Areas
The Communities First programme is active in the following areas
of Neath Port Talbot. The areas were selected from data in the
Index of Multiple Deprivation 2002.
Briton Ferry
West
Briton Ferry West ward consists of the area of Briton Ferry that
is west of the railway line. Currently, a Communities First
steering group and partnership have been formed and meet on a
monthly basis. The co-ordinator has been in post since June 2003
and has been finding out what the community wants via a community
survey. This data is currently being analysed.
Llansawel Community House situated on Llansawel Cresent has
weekly drop-in sessions providing support and advice to those in
the community, for example, Action Team for Jobs, NPT Housing, and
Neath Citizen Advice Bureau. (Time-table of
Llansawel House).
For further information or to get involved, contact Leigh Batchelor the Communities First
co-ordinator on
Brynbryddan & Penllyn
Brynbryddan & Penllyn are Communities First sub wards
situated in the Bryn and Cwmavon electoral ward. The Communities
First Partnership has been established for over two years and aims
to develop and support the work of the Cwm Together Steering Group.
The Cwm Together meetings are open public meetings held bimonthly
where residents can get together with local councillors, police
officers and the Communities First team to discuss local issues and
develop community projects and events. With the support of local
group CRAC (Cwmavon Residents Action Committee) Communities First
have undertaken a number of successful community projects
including:
- Cwmavon Young Achievers Awards - A bi-annual event that
acknowledges and celebrates the achievements of local children and
young people.
- Community Clean Ups - Regular clean ups take place in both
Brynbryddan and Penllyn thanks to the support of Keep Wales
Tidy.
- Cwmavon Christmas Cracker - A festive event where all the
community get together to see Santa tour Cwmavon on his sleigh
before visiting the fete where local children sing, dance and
perform.
- Environmental Improvements - Communities First have worked with
a number of community groups including the local schools on a
number of environmental projects. The most recent being the
planting of over one thousand daffodil bulbs. Look out for the
daffodils blooming in the Spring of 2007.
The Communities First Partnership has carried out extensive
community consultation and is currently developing and Action Plan
for the area. The residents of Cwmavon are determined to develop
projects for the young community in order to secure the long term
future of the area.
For further information or to get involved, contact Mari Shufflebotham.
Fairyland
Fairyland is a Communities First sub ward in the Neath North
electoral ward. The Fairyland Communities First Partnership has
been established for over two years and works closely with the
Forward 4 Fairyland Residents’ Association. Much work has been done
by the Fairyland Communities First Partnership and includes:
- Environmental Improvements – Several environmental projects
have taken place on the estate with the support of organisations
such as Groundwork and the Local Authority. Projects have included
improving street lighting, developing children’s play areas and
community recreational sites. Regular community clean ups also take
place on the estate thanks to the support of Keep Wales Tidy.
- Education & Training – The Fairyland Communities First
Partnership are one of the five organisations in Wales that have
been successful in receiving a Learning Community Account. The
project aims to address the learning needs of the community and
through intensive consultation a Community Learning Plan has been
produced. Several priorities identified in the plan are currently
being delivered locally with the support of partners such as Neath
YMCA, Neath Port Talbot Council For Voluntary Services (CVS) and
Neath Port Talbot Youth Service. Current projects include health
and wellbeing schemes and informal learning courses.
- Community Activities – The Communities First team have
supported the Forward 4 Fairyland to organise a number of community
events. These include family fun days, Christmas parties and family
trips.
The Fairyland Communities First Action Plan was completed in
2004 and many of the priorities highlighted have or are being
addressed locally. A review of the Action Plan will be undertaken
in 2007.
For further information or to get involved, contact Mari Shufflebotham.
Neath East
Neath East encompasses the areas of Melincryddan, Penrhiwtyn and
Pencaerau. Neath East has a Communities First Steering Group and
Partnership that meet regularly. Neath East now has a full team of
staff including a co-ordinator, welfare rights officer, trainee
development worker and an administrator. A drop in advice centre
has been developed for the local community named ‘The Melin Advice
Centre’. This was opened in March 2004 for the community to use.
Organisations who will hold surgeries will include ATFJ, CAB and
MEWN.
For further information or to get involved, contact David Edwards on
Pelenna
Pelenna consists Pontrhydyfen, Efail-Fach and Tonmawr. The
partnership continues to meet on a monthly basis. The group is
currently looking at youth and health issues in their area. A
successful Health & Wellbeing day was organised earlier in the
year, which helped to raise awareness of Communities First
For further information or to get involved, contact Martin Ellis on
Sandfields
The Partnership formed in April 2003 and meets quarterly. Most
members of the Partnership live in the Sandfields, but additional
representatives of community groups are always welcome. The
Partnership also has a number of sub-groups on various themes.
For more information about Communities First in Sandfields go to
their website, www.sandfieldsfirst.ik.com
or details on Youth in the area can be found on http://www.sandfieldsyouth.ik.com
Upper Afan
Valley
Upper Afan Valley is made up from Cymmer, Glyncorrwg and Gwynfi
wards. The area now has a partnership in place, which was
established in December 2003. Partnership members are from all
three wards. The partnership meets on a monthly basis. The
Communities First team consists of the co-ordinator, development
worker and administrative assistant.
For further information or to get involved, contact Jo-Anne Thomas
Upper
Amman Valley
This is a cross-border partnership covering Lower Brynamman,
Tairgwaith, Cwmgorse and Gwaun Cae Gurwen in Neath Port Talbot, and
Quarterbach in Carmarthenshire.
There are village steering groups in every village for local
people to get involved and voice their views. Each steering group
is coming up with ideas for the action plan and prioritising
projects. The steering groups nominate community reps onto the
multi-agency partnership that considers the cross-border
issues.
For further information or to get involved, contact Tom Williams on
Upper
Dulais Valley
This covers the wards of Seven Sisters and Onllwyn. Each ward
has regular steering group meetings, and the Partnerships meet
monthly. A questionnaire to every household in the area had a very
high response rate, and the Partnership is now looking at projects
for the Action Plan.
For further information or to get involved, contact Dean Cawsey on
Ystalyfera & Godre’r Graig
(Pantyffynon sub-ward)
The Partnership meet monthly, and there is also a lively
community steering group meeting regularly. A community
questionnaire and planning or real events have generated ideas that
are now being considered for the Action Plan. Most recently, the
Welsh Assembly approved an application to Communities First for
£130,000 to contribute towards the new community Sports Hall in
Ysgol Gyfun School. This project will support the involvement of
local sports groups out of school hours.
For further information or to get involved, contact Ryland Doyle on
Domestic
Abuse
The Domestic Abuse Community of
Interest is a borough wide Communities First implementation aimed
at tackling domestic abuse in Neath Port Talbot. A Partnership
meets regularly and is supported by a team consisting of the
Coordinator, Senior Development Worker, Community Development
Worker, Minority Development Worker and Administrator. They have
recently moved and are now based on Windsor Road, Neath.
For further information or to get involved, contact Julia Lewis on
Youth
Youth issues are an important part of the Communities First
programme. As such, a Communities First Youth Development Team
works with young people from the Communities First areas. This team
is headed-up by Kay Davies. Kay works with young people in all
Communities First areas. Many day trips/projects have been
organized in order to team build. The youth partnership currently
sits on the Afan Valley and Briton Ferry West partnerships.
Eventually over time, a youth partnership will be able to sit on
all partnerships in Neath Port Talbot Communities First areas.
If you would like further information, or are a young person who
would like to get involved, contact Kay Davies
on