Bridgend Communities First
Annual Report 2013 – 2014
Communities First overview The Welsh Government funded Communities First Programme aims to reduce poverty by improving education and skills, health and employment opportunities. The programme was originally launched in 2001. It was founded on the principle that poverty and disadvantage are created by a complex number of factors including poor educational achievement, poor housing and environments, substance misuse, local job markets and stigma and perceptions about people and places. Following a review in April 2012, Communities First has become a community focused programme that supports the Welsh Government’s Tackling Poverty agenda. Building on the achievements of Communities First since its launch in 2001, our current programme supports people in our most deprived areas with the aim of contributing to alleviating persistent poverty. The Three Communities First cluster areas in Bridgend County Borough cover postcodes in: ‰
Upper Bridgend Cluster (Maesteg, Caerau)
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Mid Bridgend Cluster (Betws, Sarn, Blackmill, Ynysawdre, Bryncoch, Llangeinor, Evanstown)
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Lower Bridgend Cluster (Cornelly, Pyle, Brackla, Morfa, Newcastle, Oldcastle, Wildmill, Bryntirion, Laleston, Merthyr Mawr)
Communities First Delivery Teams funded by the Welsh Government and managed by Bridgend County Borough Council, work with residents, community organisations, business and other key agencies, focussing on actions leading to the long term sustainability and wellbeing of communities. The Communities First Programme aims to contribute, alongside other programmes, to narrowing the education, skills, economic and health gaps between our most deprived and more affluent areas through three specific areas: ‰
Prosperous Communities
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Learning Communities
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Healthier Communities
Communities First Bridgend Bridgend County Borough Council 3rd Floor, Civic Offices Angel Street, Bridgend, CF31 4WB T: 01656 643514 E: communitiesfirst@bridgend.gov.uk www.commfirstbridgend.co.uk facebook.com/communitiesfirstbridgend @c1stbridgend
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Introduction Welcome to our Communities First Annual Report 2013/14. The purpose of this report is to let you know what we have been doing during the past year and to celebrate the success of the projects and programmes we are delivering. It was never going to be easy: Bridgend took a robust decision in deciding that the model it wished to take forward was different from what we had in place before.
What makes it so different? Communities, partner organisations on the Local Service Board, council members and officers, were very clear about the model they wished to take forward. Their vision was of a programme that focused on the important issues: jobs, skills, health and education. It had to be integrated with other funded programmes and projects within Bridgend County Borough, working in partnership with other organisations to enhance provision and focus on people most in need. We clearly set out our proposals in local delivery plans which identified our focus groups – NEETS (young people not in employment, education or training), people who were economically inactive and children and parents who wished to support their children’s learning and increase their learning opportunities themselves. We also provided individual support to people who needed confidence building, basic skills support and pre-employment training.
So how have we done? It has not been without its challenges. Recruitment has been difficult at times and retention of staff in a fixed term scenario is also challenging, as people seek more permanent employment. Despite these challenges, we’ve had some major successes: ‰
Established integrated projects managed by Children’s Services, working in schools to deliver support for children and their parents, providing basic skills and families working within the Families First programme;
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Established the Bridgend Employment and Skills Project based with Adult Community Learning to ensure learning and skills are linked;
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Worked closely with the Public Health Team to deliver health initiatives;
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Worked with BAVO to bring communities together in cluster forum meetings;
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Developed Community Involvement Plans for each cluster which received approval from Welsh Government;
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Exceeded our targets on learning activities within schools;
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Put in place effective governance and management policies and ran two successful audits leading to Welsh Government issuing an assessment of ‘substantial reassurance’.
And lots more… but most importantly, when you have read the case studies contained in this report, you will realise the impact and benefit our activities have had on individuals’ lives, which is the real success factor. Going forward, we welcome the move by Welsh Government encouraging Communities First, Families First and Flying Start to work more closely together in meeting joint outcomes. Delivery plans for 2014/15 have already been submitted to Welsh Government for approval.
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Prosperous Communities
Did you know... There are over 600 people in Bridgend County Borough who have been on Job Seekers’ Allowance for more than 12 months. As of December 2013, over 13,000 people in Bridgend County Borough are receiving out-of-work benefits. This is a very difficult time for many people receiving benefits, due to the major changes taking place in the welfare system.
142 people benefited from our Welfare Benefits project in all three cluster areas.
Bridgend Communities First aims to: ‰
increase the employability of local people;
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reduce the impact of poverty for those on benefits;
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increase the opportunities for new and existing businesses to grow in order to provide employment opportunities for local people.
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Overall, at least 300 people were engaged in activities relating to prosperity across all three cluster areas resulting in 552 sessions/workshops, 25 completed action plans and 45 completed basic skills assessments.
Across all three cluster areas, 14 NEETS gained employment qualifications.
10 were referred for additional support and 7 entered employment.
Prosperous Communities highlights … What we’ve done...
6 people in Bridgend
Money management... delivered advice and support to people to manage money, maximise income and manage personal debt. 99 people have accessed Bridgend Citizen’s Advice Bureau’s delivery of activities related to welfare benefits, advice and financial inclusion. Administered the Tackling Poverty Grants Fund on behalf of Welsh Government... funded play equipment at Westward Community Centre in Cefn Glas. The equipment now means young children are actively engaged as well as creating a revenue stream for the centre.
Lower Cluster completed an employment qualification.
6 people in Bridgend Mid Cluster supported and signposted to other projects/colleagues after taking part in Bridgend Employment Skills Project.
The Bridgend Employment and Skills Project (BESP) working with Adult Community Learning and others within these projects, addresses economic inactivity across 22 people in Bridgend Community First areas... BESP is funded to work with those Lower Cluster received Welfare not in education, employment or training aged 16-24, Reform advice. economically inactive adults aged 25-49 and the over 50's. The project aims to support people to acquire the appropriate skills to become job ready and to gain sustainable employment. 16 people in Bridgend
Mid Cluster received personalised Through the BESP Team, Bridgend Communities First has forged strong debt advice. partnership working with Job Centre Plus, Working Links and other welfare to work agencies including Workways to deliver taster courses that can help 50 people in Bridgend people to identify possible job opportunities. This Upper Cluster received advice and support project has been particularly successful in to maximise their income/benefits. supporting NEETS (young people not in education, employment or training) to gain employment related qualifications. Young people have been supported to apply for positions in the 22 economically inactive hospitality industry and the BESP Team is delivering the people in Bridgend Upper Cluster Welsh Government funded Jobs Growth Wales programme which provides unemployed young people with a job participated in Bridgend Employment opportunity for a six month period paid at national minimum Skills Project. wage. Participants are paid at or above the national minimum wage for a minimum of 25 hours per week.
Throughout Bridgend Communities First three cluster areas, we have been successful in helping people to develop employment skills and find work and assisted people in improving their financial capability through support in managing debt and advice in raising income. Please see overleaf some of Bridgend Communities First activity highlights under our Prosperous Communities theme…
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Prosperous Communities highlights … Jobs Growth Wales When Welsh Government announced additional places for young people living in Communities First areas in Wales, Cornelly and District Development Trust expressed an interest in creating a position. A vacancy for an assistant at Horizon Coffee Shop was advertised on the dedicated section of the Careers Wales website. Alex aged 20, started working at Horizons Coffee Shop after taking time out from work to have her first child. She previously trained horse riders, but her parental responsibilities made returning to this career too impractical, due to the long hours. Alex said: “I was stuck in a rut because I did not know what job opportunities were available to me. Working in Horizons is absolutely brilliant because it allows me to juggle being a new mum whilst also earning a living.” Enjoying meeting members of the community, Alex has also learnt new skills such as cooking from scratch and learning about food hygiene. She recently made pancakes for the first time on Shrove Tuesday. She was such a natural that her pancakes were a huge hit and she earned the nickname ‘Pancake Princess’!
Free advice on debt, welfare benefits and finance Funded until March 2014, Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau was contracted to deliver group sessions and one-to-one advice to help maximise income and mitigate the effects of welfare reforms. Exceeding all targets, the project also helped to develop skills and knowledge around money management and provide access to low cost financial products and services to nearly 100 people throughout the Communities First cluster areas. Participants said: “Very helpful staff, made me feel at ease with such a difficult situation.” “The lady I spoke with helped me in a lot of ways and I understand a lot more than I thought.” “Glad I know where to go and how to start sorting things out.”
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Prosperous Communities highlights … Partnership pre-employment programme In October 2013, in addition to the targeted essential skills and employability provision already offered, Bridgend Communities First, Adult Community Learning and Job Centre Plus worked in partnership to provide people with the specific skills they needed for employment. Targeted pre-employment courses were identified including a pre-employment programme for the hospitality sector. Job Centre Plus had already met with Eric Morgan from the Grove Golf Club in South Cornelly who was looking to recruit two young people, aged 18-24, through the Jobs Growth Wales programme. Following discussions with the Grove Golf Club, the partnership organised an information and assessment day and a bespoke four day programme of training, culminating in guaranteed interviews for all completing candidates. The programme was delivered at the employer’s premises and candidates got to see the business operating on a day-to-day basis enabling them to gain real insight into the way that they would be required to work. This also gave the employer the opportunity to speak to the candidates about what was being offered and observe the development and progression of the candidates throughout the training. All seven candidates completed the four day course and all gained accreditation – three credits at levels Entry 3 to Level 1. The initial intention was to offer two places, but the employer was so impressed with the programme and process, he requested additional funding for one extra Job Growth Wales placement leading to three successful candidates being recruited. Ryan Barnard from Bettws was one of the successful candidates who said: “I have been on similar courses to this and have been for loads of interviews but have never got a job before, I am so pleased.” Employer Eric Morgan said: “The Grove is eternally grateful as this process has been invaluable as a lesson for future recruitment. It has saved me a lot of time and effort in finding the right people and the three successful participants are proving to be invaluable to the growth of the business.” Bridgend Communities First looks forward to more partnership working to help people move into employment.
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Learning Communities
26 NEETS in all three cluster areas were supported to attend lifelong learning activities.
13 young people were positive about learning with 9 having a better understanding of their career options.
Did you know...
The longer somebody spends not in 190 adults with no employment, education or training qualifications took part in learning (NEETS), the harder it is for them to activities in all three cluster areas. reach and re-engage with education. This means that we face the prospect of 57 achieved a recognised qualification, having a generation that will never fulfil with 76 believing that accessing its potential or achieve its ambitions. In educational opportunities was a Bridgend County Borough, there over 100 young people who each year are classed as positive experience. NEET. One in eight people in Bridgend County Borough have no qualifications, compared to one in 10 in Wales as a whole. 494 parents and children in Bridgend Communities First aims to: ‰
help families to be engaged in their children’s education;
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increase educational attainment among all ages;
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increase the number of adults with educational qualifications;
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increase opportunities for those not in education, employment or training.
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all three cluster areas enjoyed family support and engagement/learning activities.
217 children now know where to get help if they have a problem at school.
122 children and parents/guardians/carers in Bridgend Lower Cluster took part in literacy activities.
Learning Communities highlights … What we’ve done...
46 parents and carers of young children in Bridgend Upper Cluster took part in Basic Skills Training.
Delivered a spray tanning course for learners… which led to participants achieving a Diploma and advice on selfemployment opportunities.
Worked with Rock Academy Wales project... for young people and adults to build confidence, discuss career pathways and improve health and 10 families in Bridgend wellbeing. Upper Cluster supported by Family
Support Workers.
Our Family Engagement Officers, Family Support Workers and Basic Skills Tutors worked with referred children and their families... to address issues such as poor behaviour, lack of parental support and 69 sessions were held in engagement with school. Literacy sessions have been Bridgend Upper Cluster supporting held throughout the cluster areas with reading cafés young people to do well at school. proving to be extremely popular with adults and children to help improve engagement between parent/carer/guardian and child. Provided direct support to families where children are regularly absent from school... including the setting up of after school clubs and ‘Minecraft’ – an educational software programme designed to engage school pupils and their parents whilst improving their literacy and numeracy skills through challenging tasks and homework.
30 adults with no qualifications in Bridgend Lower Cluster took part in a learning session.
Delivered accredited Agored Cymru taster 11 NEETs in Bridgend Mid Cluster took sessions to build confidence and support learners part in learning activities. to think about progression routes to further learning or employment... various taster sessions including customer service, health and social care and construction, led to a high percentage of participants progressing to additional learning. A family learning project focused on providing parents/carers with the knowledge, skills and qualifications towards becoming a Classroom Support Assistant and a learner support course held in Evanstown, has led to the school accepting volunteers to assist in classrooms during school hours. Worked with over 50s and economically inactive members of the community... who undertook initial basic skills assessments and received help to address extremely low confidence levels and self-esteem, to enable them to progress into more formal learning.
Bridgend Communities First has worked throughout the three cluster areas in the past year to promote family and adult learning, support young people to do well at school, help families to be engaged in their children’s education, raise adult career aspirations and build self-confidence and self-esteem. Please see overleaf some of Bridgend Communities First activity highlights under our Learning Communities theme…
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Learning Communities highlights … Reading cafés encouraging parents to read with their children Several reading cafés have been set up within all three Bridgend Communities First cluster areas to encourage parents to read with their children. In order to encourage family participation, children can only attend a reading café if an adult comes with them. Reactions from parents has been overwhelmingly positive, with comments including “I feel more confident with my reading” and “My son has grown more confident…we love spending uninterrupted time together.”
Helping those out of work The Bridgend Employment and Skills Project (BESP) working with Adult Community Learning and others within this project, addresses the economic inactivity across Community First areas. Sarah, a 17 year old girl living in the Maesteg area, was referred to the BESP to receive support with her literacy. She was having difficulty engaging in positive activities and often found it difficult to find motivation to attend sessions and to complete activities given to her. She enrolled on a 10 week confidence and developing writing skills course with BESP. Initially she found it difficult to settle into a routine and cooperate with those in the group, however in time, she progressed well on the course, improving her reading and writing skills as well as setting herself positive targets for the future. Sarah completed the course and is now in the process of achieving her long term goals. She has enrolled on a basic skills course and a computer skills course in Maesteg College and is currently looking for a work placement. She is hoping to gain qualifications to become either a nail technician or a hairdresser. She would also like to gain employment in the short-term so that she is able to support herself in the future.
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Learning Communities highlights … XR training taster session Local young people attended a taster session at the XR training centre in Pyle. They took part in practical activities in vehicle maintenance, welding and fabrication and mechanical engineering. The session provided them with hands on experience to help them decide if they would like to continue with a career in any of these areas. The event was targeted at young people aged 16-18 who are NEET. They were identified through KPC Youth, EOTAS (Education Other Than At School) and the Communities First Keeping In Touch Officer, working with Cynffig Comprehensive School. Eight young people attended the taster session and all enjoyed the day. All learners rated the course as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ and agreed that the support they received made a difference, making them feel more positive about learning. Bridgend Communities First’s Lower Cluster Engagement and Marketing Officer said: “The training day was extremely successful. It gave the participants a real flavour of what to expect from the various industries and got them thinking about their careers. It was rewarding to see the young people getting involved in the hands-on activities and to see them getting excited and positive about their futures.”
‘Real Men Read’ project In December 2013, we introduced the ‘Real Men Read’ initiative, which focussed upon boys’ reading abilities in Key Stages 2 and 3. The project aimed to engage primary and secondary aged boys in reading, encourage their parents to become more involved in their child’s school community, an active reading role model at home and improve pupils’ reading and literacy skills and attitudes towards reading. With 16 boys taking part from Communities First areas, the programme ran as an after school club for an hour every week over a three month period in Abercerdin and Ogmore Primary Schools. During each session, a male role model was invited to read an extract from their favourite book to the groups and talk about why they love the book, why they enjoy reading and the importance/benefits of reading for pleasure. Guests included male members of staff, professionals such as firemen and soldiers, sportsmen and community figures. The pupils’ fathers/guardians/male family members were invited to join the session on a monthly basis in order to encourage these adults to become more engaged in their child’s education. At the end of the programme, a special awards ceremony for the boys and their families was held at both schools. By the end of the course, pupils’ reading skills and confidence in reading aloud greatly improved, as did their relationships with their peers. They enjoyed reading at home and discovered that reading could be fun and cool, and not something that has to be done solely within a learning environment. A parent said: “James reads at home now instead of always playing the Play Station. He’s really enjoyed going to the club and looks forward to it every week.” Following the success of the programme, Communities First will be introducing the ‘Real Men Read’ programme to Year 5 in both schools.
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Healthier Communities 117 people in Bridgend Mid Cluster aged 18+ enjoyed physical wellbeing activities including Zumba.
Of those taking part in physical activity across all three clusters, 64 people had an increased awareness of obesity and 71 had an increased attitude to improving physical health.
Did you know...
60 reported an increase in the amount of physical activity they undertook and 29 people
Men living in the more deprived areas of Bridgend County Borough have a life limiting condition that affects them 19 years earlier than men in the most affluent part of the county borough. 9.5% of people living in Bridgend County Borough are defined as obese, doubling the risk of death. Bridgend Communities First aims to:
said that positive health behaviours had been passed down to their families.
125 people took part
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reduce the percentage of the population with a limiting long term illness;
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reduce the percentage of people who are obese;
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reduce percentage of live births with a low birth weight.
in healthy living activities in Bridgend Mid Cluster, of which 18 people aged 18+ who were at risk of cancer enjoyed our physical wellbeing activities.
87 people in Bridgend
What we’ve done...
Lower Cluster participated in our physical wellbeing project including walking groups.
Communities First has worked with a range of partners… including Adult Community Learning, Bridgend College, Halo Leisure and the Allotment Society to offer a range of healthy living sessions throughout the three cluster areas. Set up a Train the Trainer project... involving peer-to-peer cooking skills sessions which attracted further funding from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMU).
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4 pregnant mothers in Bridgend Upper Cluster took part in health activities.
Healthier Communities highlights … Brought partner agencies and communities together in a Cluster Forum meeting... around the theme of health, including workshops on armchair exercises, cooking skills and smoke free homes. Worked closely with Halo Leisure... to develop a number of projects linked to health.
Of all those that attended smoke free home events, 44 people had improved knowledge about the effects of second hand smoke.
8 had reduced their levels of smoking, 8
Walking groups set up with support of Love2Walk... have been instrumental in supporting people who were physically inactive and had underlying health issues made worse by poor lifestyle choices such as poor diet and lack of physical exercise.
were supported into smoking cessation programmes and 24 had made their homes smoke free.
15 mothers/parents/guardians in Cooking sessions enabled participants to Bridgend Upper Cluster participated find out all they needed to know about in health activities. practical cookery and nutrition... enabling them to gain a first aid and food hygiene certificate. Health information sessions were linked with partner 352 people aged 18+ enjoyed health agencies and community groups... including Halo activities/engagement with 62 Leisure, Stop Smoking Wales and Friends of sessions run in all three cluster areas. Tyn-y-Coed Surgery. Community health days offered information on cooking skills, healthier options and how to grow your own food. A ‘Take seven steps chemical soup’ kit was used at various forums throughout 133 people in Bridgend Lower the county borough to warn people about the Cluster took part in healthy living harms of cigarette smoke and sessions regarding smoke free homes were held for parents and activities. carers of young children. Delivered a health day in Brackla themed as ‘Food myths’... included displays from the Food Co-op and Adult Community Learning, as well as information boards on food and exercise. When questioned, 100% of respondents confirmed that they had learnt something about healthy living and rated the event ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’.
Of those that took part in Healthy eating courses in all three cluster areas:
11 people now able to budget weekly for a healthy diet.
30 felt more confident in their cooking abilities, 19 now consume five daily portions of fruit and vegetables and 33 cook from
Provided cooking sessions, exercise classes and food management programme... cooking scratch once a week. sessions for parents/carers/guardians of young children and for adults over 18 at risk of obesity were held to promote practical skills and healthy eating. Exercise classes including Zumba in Evanstown and a Foodwise weight management eight week programme organised in association with Halo Leisure piloted in North Cornelly, proved to be very popular within the communities. Please see overleaf to see some of Bridgend Communities First activity highlights under our Healthier Communities theme…
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Healthier Communities highlights … Promoting exercise and healthy eating In association with Halo Leisure, a pilot ‘Foodwise’ eight week weight management programme was held in North Cornelly, attended by 14 people. A participant said: “It helps when you are going through difficulties and feel like ditching healthy eating – it inspires you to try and keep on track and makes you aware of healthy eating and not dieting.” The programme targeted people over 50 who had underlying medical issues. The graded exercise activities combined chair aerobics for those with health concerns such as balance issues, arthritis or shortness of breath with a slightly higher intensity exercise for those who were more physically able. Topics focused on adapting eating habits, increasing physical activity and using basic behaviour change strategies to aid weight loss. Each session consisted of structured discussions, hands on learning and group activities where participants could learn more about portion sizes, food labelling, daily exercise, recipe swaps and longer term plans for weight management. Group members were provided with a programme handbook and supporting literature from the Change4Life Campaign. Another participant said: “Most of us have been in slimming classes before, but all agreed they did not work, as when left to ourselves we put the weight all back on again and more. We have learnt that by following a healthy living diet, it has now become a way of life and we’re all giving it a real good try.”
Zumba fitness taster classes a dancing success in Evanstown Residents in Evanstown have danced their way to improving their health and fitness, thanks to a Communities First and Halo Leisure initiative. The two organisations worked together to encourage people to get active, by providing free Zumba Fitness classes in the Evanstown community for a six week period. The project came about after Communities First staff consulted with members of the Evanstown community, who said that they would like to be more active but found it difficult for a variety of reasons. As a result, the fitness taster course was established, providing residents with an activity on their doorstep and the opportunity to take up a new interest, socialise and work towards their fitness goals. The course showed people how exercise could be enjoyable and provided them with the confidence to take up future fitness activities. The course has been so successful, that the tutor is continuing the sessions, with community members paying a reduced fee. This project with Halo Leisure is an example of partnership working and a positive step towards a happier and healthier community.
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Bridgend Communities First looking forward Health, learning and prosperity continue to be the key themes of the programme going forward and a revised Delivery Plan for each of the clusters has been submitted to Welsh Government and have been agreed by them. New outcomes and performance measures have been included in these plans and work on delivering these outcomes has started. A fundamental part of our programme continues to be engagement with our communities (groups and individuals) through our activities, events, projects and Cluster Forum meetings which will continue in 2014/15. We recognised early on in the programme, that integration and shared responsibility was an important element of the programme to ensure that benefits to the community are sustainable and effective. As a consequence, Community First Officers are being placed in other teams to ensure joint delivery. It is therefore very encouraging that Welsh Government is taking active steps to enable closer working together with other Welsh Government funded programmes such as Families First and Flying Start and we look forward to building even stronger relationships in the near future.
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Communities First Bridgend Bridgend County Borough Council 3rd Floor, Civic Offices Angel Street, Bridgend, CF31 4WB T: 01656 643514 E: communitiesfirst@bridgend.gov.uk www.commfirstbridgend.co.uk facebook.com/communitiesfirstbridgend
@c1stbridgend
Other formats of this report are available on request, please contact Bridgend Communities First.