The
Communities First Programme in Ceredigion
The Communities
First programme is a long-term strategy for improving the living
conditions and prospects for people in the most disadvantaged communities
in Wales.
142 areas
are included in the programme - the 100 most deprived electoral
divisions according to the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (2000
edition), 32 pockets of deprivation below ward level (or sub-wards)
and 10 communities of interest or imaginative proposals.
A long-term
programme, which will run for a minimum of ten years, Communities
First is empowering local people so that they themselves decide
what is needed to regenerate the areas in which they live and work.
In partnership around the country, local people, community and voluntary
organisations, the public and private sectors are working to deliver
Communities First. By encouraging creativity and risk-taking, the
programme seeks to make a long-lasting difference to our disadvantaged
communities.
Within
Ceredigion there are two Community First Areas; West Aberystwyth
& Penparcau and The Upland Villages of Tregaron.
Aberystwyth & Penparcau contrasts dramatically with the uplands
of Tregaron as it is primarily an urban area and the latter a vast
rural area (the largest geographical Community First area in Wales).
Due to the uniqueness of each area, two different management approaches
have evolved.
The following
brief is simply an introduction to each Communities First area.
A vast amount of work which has been accomplished and is being undertaken
in each area, to gain a better understanding of the Communities
First programme in Ceredigion or find out how your organisation
might become involved please contacts the Communities First Teams.
West
Aberystwyth & Penparcau Community First
West
Aberystwyth & Penparcau Community First area is contained within
an urban area.
Management of the programme is overseen and directed by a Partnership,
made up of various organisations from the business & community
sector, voluntary sector and
public sector. Funding to deliver the programme is drawn down and
managed by the Grant Recipient Body, Ceredigion County Council,
who have overall responsibility for the programme in Ceredigion
and employ the Community First Staff.
In order to administer the programme a team consisting of a coordinator,
development officer, youth officer and administrative support carry
out the day to day tasks.
In West
Aberystwyth & Penparcau a community outreach office has been
set up for the benefit of the local community; many other projects
have been undertaken for the benefit of the local community, a Development
Officer supports community groups to achieve their aspirations,
a Youth Officer is in post working to develop services and engage
with young people within the area.
To find
out more about the programme in the West Aberystwyth & Penparcau
Community First area please contact:
West Aberystwyth
& Penparcau Communities First
2nd Floor
Business Centre
Baker Street
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion SA23 2BJ
Tel: 01970
639464
Penparcau
Communities First Community Office: 01970 630459
The
Upland Villages of Tregaron Community First
The Upland
Villages of Tregaron Communities First area is spread over a vast
rural area with dispersed communities and a poor infrastructure.
It incorporates several settlements including Tregaron, Llandewi
Brefi, Pontrhydyfendigaid, Devil’s Bridge, Ponterwyd, Ystrad
Meurig.
Management of the programme is overseen and directed by a Partnership,
made up of various organisations from the business & community
sector, voluntary sector and public sector. However, to overcome
the difficulties of managing the programme over such a vast rural
area, community fora (which feed into the Partnership) have been
and are being developed to help engage the widely dispersed communities,
identify local needs and issues and enable the community to have
a voice within the programme.
Funding to deliver the programme is drawn down and managed by the
Grant Recipient Body, Ceredigion County Council, who have overall
responsibility for the programme in Ceredigion and employ Community
First Staff.
In order to administer the programme a team consisting of a coordinator,
development officer, youth officer and administrative support carry
out the day to day tasks.
Many local
projects have been undertaken by many groups (many locally based
community groups) for the benefit of the local community. A Development
Officer supports community groups to achieve their aspirations,
a Youth Officer is in post working to develop services and engage
with young people within the area.
To find
out more about the programme in the Upland Villages of Tregaron
Community First area please contact:
The Upland
Villages of Tregaron Community First
Communities First Community Office
Tregaron Memorial Hall
The Square
Tregaron
Ceredigion SY25 6JL
Tel: 01974
299038
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