Guide to the Voluntary Sector --> Community Regeneration in Wales
Community Regeneration is high on today's agenda as it improves the quality of life of people within communities in Wales, especially those that are economically and socially disadvantaged. Many community regeneration bodies in Wales work closely in partnership with the voluntary groups and organisations in order to tackle social exclusion.
Many other factors are interlinked with community regeneration in Wales such as urban renewal, economic development, health promotion, housing, sustainable development, environment, social justice, lifelong learning, education, services to young people, unemployment and careers advice.
The following links will direct you to websites within Wales on the Web relating to
Community Regeneration.
Community development | Planning | Rural development | Community development | Planning | Rural development | Urban development | Business support | Unemployment | Occupational training | Sustainable development | Environment | Small businesses | Economic development | Social services and social problems | Substance abuse | Services to the elderly, young people, learning disabilities | Reducing crime | Housing | Careers | Adult education/lifelong learning | Basic Skills
Communities First
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. The programme aims to involve people of all ages in the process to secure sustainability in jobs, development of skills, physical and environmental improvements, health and well-being gains and reduction in crime. It brings together top decision-makers from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors. Its role is to break down the barriers to community-led regeneration by ensuring programmes and services are delivered in a way that meets the needs and aspirations of Communities First areas. The National Assembly for Wales website also provide details of the Communities First programme.
Communities Eligible for funding are listed on the National Assembly for Wales website. Communities First are responsible or part responsible for the following resources showing the benefits of community regeneration in Wales from the programme:-
- The Communities First areas of Merthyr include the following areas: Gurnos, Penydarren, Dowlais, Merthyr Vale, Bedlinog and Cyfarthfa. The Ynysowen Community Regeneration Partnership Board and Trefechan near Merthyr Tydfil are also a community first initiatives. class="content-link" href="http://www.dulaisvalley.org/">Dulais Valley, Sandfields and New Sandsfield near Port Talbot
- Upper Sirhowy Valley and Cefn Fforest in Caerphilly County Borough
- Llwynypia and Maerdy in Rhondda Cynon Taff
- Caia Park in Wrexham
- The Dyfi valley (Machynlleth, Cadfarch, Glantwymyn and Llanbrynmair) in Powys. Other eligible areas in Powys are listed within the Communities First Powys site. They include Ystradgynlais, Oldford near Welshpool, and the Bro Dyfi area
- Flintshire Voluntary Council provides brief details of the programme that covers Holywell (Greenfield Estate, Holway Estate, Penymaes Estate, Strand Estate and Boot End Bagillt), Mold (Bryn Gwalia Estate), Shotton (Higher Aston), Rural North Flintshire (Maes Pennant Estate, Mostyn, Ffynnongroyw Village including Coed Mor Estate Penyffordd, Talacre Village and Gronant Village) and Flint (Castle Ward).
- The Penllyn area of Gwynedd includes the main villages: Aberdaron, Tudweiliog, Botwnnog and Sarn, and areas such as Rhoshirwaun, Rhiw, Llangwnadl, Garnfadryn and Rhydlios.
- Carmarthenshire includes the following areas: Glanymor, Tyisha, Llwynhendy, Felinfoel, Pantyfynnon
- Blaenau Gwent includes the following areas:- Abertillery, Blaina, Cwm, Cwmtillery, Ebbw Vale North and South, Garnlydan, Llanhilleth, Nantyglo, Rassau, Six Bells, Tredegar, Central and West and Sirhowy.
- href="http://www.best-cymru.org/news/details.php?id=182_0_2_0_C">Anondho Dhara Newport (ADN), a BEST (Black and Ethnic Support Team) programme, providing assistance and support to the young, male Bangladeshi community in Newport
Community regeneration bodies in Wales
For a reference guide to community regeneration in the United Kingdom, it is worth visiting Regeration-UK.com as it contains links to over 400 regeneration related websites that currently exist across the UK covering such topics as Economic Development, Physical Regeneration, Community Renewal and Inward Investment. The resource is of use to regeneration professionals in Wales.
Below is a brief listing of the more important community development and regeneration bodies that exist in Wales established in order to improve the communities that we live in.
BITC- Business in
the Community
BITC Cymru/Wales 'works in partnership with over 300 companies to advance and support social
and economic regeneration initiatives in disadvantaged communities throughout Wales.' BITC
Wales/Cymru has offices in Cardiff, Denbigh, Llandarcy and Tredegar. The website has a
latest news section on its activities and provides examples of case studies involving
Business in the Community in Wales.
Civic Trust for Wales
The Civic Trust for Wales, a charity founded in 1964, is part of the United Kingdom
partnership of Civic Trusts - the leading non-governmental organisation committed to the
improvement of cities, towns and communities, for the benefit of all citizens, through
community action, good design, respect for the heritage, and sustainable development and
regeneration. A full listing of civic societies in Wales and their contact addresses is
provided. The website contains information on Civic Trust developments in Wales, and includes
a number of articles as well as its twice yearly bulletins and a news section.
Coalfields Regeneration
Trust
Coalfields Regeneration Trust was established in order to support, develop and improve the
coalfield communities in the UK. The webpages focusing on Wales provides a listing of the
many projects supported by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.
Community Action Network (CAN)
Community Action Network (CAN) is a learning and support network for social entrepreneurs
and aims to 'strengthen communities and attack deprivation' in Wales and the UK. CAN
encourages the use of web and email-based technology in the voluntary sector.
Community Development Cymru is a member-led independent organisation that aims to work across sectors to promote and support all aspects of community development in Wales. The website gives information on the services offered, CDC membership and activities along with details of the new 'Gwraidd' scheme.
Community Enterprise
Wales
Community Enterprise Wales is a network for organisations and individuals who are committed
to developing community enterprise in Wales. It contains details of grassroots groups
operating or planning to establish community businesses, and the bodies which support them
and the movement in Wales. The site posts information on the network, its objectives,
activities, membership, services, lobbying and innovative thinking. Community Enterprise is
based in Merthyr Tydful.
Development Trust Association
Development Trust Association is a network of community enterprise organisations in the UK.
Development Trusts Association Wales (DTAW) is based at Penarth. The aim is to assist in the
'creation of a sustainable development trust in every community in Wales that wants one.
There are now 28 full member trusts in Wales'. Development Trust Associations hope to
contribute to the economic and social health of communities, and deliver community-based
regeneration. Examples of development trusts in Wales include:
- The Phoenix in the Townhill area of Swansea
- Ystalyfera Development Trust
- Arts Factory at Ferndale in the Rhondda
- Tredegar Development Trust in Blaenau Gwent
- Mumbles Development Trust
Scarman Trust
Scarman Trust is a national charity committed to helping citizens bring about change in
their community, in the way that they want. They fund and give practical assistance to
people who want to improve the lives of their communities. In Cardiff, the Scarman Trust
encourage individuals or small groups to develop local solutions to local problems in areas
such as Butetown and Adamsdown through the use of small grants, practical support and
alliance building. The site provides more information on the trust along with news and
events details. They are also part responsible for the following initiatives:
- Moelfre Partnership in Anglesey.
- Adamsdown in Cardiff.
- Switch Cymru, a partnership between 15 minority community groups in south Wales established to improve their access and understanding of information technology. Switch are responsible for providing support to the following websites: Bangladeshi Women's Support Group, Somali Progressive Association, Cardiff Yemeni Community Association
Sefydliad
Sefydliad is an all Wales Community Foundation organisation supporting a wide range of
voluntary organisations and community groups concerned with improving quality of life for
those experiencing disadvantage.
The Tudor Trust
Tudor Trust is grant-making charitable trust, which exists to enhance people's quality of
life. It focuses grants on projects in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland;
particularly where there is significant deprivation in urban, rural and coastal areas. Its
funding priorities are youth, older people, community, housing, mental health, substance
abuse, learning and criminal justice.
Community Regeneration in your area
This is a listing of community regeneration bodies that exist in particular areas of Wales. Many are the result of the Local Government Act 2000 which states that local authorities are to produce a Community Strategy to promote social, economic and environmental aspects in the area in partnership with different organisations, in order to create a long term vision for that area.
Ceredigion
Ceredigion 2020 is a Community Strategy which provides a vision of how the County area as a whole, specific parts of it or local communities will develop in the next 10 - 15 years. The strategy has been designed by the County Council in partnership with numerous other public bodies and the business sector.
The site provides details of the strategy and the process that led to its formation, the five main themes that for the strategy's core along with information on the indicators and statistics used. Antur Teifi are also involved with social and economic regeneration in Ceredigion.
Community Planning in Pembrokeshire Community Planning in Pembrokeshire has been produced by Pembrokeshire County Council. It is a community strategy for promoting the economic, environmental and social well-being and a partnership between 13 key public and voluntary sector organisations. The website provides details of the plan and its priorities and the progress that is being made. The plan also recognises the importance of seeking the views of different communities within the county and its online surveys are posted on the site.
Carmarthenshire Partnership
Carmarthenshire Community Planning is the local authority's strategy to implement result of the Local Government Act 2000 in producing a community strategy. Suitably, there can be found on the website information about The Carmarthenshire Partnership, The Vision for Carmarthenshire and the Carmarthemshire Partnership Strategy.
Powys Community Strategy
The community strategy for Powys is a partnership between Powys County Council and local agencies in the area. The strategy provides a voice for local people in order to help decide the way that public resources are allocated to communities over the next 10 to 15 years. There are 15 local community forums who have passed on their ideas regarding community regeneration to the main countywide Community Strategy Partnership. The website provides contact details for all community forums and details of the strategy.