities most in need • To promote and support volunteering • To involve and empower communities, service users, carers and citizens • To be responsive to the changing needs of the voluntary sector • To support and develop partnership working at all levels to deliver better local services for the benefit of the public • To enhance and not compete with the work of member organisations
OUR AIMS • ENABLE - to provide high quality advice, guidance and support • VOICE - to improve services through empowering citizens, communities and voluntary organisations • VOLUNTEERING - to promote, encourage and develop volunteering and economic activity • PROFILE - to raise the profile of the essential contribution of the voluntary sector to the delivery of services
Cover photo from Craft of Hearts, featured in the SEWCED Directory
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• DELIVER - to be a pro-active effective organisation
Achievements and Performance April 2013 to March 2014
The Year in Brief
The funding and resources available for communities and the third sector in RCT has now changed, this is no longer a matter of ‘getting through’ the recession but accepting we are now in a new reality. Many of our members have very few resources and are struggling to survive, but are doing so through a commitment to the people and communities they work with. We have only just seen the start of cuts in public spending - worse is yet to come. However, we have witnessed local people coming together to save vital community services and this confirms communities in RCT have a strong sense of place and togetherness with people prepared to work together and volunteer their time for their community.
Key successes during the year include: Enterprising Communities
This project provided groups with advice, support, networking and training. The project supported 311 groups with a range of enquiries and provided more in depth support to 56 groups in areas such as setting up, business planning and funding applications, helping to raise £1,162,891.
South East Wales Economic Development (SEWCED)
This project delivers support to organisations funded under this programme. As well as supporting existing projects, the project worked with 53 new groups over the year.
Student Volunteering
The RCT Volunteer Centre have been hugely successful in developing closer relationships with the University of South Wales and supporting students into volunteer placements, which has led to over 100 students being placed in community organisations throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Jean Harrington Chair, Interlink
Wellbeing
A wide range of support took place to engage the third sector in health, mental health and wellbeing initiatives in service development and delivery. The main engagement methods include planning groups, partnerships, networks and events.
INVOLVE!
The contribution of people with lived experience of mental health to the design and delivery of mental health services in Cwm Taf is huge and growing, with the total number of active service user involvement hours from April 2013 to March 2014 was 1060 hours - and at the living wage (£7.45) that equates to £7,897!.
Community Voice
Our first year has seen some fantastic work being carried out by our consortia partners with 8 exceptional projects working together to fully involve people and communities to develop better local services.
Developing Skills through Training
The Interlink Training Programme continued to deliver a high number of high quality training opportunities over the year with 66 courses with 631 participants during 2013/14, with 98% rating our training as very good or excellent.
Making the Connections
The focus has been developing coproductive approaches and the RCT ‘Involving People’ Public Engagement Strategy.
Interlink AGM and Conference ‘Together for Mental Health’
This took place on the 27 November at Soar Chapel, Penygraig and was centred on how we can all work together to improve mental wellbeing in RCT using coproductive approaches.
Simon James Chief Executive Officer 2
Information, on,Support Support andFunding Funding Informati and Volunteering Changing lives: Changing Communities
Volunteers gain skills, build confi dence and improve their wellbeing through volunteering. There is now incredible evidence that two or three hours of volunteer work a week can help older adults. A comprehensive and compelling study covering 73 research projects over 45 years looking at happiness, health, brain functi on and life sati sfacti on, clearly showed volunteer work produced bett er health and longer life, and older people with chronic conditi ons benefi tt ed most. The study found 100 hours spent HELPING OTHERS eased depression and hypertension. YES, helping others is good for you! The RCT Volunteer Centre supports volunteers to fi nd a placement and helps organisati ons develop volunteer opportuniti es. Christine Davies, Volunteering Development Officer at Interlink, said: ‘We offer lots of advice, information and support on every aspect of recruiting and retaining volunteers and with my training in ‘Investing In Volunteers’ I can help organisations achieve ‘Investing in Volunteers’ status.
Jenny Evans, Volunteer Coordinator at toogoodtowaste said: ‘As an organisation we are very privileged to have such fantastic support from Interlink which was invaluable to the process of Investing In Volunteers’
Volunteering Awards
Over 80 volunteers att ended the ‘best ever’ RCT Volunteer Awards on Friday 14 June at Abercwmboi Rugby Club presented by famous Welsh author Catrin Collier. Interlink recognises that the ti me and eff ort each volunteer contributes is commendable and each nominee was a winner, three volunteers were selected by a panel for their unique work for the Norah Huxley Award for Outstanding Achievement. These volunteers were Janet Mulcock, nominated by Rhondda Housing, Barbara Powell by Pontyclun Bosom Pals and Jeff Flatt ers by TABS in Porth. The winner of the vote by the audience of 110 peers and guests was Barbara Powell of Pontyclun Bosom Pals, for her support to women with breast cancer, winning the Norah Huxley Award for Outstanding Achievement.
Every three years the Investi ng In Volunteers (IIV) status has to be re-newed to be valid. This involves an organisati onal Health Check whereby a trained IIV Assessor visits the organisati on and notes good practi ce while identi fying any areas where practi ce could be improved, even if that improvement involves a higher standard than is required for IIV. One organisati on that was supported through an IIV Health Check this year and in some areas was taken above the standard required for IIV was toogoodtowaste.
Interlink would like to say a huge thank you to our sponsors who made this event such a success this year, Tydfi l Training Consorti um, Cwm Taf Community Housing,
Social Care Workforce Development Partnership, Enterprising Communiti es, Rhondda Housing, Crime Reducti on Service, RCT Homes and FFramwaith the Children and Young People’s Partnership in RCT.
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Volunteering Kelly’s experience of volunteering
Kelly left school without any qualifications at the age of 14 because she was pregnant and went on to have more children. Kelly admits being a full time mum to four active children wasn’t easy. Kelly often felt down and there were times when she’d see the children off to school and spend the day crying. ‘I was fed up and miserable, I felt as if I was stuck at home, looking after children. I was unemployed and had nothing to look forward to.’ In order to relieve the boredom and as she saw it, improve her frame of mind, Kelly started smoking cannabis but later realised this wasn’t the answer and created more problems than it solved. The expense of buying cannabis threatened the family budget and for Kelly her children always came first. So she made the decision the cannabis had to go. Kelly self-referred to TEDS where she found the help and support she needed where she also got involved with the Peer Mentoring Programme and in turn was referred to the Volunteer Centre at Interlink.
‘I honestly thought I wouldn’t get a volunteering role because I didn’t have any go in me, I was quite negative about it all, I didn’t expect to get anything out of it. That’s why I was so surprised at how quickly things happened. I met Chris on the Friday and had a phone call on Monday inviting me to meet everyone at toogoodtowaste the next day. I officially started the following Monday. Volunteering is fantastic, before I started volunteering I had problems with my self-esteem and confidence. I couldn’t talk to strangers and wouldn’t look people in the eye. toogoodtowaste put me on customer services, which meant I had to deal with people, now it seems really natural to ask strangers if they need help or what I can do for them.
Volunteering has made me more confident, I’m meeting lots of new people and enjoy their company now. I get on with everyone. Volunteering has made me feel really good about myself. I feel as if I’m important now, before I didn’t really matter to anyone, or that’s how I felt anyway.’ Volunteering has also made a difference to Kelly’s home life. She now feels as if she’s got something to talk to her children about and is setting them a good example.
‘The children tell all their friends and teachers about what I do. They are proud of me now and respect me more than they ever have. My partner said he doesn’t mind looking after the children for me to volunteer because he’s proud of me because I’m doing something with my life. I didn’t have anything on my CV so couldn’t ever imagine finding paid work but now things are changing. I’ve got experience of till work, customer service, store cleaning and stock rotation. I’d love to get a paid job in retail. I know toogoodtowaste will give me a reference as well. I’ve got something to offer an employer now. It doesn’t bother me that I’m not paid at the moment because I’m doing something I enjoy and get so much out of. Thank you for getting me into volunteering. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be doing anything with my life.’
The Volunteering Team wish her every success for the future.
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Young People’s Volunteering Sam Griffiths and Thomas Crockett made up the Volunteer Team with Christine Davies, and spent a lot of their time on volunteering with young people, especially the hugely successful project with the University of South Wales. Student Learning About Communities through Volunteering - University of South Wales The Volunteer Centre last year worked in partnership with the University of South Wales (Careers) to place 101 students on 20 University courses into volunteering in 52 community and voluntary organisations in RCT.
USW Student Paddy Goggin, 21, was placed with Pontypridd Food Bank, says: ‘I think the Food Bank is one of the best Charities around, because it is so local. People from the community donate food and that goes directly to the clients. Food is the main currency, and all the work is done by volunteers, I think people can connect to that. Organisations like the Food Bank are so needed in society nowadays, especially with all the cuts going on, so I plan to keep volunteering throughout my life.’
Volunteer Centre having a massive impact!
In November 2013 Daniella Friend was recruited as an Outcomes Research Volunteer to help research the impact of the RCT Volunteer Centre. Daniella did a fantastic job collecting information on how many hours volunteers were completing when placed with local organisations by the Volunteer Centre. Daniella recorded 10,566 volunteer hours between April 2013 and March 2014 by a total of 85 volunteers, giving an average of 124 hours per volunteer!
Thomas Crockett, Interlink’s Volunteering Development Officer said: ‘It is really significant that creating a new Volunteering Role within Interlink has in fact enhanced our knowledge about the outcomes of the work we do, and has made us more aware and proud of the impact our Volunteers are having. Daniella worked very hard to dig out data on the hours for us and we are delighted that she has now moved on to find permanent employment! We are now looking to fill her role again in the near future.’ The Volunteer Centre placed 284 volunteers, which when multiplied by our average rate gives a total of 35,300 hours, or £406,317 contributed to our local communities (calculated at the average national wage rate of £11.51).
Warwick Butler, Pontypridd Food Bank Distribution Centre Manager, says: ‘Volunteers like Paddy from the University of South Wales have done very well for us over the past twelve months and without them we definitely couldn’t have coped so well with the massive demand for our services. The link with the University has definitely been worthwhile for us over the past year, but we could still do with a few more volunteers so we’ll be staying involved next year.’
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This means that for an investment of £62,038 the RCT Volunteer Centre provided a return of £6.55 per each pound received from the Welsh Government. A very special thank you to two organisations and two volunteers for an incredible amount of volunteer hours, namely: • Jennifer Evans from toogoodtowaste with 7,050 hours • Maria McNally from the Alzheimer’s Society who registered 1,631 hours.
Young People’s Volunteering and Wales Volunteering Project The Vol Factor
BIG Wales Volunteering Project
• •
Sam Griffi ths, part of the RCT Volunteer Centre at Interlink, supported 114 people into volunteering, most of which were longer-term unemployed. Many of the people who worked with us also told us they had a number of issues that aff ected their ability to work such as their mental and physical health. Nearly everyone thought they needed some support to boost their confi dence.
The Vol Factor is a youth-led grant scheme, funded by GwirVol through Welsh Government, supporti ng volunteering projects for 14-25 year olds in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The coordinati ng panel of 14-25 year olds awarded grants totalling £4,800, to eight projects, and the projects were showcased at The Vol Factor Celebrati on Event in Glyncoch Community Centre, in March 2014.
• • • • •
New Horizons - Theatre Project Aberdare Valley Association Football League Junior Development Centre Fernhill Youth Project - Volunteer Rewards Scheme RCT People First - Self Advocacy through Music Game On Wales - Darranlas Sports Spectacle Theatre - Risky Behaviour Glyncoch Communities First - Youth Forum and Messy Play
Funded by the Big Lott ery, BIG Wales Volunteering Project has helped people with additi onal support needs into volunteering for the past two years. The learning from the project has led us to develop a new peer mentoring project.
The funding from BIG gave us the opportunity to support the growth of volunteers themselves through delivering training. Of course, the most important part to refl ect upon is the progress made by the volunteers themselves. For many, it has been a long journey of overcoming barriers. The project reminded us that someti mes people just need a litt le support in order to access the fantasti c benefi ts of volunteering and that everyone has something incredible to give whether it is their ti me, skills or enthusiasm - volunteering is one of those ‘win win’ situati ons.
Danny Evans, Secretary of the Aberdare Association Football League said: ‘The Vol Factor Grant scheme has helped us immensely because we now have a facility for younger boys and girls between the ages of 11-16 to attend the Development Centre, under the guidance of qualified coaches and football leaders - who are all volunteers. If it wasn’t for the help from GwirVol, I have serious doubts whether we could afford to fund the project. We can only deliver it free to the participants because of organisations like Interlink.’
Jonathan is a wonderful person who informed us that he has schizophrenia and a criminal record. For him, the last 10 years have been an uphill struggle trying to rebuild his life. Jonathan is incredibly open about this. Jonathan managed to get through all the required checks in order to volunteer with Age Connects Morgannwg and has been doing incredibly well there ever since. With community and voluntary organisati ons such as Age Connects Morgannwg being able to just give that litt le extra help, we can all accomplish great things for the voluntary sector in RCT, but most importantly for the volunteers themselves.
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Supporting Groups Working with Families Maria James is the Children and Young People’s Partnership Development Offi cer engaging organisati ons working with children and young people with strategic prioriti es such as Team Around the Family, Canopi and Safeguarding as well as off ering individual organisati ons support and advice as needed. In November 2013, Maria was tasked by the Local Service Board to carry out a review of all informati on, advice and guidance that is off ered to children and young people across RCT. Initi ally this review was just to involve schools but Maria felt that to make a comprehensive piece of work, community groups and young people needed to be included in the review and she will be making contact with partners and young people over the coming year. Maria facilitated a range of meeti ngs, workshops and events for the voluntary sector to have their voices heard at both operati on and strategic level.
Team Around The Family
Team Around the Family (TAF) provides a whole family approach to preventati ve interventi ons, it is a way of everyone working together with children, young people and families coordinated by a key worker, to make life easier for families. With Maria’s support, over 80 parti cipants from 20 voluntary organisati ons across RCT were encouraged and supported to att end Team Around the Family training. Working with representati ves from the voluntary sector, Maria has ensured that the voice of the sector is heard and its ideas have contributed greatly to the development of TAF and the principle that it’s ‘everyone’s business.’ Maria also developed a quality audit tool for TAF assessments together with a colleague of the Fframwaith Support Team to ensure that the quality of interventi ons that families are being off ered are appropriate to their need. The voluntary sectors presence was further strengthened with Acti on for Children being awarded the tender for the Family Interventi on Team (FIT) based in Taf Ely making the third sector one of the major players in delivering TAF in RCT.
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Maria is part of the Cwm Taf Safeguarding Board Training Delivery Group and has delivered 10 courses for the community over the past year ensuring 154 parti cipants were equipped with the skills and knowledge to ensure that our children and young people are protected. ‘very good information, everything was explained in detail.’
‘It instils the fact that safeguarding is everybody’s business – never do nothing!’ As a result of her training in the community, both safeguarding and sexual health training, Maria won the Inspire Adult Learning Awards 2013 for the category of ‘Outstanding New Tutor Award’. Maria is extremely proud of this achievement and hopes that she can conti nue to work with partners to ensure that all partnership training that is developed is available to the sector.
During this year the new Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) launched their new checks and along with colleagues Maria organised and facilitated courses at Interlink to ensure the sector was up to speed in readiness for the changes.
Young People’s Participation Your Future First
Your Future First Project is for young people aged between 16-24 who are disengaged or at risk of disengaging from education, employment and training. It is a coordinated and dedicated service that addresses multiple needs and supports the engagement of young people aged 16-24 into education, employment and training. The evaluation of this programme included interviews with the young participants, at the beginning, middle and end. The majority felt this was a positive experience, preferring the more ‘hands on’ approach of learning, as in the practical sessions. One of the main positives was that they felt it gave them a reason to get up in the morning. ‘The Job Centres should help out with USB sticks, and help you to use them.’
‘I just want to start my life up.’
‘The best help and support I have ever had.’
UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) Young People’s Group
This project is jointly supported by Fframwaith and Services For Young People. A group of young people in Y Pant Comprehensive School have been undertaking training so they can deliver awareness training on the UNCRC to other young people. This will be piloted in September 2014. This group also responded to the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure. ‘Make sure young people can understand what adults are trying to say, it’s important.’
TAF (Team Around the Family)
The TAF initiative in RCT provides a whole family approach to preventative interventions. Families themselves have fed back a feeling of being in control of their own support and more importantly, the interventions were worked through at the pace of the family and not the workers. Interviews with the families provided evidence of the success of the TAF process, worded more eloquently by the families themselves. ‘This is the best intervention we have ever had. It means everything that people actually listen to what we and our children have to say.’
Making the Connections It takes a village to raise a child!
It is estimated a school can impact on a child’s educational performance by 30% (Egan, D (2012). Harnessing the power of family and community in supporting children to succeed is vital. Tonypandy Community College has started to work with Interlink through Jenny O’Hara-Jakeway, Interlink’s Making the Connections Officer, and a whole host of partners to really engage pupils, their families and teachers to make the school an even greater success.
Public funds might be scarce but people power is abundant!
During January and February 2014, Interlink were able to work with partners such as Age Connects Morgannwg, to host a series of workshops with partners to debate how the voluntary sector can help respond to and reduce the impact of cuts in public spending. The generosity of people and communities with their own time, skills and expertise has been considerable. Interlink is supporting where and whenever is needed. 8
Enterprising Communities Ken Moon and Joanna Markham are Enterprising Communiti es Offi cers, with Phil Barrett , aft er many years excellent service, reti ring in June 2013. They have been overwhelmed with interest working with 311 groups dealing with issues such as funding and governance. The team provided more in depth support to 56 groups in areas such as setti ng up, business planning and funding applicati ons, helping to raise £1,162,891. •
Rhondda Breast Friends were supported in applying to several funders and secured £5,000 from Pink Ribbon Foundati on and were chosen as Sainsbury’s charity of the year. Welsh Aikido Club secured £8,000 from Children in Need to develop their work with young people. Mangoed Allotments received £4,800 from Awards for All Wales. Two Meithrins received £8,000 to renovate equipment for their centres.
• • •
A new acti ve group formed, ‘Friends of Butchers Pool’ as a result of the decision to close Butchers Pool splash park in Ynysybwl. Joanna Markham worked with Rebecca Arnold from the Community Voice Project, with the aim of getti ng the splash park ready to reopen through fundraising and local volunteers.
Another organisati on which Ken worked with in a similar positi on was the RCT Skills Centre in Porth. The enterprise was started by a sole trader frustrated with the quality of constructi on skills training available to young people in the area. Ken worked with the organisati on on their legal structure and helped them secure support from Coalfi elds Regenerati on Trust to identi fy and explore further income generati ng opportuniti es with the industry.
As a result of working with the Community Enterprise Networks Offi cer based in Glyncoch on the Taste of Enterprise Event in Pontypridd, Ken Moon worked with Denise Lord and Larry Allan to set up a new Performing Arts company called the Chainworks. Ken worked with the group to identi fy the most appropriate legal structure and a range of new policies they would need and to source start-up funding. ‘Ken Moon from Interlink has been a mine of valuable information and support which has helped ChainWorks Productions to formulate as a legal entity and to ensure we have the right policies in place, along with useful funding ideas to pursue. It's great to be able tap to into one reliable source for a wide range of support and advice.’ Denise Lord, ChainWorks Productions
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In the Upper Rhondda Ken worked with the Community Voice and Welcome to Our Woods to explore opportuniti es for community engagement and new uses for woodland around Cwm Saebren, Treherbert. This includes supporti ng the group to explore a community hydro scheme.
Enterprising Communities ‘Largely due to work done by Ken and other Interlink staff, the community of the Upper Rhondda Fawr are now in the position to develop local sustainable energy projects. Interlink have been absolutely crucial in the development of our micro hydro scheme and have proactively supported the development of our community vision around the future use of local natural resources.’
‘Interlink have been a massive support to Tylorstown Welfare Hall, pivotal in the future direction of its existence. Their simple advice, such as one funding application at a time may not seem important but was a lifeline. Joanna has been a mentor to me and I am now a confident bid writer.’ Rebecca Sullivan - Welfare Hall Manager
Joanna Markham provided detailed in depth support to Trecynon Hall, which is a community owned and run building. Joanna helped with their applicati on to the Big Lott ery Fund’s People and Places Programme to restore the Hall and assisted with managing the grant. ‘Interlink has been faultless in helping with the vast amount of grant aid applications that we have received that as enabled us to achieve maximum potential for our organisation and to whom we are extremely grateful.’ Gareth, Trustee Trecynon Hall
At Tylorstown Hall, Joanna supported trustees and staff to develop their capacity and bring together partners to restore the building. This led to the writi ng of several funding applicati ons including an applicati on to the Heritage Lott ery Fund. This project aims not only to restore this fantasti c historical building in the Rhondda but to make it warm and welcoming so it can be fully uti lised by the local community to provide a meeti ng space and local services. Projects of this size need help from a wide range of sources and this organisati on has had help from RCT Homes, architects, surveyors, Interlink – and most importantly, the local community.
New Services for Local Communities
The cuts to local authority budgets are a huge challenge for us all. The fi rst round of public service cuts hit Rhondda Cynon Taf during 2013/14 and Interlink worked with several new groups to support them with the process of developing new services in buildings no longer required by RCTCBC.
Beddau and Ty Nant Library Hub
In Beddau, Interlink worked with the group from the start, suggesti ng the best way forward was to engage with the community. An open day was held which made the group realise how many local people were prepared to off er their skills and support the group. Interlink also asked Coalfi elds Regenerati on Trust for help, who through the Community Enterprise Network were able to secure the support of a consultant to write a business case.
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Enterprising Communities In Treherbet Ken Moon met with a group made up of Cylch Meithrin Tynewydd, a member of CwmNi Ltd and a private sector partner. Interlink helped the group to secure consultancy support from Wales Co-operati ve Centre to prepare a Business Plan.
‘From the start… Interlink has been alongside us providing support, guidance, training and introductions to relevant contacts to enable us to put together a viable business plan. Initially they helped us to run a community meeting to ensure that the project was feasible and that there was sufficient support from the community and volunteers. Further to that we attended an organisation workshop where we determined the correct structure for our group. Interlink continue to provide on-going support and advice to us regarding funding, training opportunities and managing our community building. We appreciate all that they do for us to make sure that our project is sustainable and successful.’ Helen Boldero, Trustee
‘Hats off to the group, it is not Interlink who made this a success, it was the group and the support of the local librarian. They have made a decision that this was an important service to their community and made a massive effort to work together and make it work. It makes me feel very humble to work with such an exceptional group of people who care about their community and are prepared to do something about it.’ Simon James, Chief Executive, Interlink
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‘Advice from Interlink staff has been instrumental in helping the Cylch Meithrin in Tynewydd take over the closed Treherbert Youth Club building. Interlink has provided links to other organisations and expertise that was desperately needed and without Interlink’s help I would not have been able to achieve what I have done so this year. I would recommend any new enterprise to contact Interlink for advice and support.’ Paul Russell, Secretary CwmNi Ltd/advocate for Treherbert Labour
Enterprising Communities Interlink secured £86,000 to undertake detailed feasibility studies to determine which community hydro sites could be taken forward. 11 feasibility studies had been completed by 26 February 2013 and 3 schemes were identi fi ed to progress with local groups, Cwm Saebren, Ynysybwl and Gelliwion, Pontypridd. Interlink secured additi onal resources from Cardiff University’s Seren Project to assess the viability of mine workings to provide heat for community buildings, such as the Lady Windsor Colliery site in Ynysybwl. Interlink also helped to secure support for groups from the University of South Wales Project Shop carrying out a range of projects with community groups including health and safety audits and community building energy audits. Leading from this work, Interlink provided evidence of need to the Coalfi elds Regenerati on Trust which helped to secure a further £140,000 worth of energy audits and energy improvements to community buildings in RCT such as insulati on, new windows and improved heati ng systems. This means that these community buildings are now not only warmer and more welcoming, but they are more fi nancially and environmentally sustainable, with lower heati ng bills and more people are able to use the faciliti es on off er.
Promoting Enterprise
The team produced regular informati on on all things enterprise through regular emails, social media, a number of events and weekly bulleti ns.
Prosperity and Enterprise Event 2013
Over 50 people from the voluntary and public sector att ended the Prosperity and Enterprise event on the 14 November 2013 to explore how community and voluntary groups deliver on the ‘prosperity’ theme of the Single Integrated Plan at a ti me of austerity and tackle the key issues of employment, educati on, fi nancial inclusion and the economy. Delegates heard from award winning social enterprises such as Greenstream Carpets and new enterprises such as RCT Skills Centre, with a local enterprise run by young people providing the catering for the event. ‘A lot of hard work was put into making the day a success a lot of partners were included to inform us on what they are doing in RCT - very informative.’
Interlink has developed a close partnerhips with local funders such as Tower Colliery, who fund groups across RCT. Joanna worked with Penywaun Allotments to secure an additi onal £5,000 from Awards for All Wales. ‘Working in partnership with Interlink has proven to be a worthwhile and successful asset to the Tower Fund and all the communities we work with. Their involvement, certainly to us at Tower Fund, means that the groups we work with take full advantage of all that is out there for them to deliver worthwhile and beneficial projects within their community. Passion is key and Interlink certainly provide that to our partnership.’ Hayley Teague, Tower Fund
The Enterprising Communiti es programme is funded by the European Social Fund coordinated by WCVA.
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South East Wales Community Economic Development Scheme (SEWCED) South East Wales Economic Development
(SEWCED). This project supports economic regenerati on, supporti ng enterprises through the applicati on process, aiding successful enterprises with the delivery of their project including advice and guidance with ERDF target achievement and the retenti on of documents relati ng to the project delivery. Meriel Gough delivers the SEWCED project at Interlink. The project aims to build economic sustainable communiti es through the grant and focus' on: • Increasing the economic contributi on of the third sector • Improving services for communiti es where gaps can be clearly identi fi ed • Developing local networks that engage local communiti es to fi nd and implement local soluti ons • Promoti ng social inclusion through cultural and heritage acti viti es A large number of enquiries were received working with a total of 70 groups over the year: • 22 of these were supported with organisati onal management and business planning • 25 with accessing funding that was not SEWCED • 15 Groups were assisted to develop and deliver a service through a consorti a • 11 were assisted with legal structures and governance
SEWCED funded Craft of Hearts at one of their workshops
toogoodtowaste was successful in accessing the SEWCED grant to support two projects, the post of Domestic Appliance Electrical Engineer, this new role enabled toogoodtowaste to increase the number of electrical and gas appliances they are able to collect and safety test before off ering back out to the community in their charity shops or to local people in need and an Ethical House Clearance Scheme, a complete Ethical House Clearance Service where the enti re contents of a property are cleared and as many of the items are re-used as possible, either through off ering for resale in charity shops or through working with partner organisati ons.
‘Just wanted to say thank you for all your help with the SEWCED bid, we have been successful.’ Hayley Fiddler, Pontypridd YMCA These groups are delivering with a SEWCED Grant and have been assisted by Interlink during this period:
The Phoenix Centre; Arti s Community; YMCA Pontypridd; toogoodtowaste; New Horizon’s NH2; Acrow De Cymru; The Arts Factory; Cynon Valley Bowls; Cynon Valley Crime Prevention Association CVCPA; Crossroads Cwm Taf Total Care Support Soluti ons; Greenstream Carpets; Craft of Hearts.
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Ruth Jones celebrates at toogoodtowaste’s launch event
SEWCED is funded through Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.
See CHANGE/ Community Voice See CHANGE was delivered by Lucy Foster, See
CHANGE Coordinator, a BIG Lott ery funded project to support communiti es achieve their ambiti on through support and training.
See CHANGE ‘Empowering Active Communities in RCT’ - has come to an end aft er a hugely successful project supporti ng a huge number of learners, community groups and partners, with 530 people taking part in the project, 296 in training, with 141 people supported to be involved in community acti on.
See CHANGE Supports Health Advocates in Glyncoch. The Community Health Advocates are working to improve wellbeing in Glyncoch.
This project sprang from a Communiti es First Acti on Planning event in the local church hall where local people along with leading health professionals came together to look at health issues and develop an acti on plan for improving health. The Health Advocates support diff erent elements that fi t in with their skills and interests, including healthy eati ng, risky behaviour and physical acti vity. Mental Health and depression have been tackled through peer support groups.
See CHANGE Mentoring Training
We have had over 120 parti cipants enjoy our bespoke Mentoring training. We have linked with the People and Work Unit, Qwest and Rhondda Housing to deliver over 48 courses. This has then led to many of the parti cipants sign up to our ‘Helping Hands programme.’ Sally Fowler delivered each session explaining ‘I have never met such lovely people wanting to learn and then help others.’
Community Voice
Community Voice is Lott ery funded and our fi rst year has seen some fantasti c work being carried out. Lucy Foster coordinates a consorti a of 8 brilliant projects to work together with people and communiti es to address their issues and provide bett er local services. This is all about coproducti on, which involves people and communiti es who use services working with those who provide them on an equal basis and recognising that we need to use everyone’s skills, knowledge and experience to make change happen.
The Projects: • • • • • • • • ‘Thanks to the See CHANGE project and the digital story training, I was able to share my story to help others.’
Coproducing the Future - Glyncoch Regenerati on Partnership – HYPA ( Helping young people achieve) Create a Voice - Eye to Eye The Breakthrough Project - Age Connects Morgannwg Our Voice, Our Future - Tonypandy Community College Wanting to be Heard - Cardiff Vale and the Valleys Ynysybwl Futures - Ynysybwl and Glyncoch Regenerati on Partnership Welcome to our Woods!’ - Learn and Grow Neighbours - Spectacle Theatre
1,594 people have engaged to date through forums, community consultati ons, school consultati ons, steering groups and events. 14
Service User Involvement in Mental Health INVOLVE! promotes and supports service user
involvement in the planning, delivery and evaluati on of mental health services across RCT and Merthyr Tydfi l. By doing this, we aim to ensure that the service user voice brings about lasti ng improvements in mental health services. Rachel Wyatt the Mental Health Service User Involvement Offi cer at Interlink works with people with lived experience to deliver the project.
In order to promote involvement in the INVOLVE! project and the recruitment process for representati ves, we held two successful ‘Get Involved’ events in RCT and Merthyr Tydfi l which were att ended by over 50 service users and carers as well as partner agencies. We also carried out a consultati on exercise with att endees, who identi fi ed various issues that were prioriti es for service users and carers, such as:
The contributi on of people with lived experience of mental health to the design and delivery of mental health services in Cwm Taf is huge and growing, with the total number of acti ve service user involvement hours from April 2013 to March 2014 was 1060 hours - and at the living wage (£7.45) that equates to £7,897!
• the need for bett er access to informati on about the diff erent types of mental health groups and services available • the importance of work to challenge sti gma and discriminati on • the need to improve access to psychological interventi ons.
Together for Mental Health
Service User Representatives
Together for Mental Health is the Welsh Government’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The Cwm Taf Mental Health Partnership Board has the responsibility of ensuring the Strategy is developed and delivered locally. We used a coproducti ve approach to develop a recruitment process with service users and carers to appoint service user and carer representati ves to the Partnership Board. The new representati ves were appointed in January 2014 and their role will be to represent the voice of local people.
Mental health representati ves parti cipated in various policy and planning groups throughout the year including the Cwm Taf Mental Health Partnership Board, the Stronger In Partnership Group, the Eati ng Disorders Parti cipati on Group, the Implementati on Group for Part 2 of the Mental Health Measure and the Mental Health Act Monitoring Group.
Local Engagement and Consultation
The Service User Recovery Forum met monthly in venues across RCT and Merthyr Tydfi l to gather people’s views and experiences of local services and to hear feedback from service user representati ves who att end mental health planning groups. In February 2014, the group met with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council staff to take part in the Phase 2 consultati on on cuts to local authority services, including day services. Stronger in Partnership is a group that supports service users and carers to work with the statutory and third sector. The group meet quarterly to promote mental health service user and carer involvement in the planning, design, delivery and evaluati on of mental health services. In March 2014, the group was involved in the engagement process carried out by Cwm Taf University Health Board on changes to Older Person’s Mental Health Services.
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Service User Involvement in Mental Health The group raised the importance of designing engagement questi ons in an accessible and jargonfree way. The Health Board has agreed to use the group as a ’sounding board’ for future engagement on mental health services.
Recruitment
In order to improve the services provided by public sector organisati ons, service users help recruit staff with the suitable values and skills. People with lived experience were involved in 25 interview panels for mental health posts at Cwm Taf University Health Board, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and the University of South Wales. In March 2014, we also co-produced and co-delivered a recruitment training day with two service user facilitators to equip people with the necessary knowledge and skills to take part in future recruitment panels. ‘The amount of information given was good and clear. Very enjoyable and informative.’
INVOLVE! also received many anecdotal reports of the impact that negati ve atti tudes can have when people visit their GP for support with their mental health and identi fi ed a lot of enthusiasm for a project that promotes bett er mental health awareness in primary care. Consequently, the INFORM training package was co-produced with service users and carers, and aims to raise awareness amongst practi ce staff of pati ents’ and carers’ experiences of accessing primary care for a mental health-related conditi on. The group have developed a variety of interacti ve training methods including digital stories, group acti viti es and presentati ons to highlight common themes and demonstrate how simple changes to working practi ces can be extremely eff ecti ve in supporti ng people. The group will be delivering the training to practi ces across Cwm Taf starti ng in July 2014. INFORM has been one of the most exciti ng and innovati ve projects to date and we wish the group every success in delivering this training in 2014-2015.
INFORM
Mental Health Awareness Training for Primary Care The need for bett er mental health awareness in primary care has been identi fi ed at both a local and a nati onal level. One of the key recommendati ons from Gofal’s 2014 survey of ‘People’s Experiences of Primary Mental Health Services in Wales 2014’ states that, ‘Local mental health partners should ensure that GPs and other primary care staff attend training to increase their awareness and understanding of mental health problems.’ ‘Loved it. Really enjoyed meeting other people and getting their perspective of how to change doctors attitudes to mental health and putting well-being into the foresight of the medical profession. I hope that by chipping away at stereotypes we can make a difference and maybe in time change the world or how the world sees us!’
‘It was a very productive day I thought where we came up with some important issues, think it will be keeping us busy for sometime lol. (Service user rep)
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Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Showcasing health projects at the Crystal Trophy Awards
Anne Morris is the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Facilitator at Interlink and supports people, communiti es and organisati ons to work together to improve health and wellbeing in Cwm Taf. Local volunteers, community and voluntary groups that have delivered inspirati onal and innovati ve schemes were rewarded at the Crystal Trophy Awards. ‘This is what it is all about and makes my job so worthwhile, learning from the amazing people and community projects in Cwm Taf. We need to see more investment in local community groups and their volunteers as well as giving them recognition for their fantastic work.’ Anne Morris, Interlink
Community Food Boxes - Rhondda Housing Association and FareShare Cymru
This life-changing scheme is the fi rst of its kind in South Wales and has seen healthy food that was considered as waste and thrown away used for healthy food boxes for residents in need. Residents pay a small charge for the boxes (around 20 per cent of what the food in the box would cost to buy in the shop). For those in rent arrears, the contributi on they make to the cost of the box goes towards clearing their arrears. The boxes were assembled and collected weekly by volunteers, 160 families had benefi tt ed from the boxes and rent arrears were cut by fi ve per cent. The scheme also off ers valuable volunteering opportuniti es. The Crystal Trophy Awards are supported by Cwm Taf UHB.
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Prepare to Care - Merthyr and the Valleys Mind
Prepare to Care is a unique training opportunity for those who care for someone else in their community or for those looking for a career in care. The Agored Cymru accredited course off ers an informal and supporti ve introducti on to care for parti cipants. ‘I hope to be able to gain employment in the near future and feel what I have learned has provided me with the knowledge and confidence to make that giant step after being out of work for years.’
‘I have cerebral palsy and my husband has multiple sclerosis. I never knew my husband was still capable of making his own decisions until we came on this course. This was ground-breaking and since this he has gained confidence and is able to articulate himself to our local GP and others around him. If only people could have known my husband before the onset of MS. He was an amazing man. I would dedicate the Crystal Trophy Award in honour of my husband.’
Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Intermediate Care Fund
In December of this year the Welsh Government’s Budget for 2014-15 included proposals to establish an Intermediate Care Fund (ICF). The Fund will be used to encourage collaborative working between Social Services, Health and Housing, to support people to maintain their independence and remain in their own home. It will also be used to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions or inappropriate admission to residential care, as well as preventing delayed discharges from hospital. This will involve improved care co-ordination across Social Services and Health to support people to remain safely at home or in the community setting. It will identify those people who, when admitted to hospital, are most at risk of becoming a delayed
discharge and proactively managing their care and support needs to ensure they are able to return home. For these people, it could also involve ensuring the provision of aids and adaptations to their home to support them to maintain their independence. In collaboration with Interlink, Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil, Cwm Taf UHB and Merthyr and Rhondda, Cynon Taf County Borough Councils, regional proposals were submitted. The Cwm Taf proposal included a third sector grant fund: ‘The Neighbourhood Capacity Grant Scheme’ and the employment of Community Coordinators by Interlink and VAMT to connect services for older people along with a capacity building project focussed on volunteering.
Mental Health Mental Health Forum
The Cwm Taf Mental Health Forum enables voluntary sector organisations interested in mental wellbeing to work together and engage with the statutory sector to improve mental wellbeing. The Forum is facilitated by Maria Abson the Mental Health Development Officer at Interlink and VAMT and chaired by Janet Whiteman of New Horizons. There were four meetings during the year and the key topics included were the impact of public sector cuts on mental wellbeing and funding opportunities. A key piece of work involving consulting Forum members in November was research into providing alternatives to prescribing for mental health, with Cwm Taf having the highest prescribing rates in the UK. ‘I find the forum immensely valuable it keeps me well informed helping me to understand what’s going on locally and gives my organisation a voice in local developments.’
Valleys Steps
Interlink, working with the University Health Board, applied for funding from the WCVA to carry out the research with a view to applying for a Wellbeing Bond. A Wellbeing Bond is a social investment, providing a low risk loan to invest in services that later lead to savings that can pay back the loan. In this case, the research asked the question whether investing in early intervention and preventative services for mental health services would reduce the cost of prescribed medicines. The study was commissioned by Interlink with funding from WCVA and undertaken by the Welsh Institute of Health and Social Care. The study looked at whether partners in Cwm Taf could utilise a Wellbeing Bond to support the provision of alternative services, such as mindfulness, peer support and the arts, under a new ‘Valleys Steps’ model, based on a successful model in Scotland that made the link between poverty and poor mental health, called ‘Glasgow Steps.’
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Mental Health Valleys Steps continued .... The initi al report was completed and has now moved onto looking at the best approach to developing the ‘Valley’s Steps’ model and securing loan fi nance and funding to deliver new services to improve wellbeing.
World Mental Health Day Events
Two mental health awareness raising events were organised in Merthyr and RCT in October 2013 for World Mental Health Day. Both events gave members of the public across Cwm Taf the opportunity to discuss their concerns about mental health and challenge some of the stereotypes people hold. The events were a great success with 440 members of the public att ending the Merthyr event and roughly 70 members of the public att ending the RCT event. Around 80 community organisati ons were engaged with both events, holding stalls, giving advice, guidance and signposti ng people to relevant services. The theme was ‘Older Peoples Mental Health’ and both events incorporated acti viti es around the theme to raise public awareness.
Older Persons Mental Health Services ‘It took the Health Service six months to see to my father, if it had not been for the Alzheimers Society, I can categorically say that Dad would be an inpatient now. As a health authority you need to LISTEN to service users and carers, if it wasn’t for voluntary organisations helping you would have MAJOR problems. More support for voluntary organisations is needed.’ Interlink ran an engagement event in March 2014 with Cwm Taf University Health Board to engage stakeholders in proposed changes to mental health services for older people. Plans included to locate all assessment beds at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital to provide more specialist assessment and treatment and to provide more community services. Concerns were expressed over transport and the ability of service users and carers to get to the Royal Glamorgan, especially from Merthyr.
‘This event is invaluable and goes a long way towards challenging stigma in the local community.’
‘Well organised event had a very positive focus – more of the same next year please, well done!’
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There was recogniti on that people require earlier interventi ons, bett er support in early stages of memory loss and increased use of the third sector. These concerns were expressed to the University Health Board as part of the consultati on process.
Executive Committee Executive Committee April 2013 to March 2014 Jean Harrinton
TEDS
Chair
Pauline Richards
Valleys Kids
Vice Chair
Geoff Bell
Llantrisant and District 50+ Forum
Treasurer
Robin Cook
Treforest Wholesome Foods (until September 2013)
Wendy York
RCT Community Arts
Kate O’Sullivan
Gilfach Goch Community Association
Rhian Dash
Rowan Tree Cancer Care
Stephen Davis
Spectacle Theatre
Lynda Corre
RCT 50+ Forum
Gareth Taylor
Pontygwaith Partnership
Joanna Fashan
Cynon Valley Crime Prevention
Janet Whiteman
New Horizons (from November 2013)
Kathryn Williams
Dylans Den (from November 2013)
Ben Treharne-Foose
Big Click (from March 2014)
20
Staff Team Simon James
Chief Executive
June Williams-Sykes
Finance and Resources Manager
Ann Philpott
Operations Manager (until June 2013)
Kath Price
Office Manager
Alisa Davies
Administrative Assistant
Cara Jordan-Evans
Administrative Assistant
Lauren Baker
Receptionist/Hospitality Assistant
Phil Barrett
Development Officer (Enterprising Communities) (until June 2013)
Joanna Markham
Development Officer (Enterprising Communities)
Ken Moon
Development Officer (Enterprising Communities)
Meriel Gough
Development Officer (Social Enterprise/SEWCED)
Christine Davies
Volunteering Development Officer
Thomas Crockett
Volunteering Development Officer
Sam Griffiths
Wales Volunteering Officer
Maria Prosser
Children and Young People’s Partnership Development Officer
(Hosted by Interlink)
Sue Phillips
Fframwaith Participation and Involvement Officer
(Hosted by Interlink)
Maria Abson
Mental Health Development Officer
Helen Rees
Mental Health Service User Involvement Officer (Support)
Rachel Wyatt
Mental Health Service User Involvement Officer (Development)
Anne Morris
Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Facilitator
Kelly Daniel
Making the Connections Development Officer (until June 2013)
Lucy Foster
See Change Coordinator and Trainer Community Voice Coordinator (from April 2013)
Jenny O’Hara Jakeway
Making the Connections Development Officer (from October 2013)
Interlink Cleaners
Jackie Willis Rebecca Edwards
Interlink Volunteers Sue Shaddock Charlotte Taylor Hannah Davies Our thanks and best wishes go to Anne and Phil who left Interlink during this year.
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Accounts Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2014
2014 £
2013 £
36,427 196,711 233,138
47,520 47,520
74,745 318,924 393,669
75,532 464,254 539,786
20,112
8,143
Net Current Assets
373,557
531,643
Net Assets
606,695
579,163
Funds Unrestricted Funds
575,894
501,076
30,801
78,087
606,695
579,163
Fixed Assets Tangible Fixed Assets Investments Current Assets Debtors and Prepayments Cash at Bank and in hand Liabilities: Amounts falling due within one year
Restricted Funds Total Funds
These summarised accounts may not contain sufficient information to allow for a full understanding of the financial affairs of the charitable company. For further information, the full accounts, the independent auditor’s report on those accounts and the trustees’ annual report should be consulted. Copies of these can be obtained from Interlink, 6 Melin Corrwg, Cardiff Road, Upper Boat CF37 5BE Telephone: 01443 846200. To the Members of Interlink In the opinion of the independent auditors, Williams Ross Limited, the summarised accounts given in this document are consistent with the full annual accounts. The independent auditors’ report on the full accounts was unqualified. The full annual accounts were approved by the trustees on 4 November 2014. WILLIAMS ROSS LIMITED Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditor, 4 Ynys Bridge Court, Gwaelod y Garth, Cardiff, CF15 9SS.
22
Accounts Accounts Summary Income and Expenditure Account Year ended 31 March 2014
2014 £
2013 £
Gross income from normal continuing operations
1,112,335
915,170
Income from non-charitable trading activities
18,720
11,481
1,436
-
1,132,491
926,651
1,104,350
918,476
28,141
8,175
Staff Costs
Other
Depreciation
Total
£
£
£
£
505,864
561,619
16,456
1,083,939
9,314
11,097
-
20,411
515,178
572,716
16,456
1,104,350
Investment income Total income of continuing operations Total expenditure of continuing operations
Note
Net income for the year
Note Analysis of resources expended
Support Costs Management and administration expenditure (including governance)
23
Accounts Statement of Financial Activities (Including Income and Expenditure Account) For the year ended 31 March 2014 2014 Unrestricted Restricted £ £
Total £
2013 Total £
Incoming resources Incoming Resources from Generated Funds: Voluntary Income: Donations and Grants Activities for generating funds: Trading income Bank Interest Investment Income
18,720 223 1,436
1,000 -
1,000 18,720 223 1,436
11,481 379 -
Incoming Resources from Charitable Activities: Grants and contracts
358,939
587,420
946,359
901,093
Management Fees Other incoming resources
136,369 28,384
-
136,369 28,384
13,698
Total Incoming Resources
544,071
588,420 1,132,491
926,651
4,116 452,840 6,981 463,937
4,116 631,099 1,083,939 9,314 16,295 640,413 1,104,350
912,825 5,651 918,476
Resources Expended Cost of Generating Funds Charitable Activities Governance Costs Total Resources Expended Net Income / (expenditure) for the year before Transfers Transfers between Funds
80,134
(51,993)
28,141
8,175
(4,707)
4,707
-
-
75,427
(47,286)
28,141
8,175
Other Recognised Gains Gains/(losses) on investments Realised Unrealised Net movement in funds Opening Resources
(203) (406) 74,818 501,076
(47,286) 78,087
(203) (406) 27,532 579,163
8,175 570,988
Funds Carried Forward
575,894
30,801
606,695
579,163 24
Membership Membership Interlink Membership to 31 March 2014 12th Pontypridd Scout Group; 1st Aberdare St Fagans Scout Group; 1st Pontygwaith Scout Group; 1st Tonyrefail Scout Group; Aberaman Amateur Boxing Club; Aberaman Bowls Club; Aberaman Newydd Tenants Association; Abercwmboi Community Revival Group; Abercwmboi Environment Group; Abercynon Action Team; Abercynon RFC; Abercynon Social Hall; Aberdare and District Radio Society; Aberdare Childrens Contact Centre; Aberdare Cricket Club; Aberdare Scribblers; Aberdare Trefoil Guild; Abergorki Community Hall; Abernant Community Interests Group; Access Mondial; Accessible Caring Transport; ACT 1 Theatre Group; Action for Hirwaun (A4H); ACTS Community Church; ADD-LIB; ADREF LTD; Advocacy Matters; Age Action Mountain Ash and Penrhiwceiber; Age Concern Cymru; Age Concern Morgannwg; Alison House Youth and Play Project; All Wales Forum; Alzheimer’s Society Merthyr Tydfil Branch; An Open Door; Arosfa Senior Citizens Guild; Artis Community; Arts Factory; Ategi; Barry Sidings Activity Group; Beddau Library; BETH Beyond Everything Theres Hope; Bethel Place Residents Association; Bethlehem Baptist Church; Bipolar UK; Blaenllechau Community Invovlement Group; Blossoming Buddies; Boys and Girls Clubs Of Wales; Breast Cancer Care Cymru; Breathe Easy Rhondda; Briars Bridleways; Britannia Street Watch; British Deaf Association; British Heart Foundation Cymru; British Red Cross; Bronwydd Ladies Bowling Club; Bryn Golau Caergwerlas Tenants and Residents; Brynawel House Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre; Bryncynon Community Centre; Bryncynon Litter Pick Group; Bryncynon Walking Group; Bryntirion Graveyard Fund; Bryntirion Tenant & Residents Association; C.A.S.S. (Calectoral & Stoma Support); Camau Bach Outdoor Activity Group; Cambrian Male Voice Choir; Canny Quilter's; Capel Farm Resource Centre; Capel Salem Tonteg; Capel Soar Soar Chapel the Trustees; Capel y Tabernacl Cyf; Cardiff Vales and Valleys; Care & Repair Rhondda Cynon Taff Ltd; Cartrefi Cymru; CASE; Castle Square United Reform Church; Cefn Primary Mother & Toddler; Cemetery Road Tenants and Residents Association; Central Glamorgan Guides; Central Glamorgan Trefoil Guild; Chaplaincy Service at USW; Churches Counselling Service in Wales; Chwarae Plant; Chwarae Teg; CIC (Cynllyn Ieuenctid Y Cymoedd); Cilfynydd Art Society; Cilfynydd Kids Club; Circles Network Wales; Cleanstream Carpets CIC; Clwb Carco; Clwb Gymdeithasol Cymraeg Cwm Cynon; Clwb y Bont; Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation; Coalfields Regeneration Trust; Coed Ely Community Centre Steering Group; Colorectal and Stoma Support Group; Communities in Partnership; Community Cancer Services; Community Development Cymru; Community Mediation Services RCT; Cor Meibion Morlais; Cor Meibion Pontypridd; Cornerstone Church; Craftyways Society; Creative Cynon; Crime Reduction Initiatives; Crossroads Rhondda Cynon Taff; Cruse Bereavement Care Merthyr Tydfil/Rhondda Cynon Taff; Cwm Clydach Development Trust; Cwm Clydach Outdoor Activity Group; Cwm Cynon Women's Aid; Cwm Gymnastics; Cwm Taff Alzheimer's Society; Cwmaman Health Group; Cwmaman Institute Silver Band; Cwmaman Public Hall and Institute; Cwmbach Choir; Cwmbach Scouts and Guides; Cwmparc Branch National OAP of Wales; Cwmparc Community Association; Cwmparc Out of School Club; Cwmparc Treorchy and Ynyswen Community Regeneration; Cylch; Cylch Meithrin Aberdar; Cylch Meithrin Efail Isaf; Cylch Meithrin Nant Drys; Cylch Meithrin Porth; Cylch Meithrin Thomastown; Cylch Meithrin Tynewydd; Cymdeithas Rhieni y Cymer; Cynon Allotments Association; Cynon Culture; Cynon Taf Community Housing; Cynon Valley Area National OAP's Association of Wales; Cynon Valley Citizens Advice Bureau; Cynon Valley Crime Prevention Association; Cynon Valley Disabled Club; Cynon Valley First Responder Scheme; Cynon Valley Neighbourhood Watch; Cynon Valley PALS; Cynon Valley Vision; Cynon Valley Walkers; Dai Davies Community Centre; Darranlas Residents Association; Dewis Centre for Independent Living; Diabetes Peer Support; Diabetes UK Cymru; Diabetes UK Pontypridd and District; Disability Wales; Dragon Savers Credit union; DRIVE; Drugaid (Swapa Ltd); Dylan's Den; Dynea Neighbourhood Watch; Early Start; Eating Disorders Wales; Efail Isaf Park Committee; Efail Isaf Village Hall; Elim Cynon Valley Church; Elite Supported Employment Agency Ltd; Ely Valley Junior Football Club; Epilepsy Wales; FADS - A Family Service; Fairbridge Cymru; Fernbank Residents Group; Ferndale and District Boys and Girls Club; Ferndale Court Residents Fund; Ferndale Old Age Pensioners; Ferndale Skate Park; Fernhill (Rhondda) Conservation Group; Fernhill Association of Residents; Fernhill Family Flats; Fernhill Youth Project; Fforest Uchaf Horse & Pony Rehabilitation Centre and Pit Pony Sanctuary; Fifty Plus Forum Cynon; Firebrake Wales; Follow Your Dreams; Forum of Older People in Cynon Valley; Friday Youth Club; Friends of Caerglas Resource Centre; Friends of Craig yr Hesg Community School; Friends of Four Seasons; Friends of Maesgwyn Special School; Friends of the Animals; Friends of The Rhondda Heritage Park; Friends of Tonteg Community Park; Friends of Tonypandy Primary School; Friends of Ynysangharad War Memorial Park; Friends of Ynyshir Primary School; Friends r Us; Gadlys Regeneration Initiative Programme; Garthwen Residents Sheltered Homes; Gatehouse; Gelli Fedi Rise Tennants Association; Gelligaled Bowls Club; Gilfach Goch and Tonyrefail Community First Responders; Gilfach Goch ABC; Gilfach Goch Community Association; Gilfach Goch Welfare OAP Association; Gilfach Goch Youth Committee; Gingerbread; Glamorgan Blended Learning; Glamorgan ME Support Group; Glamorgan Mission to the Deaf; Glan Road Neighbourhood Watch; Glancynon Gardening Group; Glasbrook Recreation Committee; Glyn Aman Neighbourhood Watch; Glyncoch Community Centre; Glyntaff Serenades; Glyntaff Tenants and Residents Association; Gofal Cymru (Rhondda Cynon Taff); Greenhill Allotments Society; Greenlife Society UK; Greenmeadow Riding for the Disabled Group; Grow Enterprise Wales; Growing; GTFM; Gwalia Care and Support; Gwaunruperra Residents and Community Group; Hafod Care Association Ltd; Hawthorn and Upper Boat Senior Citizens; Headway Cardiff; Heartbeat 95; Hirwaun and Penderyn Community Council; hirwaun Drum Majors; Hirwaun OAP Association; Hirwaun Welfare Football Social Club; Hirwaun YMCA Youth and Community Centre; Homestart RCT; Ilan Diamonds Jazz Band; Innovate Trust; International Bee Research Association; Journeys; Kyber Colts ABC; Laburnum Court Residents Association; Lan Woods Environmental Protection Group; Learning Disability Wales; Lewis Merthyr Band; Library Close Senior Citizens; llamau; Llanfair Uniting Church; Llanharan Community Development Project Ltd; Llanharan OAP Association; Llanharan Recreation Ground Trust; Llanharry and Tylagarw Community Association; Llanilltud Faerdref Crafty Bookworms; Llantrisant ABC; Llantrisant and District 50+ Forum; Llantrisant History Society; Llantrisant Ladies Choir; Llantrisant Sub-Aqua Club; Llantrisant Fardre Football Club; Llantwit Fardre Football Club; Llantwit Lions Skater Hockey Club; Llwydcoed Band;
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Membership Interlink Membership to 31 March 2014 Llwydcoed Community Centre; Llwynypia Boys and Girls Club; Llys Catwg Residents Association; Lower Trealaw Branch OAP Maes Yr Haf; Maerdy Archives; Maerdy Community Centre; Maerdy Infants Taskforce Environment; Maerdy/Ferndale Tenants and Residents Board; Maes yr Haf Community Centre; Mencap Cymru; Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf; Merthyr and the Valleys Mind; Mid Fach River Care Group; Mid Glamorgan Area Scout Council; Mid Glamorgan Scouts; Mid Rhondda Band; Mid Rhondda Modeling Minnesingers Male Chorus; Miskin Art; Miskin Regeneration Trust; Mountain Ash Golf Club; Mountain Ash YMCA; Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin Rhondda Cynon Taf; Nant-y-Fedw Tenants & Residents; Nantgarw OAP Association; National Childminding Association; National Council of YMCA's in Wales; NCH Action for Children Penwaun Family Centre; NCH Action for Children Rhondda Family Project; Nebo Chapel; New Horizons; New Life Community Church; Newlink Wales; Newport and Gwent Chamber of Commerce Enterprise and Industry; Newtown Llantwit Allotment Association; Newydd Housing Association; Nixons Welfare Institute and Social Club; Oasis Church; Ogwr DASH; Old Age Pensioners and Widows Assoc, Treherbert; Old Bridge Photographic Society; Old School Community Centre; Older Peoples Advisory Group; Parc and Dare Band; Parc Craft Club; Parents Association Llwynypia - Youth Section; Parents Staff Association of Ysgol y Cymer Rhondda; Park Lane Allotment Society; Parkinson's UK Cymru; Penderyn Senior Welfare Committee; Penderyn Sports Association; Penrhiwceiber Community Revival Strategy Group; Penrhiwceiber Institute and Community Society; Penrhys Partnership; Penygraig Boys & Girls Club; Penywaun Community Centre; Penywaun Enterprise Partnership; Penderyn Community Centre; Person to Person Citizen Advocacy; Perthcelyn Community Centre; Platform Arts; Pontsionnorton PTA; Pontyclun Bosom Pals; Pontyclun Football Club; Pontygwaith Community Centre; Pontypridd and District Mencap Society; Pontypridd Canal Conservation Group; Pontypridd Safety Unit (RCT);Pontypridd South Road Championship Club;Pontypridd TalkingNews Association; Pontypridd Women's Aid; Pontypridd YMCA; Porth Infants Kids Club; Positive Steps; Prime Cymru; Providence Baptist Church; PS Services; Purple Shoots; Race Equailty Training Wales; Rathbone Cymru; RCT Access Group; RCT Eye to Eye Youth Counselling Service; RCT Homes; RCT Victim Support and Witness Service; RCT Young People First; Recreation Ground Sports Association; Retired Senior Volunteer Programme; Rhigos Kidz n Youth Group; Rhondda 50+ Forum; Rhondda Animal Aid and Cats Protection; Rhondda Apostolic Mission; Rhondda Breast Friends; Rhondda Calligraphy Society; Rhondda Community Credit Union Ltd; Rhondda Community Development Association; Rhondda Community Garden and Enterprise Scheme; Rhondda Cynon Taff Aspergers Syndrome Parent Support Group; Rhondda Cynon Taff District Scout Council; Rhondda Cynon Taff Parent and Carer Network; Rhondda Cynon Taff People First; Rhondda Cynon Taff Tenants and Residents Federation; Rhondda Disabled Riding Group; Rhondda Fach Housebound Club; Rhondda Housing Association; Rhondda Housing Maerdy Tenants Association; Rhondda Indoor Bowls Club; Rhondda Jazz; Rhondda League of Children's Marching Bands; Rhondda Listening Friends; Rhondda Radio; Rhondda Rocket Cheerleading Group; Rhondda Sea Cadets; Rhondda Taff Citizens Advice Bureau; Rhondda Tennis Club; Rhondda Veterans Support Group; Rhondda Volunteer Information Centre; Rhondda Womens Aid; Rhydfelin Community Woodland Group; Rhydyfelin AFC; Rhydyfelin Methodist Church; RNIB Cymru; Rotary Club of Rhondda; Rowan Tree Cancer Care; Royal British Legion Ynyshir Branch; Salem English Baptist Chapel; Salvation Army TEENS Project; Save the Children Cynon Valley; Scope Cymru; Seion Baptist Chapel Maerdy; Showcase; SNAP Cymru; Soar Chapel Ladies Guild; SOVA; Speakeasy Advice Centre; Spectacle Theatre; Sporting Marvels; Springfield Social Club; SSAFA (Aberdare); SSAFA (Mid Glam); St Barnabas Church, Penygraig; St Catherines Church, Pontypridd; St Davids Foundation; St Davids Uniting Church; St John Ambulance; St Matthews Church; Stanley Football Club; Summers Tennants Association; Sunday Funday Gang; Surf Lifesaving Association of Wales; Taff Ely Crime Prevention; Taff Ely Neighbourhood Watch Association; Taffs Well Breastfeeding Support Group; Taffs Well Community Garden; Taffs Well Village Hall; Talbot Green Playgroup; Tanglewood; TEDS; Telecentre and Business School Ltd; The Ark Youth and Community Project; The Big Issue Cymru Ltd; The Boilerhouse Project Ltd; The Down's Syndrome Association; The Dylan O’Brien Foundation; The Heritage Singers; The Phoenix Singers; The Prince's Trust Cymru; The Strategy; The Vibes Foundry Brass Band; The WAK Club; Time Out Group; Ton and Gelli Boys and Girls Club; Ton Pentre Recreation Association; Tonteg Senior Citizens Association; Tonypandy and Llwynypia OAP Group; Tonypandy Albion Football Club; Tonyrefail ABC; Tonyrefail History and Folklore Society; Tonyrefail Homing Society; Tonyrefail Information and Advice Scheme TIAS; Tonyrefail Ladies Choir; Tonyrefail Welfare Football Club; Too Good To Waste; Total Care Support Solutions Community Interest Company; TraVol Community Transport; Trealaw Village Trust Ltd; Trebanog Older Peoples Group; Trecynon Institute; Treforest Community Voluntary Group; Treforest Old Age Pensioners Association; Treforest Residents Assocation; Treforest Wholesome Food Association; Trehafod Community Village Hall; Treherbert Quilting Group; Treherbert Rugby Club; Treorchy Senior Citizens Club; Treorchy Women's Institute; Trerhondda Arts Factory stay and play; Ty Rhiw Restoration Fund; Ty Rhondda-Young Single Homeless Project; Tylorstown Communities First; Ultimate Stage Company; Upper Rhondda Brass Band; Urdd Gobaith Cymru; Valley and Vale Community Arts; Valley of Hope; Valleys Golf; Valleys Kids; Valleys Regional Equalities Council; Valleys Womens Ethnic Minority Support Group; Village & Valleys Community Transport; Vision 21 (Cyfle Cymru); Viva Project; Wales Council for Deaf People; Wales PPA; Welfare Hall & Institute; Welsh Perry and Cider Society; Womens Royal Voluntary Service; Workers' Educational Association; World of Words; Ynyshir and Wattstown Boys and Youth Club; Ynyshir Welfare Band; Ynyslwyd Allotment Society; Ynyswen Senior Citizens Club; Ynyswen Welfare Institute; Ynysybwl Community Centre; Ynysybwl Ladies Choir; Ynysybwl Old Age Pensioners Association; Young at Heart Thursday Club; Young Ones Parent & Toddler Group; Ysgol Feithrin Pontyclun; Ysgol Feithrin Ynysybwl; Ystrad Boys and Girls Club; Ystrad Old Age Pensioners Association; Ystradyfodwg Art Society
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Get In Touch For further information on Interlink’s activities and membership details, visit: www.interlinkrct.org.uk www.facebook.com www.twitter.com/interlinkrct Contact us on 01443 846200 Fax No. 01443 844843 E.mail: info@interlinkrct.org.uk Interlink, 6 Melin Corrwg, Cardiff Road, Upper Boat CF37 5BE Registered Charity No: 1141143 Company Limited by Guarantee No: 07549533