• Programme funded by the National Assembly - for the Communities in Wales who need the most help;
• Long term programme - runs for a minimum of ten years;
• Communities decide what they need to realise their ambitions;
• Local people involved;
• Draw funding from different sources;
• Encourage creativity, taking risk and innovative approaches;
• Involves different organisations pulling together to address poverty and disadvantage.

• Building confidence and self-esteem of those living in communities - developing a 'can do' culture;
• Encouraging education and skill training for work;
• Creating job opportunities and increasing the income of local people;
• Improving housing and the surrounding environment;
• Improving health and well being through active and healthy lifestyles by addressing issues which affect people's well being;
• Making communities safe and secure places in which people can live, work and play;
• Driving forward changes in the way public services are delivered.

• A Communities First Coordinator is employed with a Development Worker to take on the day to day running of all Communities First activities for the Ynyshir & Wattstown area;
• The Coordinator for Ynyshir & Wattstown is Wendy Rees;
• The Development Worker for Ynyshir & Wattstown is Sarah Jenkins;
• Both posts are there to provide support for the most important participants of Communities First - YOU!

• The first step - each community has to set up a Partnership Board, which should include a good cross section of representatives from all areas of the community - the Community Sector;
• The partnership will also include representatives from the local business sector, the voluntary sector, and the statutory sector.

• With the support of Wendy and Sarah they will:

• First the partnership has to develop a three-year action plan for the area and a ten-year vision.
• The action plan has to include the following themes:
  • Jobs and Businesses;
  • Environment;
  • Health and Well Being;
  • Education and Training;
  • Active Community;
  • Community Safety.

What we need To do to begin the process of building a Communities First Partnership is:

• Make sure that everyone who has an interest in Ynyshir & Wattstown knows about us!
• Have as much information about the area as possible;
• Find out what community groups there are at present in Ynyshir & Wattstown;
• Know what statutory services exist in the area;
• Find out about education, environment, health, jobs and business services in the area.

Please let us know!!!

We will be holding public meetings, pushing leaflets through your doors (with the invaluable help of local volunteers!), sticking up posters in any available space we can find. holding drop In surgeries all over Ynyshir & Wattstown hijacking fetes and open days, filling in questionnaires with you, you call us we will be there!

All the ideas and information you can give us will be used in the way you would like it to be - for the benefit of the community you are in whether you live, work or play in Ynyshir & Wattstown.

C/o Ynyshir & Wattstown Boys Club
Ynyshir Road
Ynyshir
CF39 0ED
t: 01443 686610
f: 01443 685305
m: Wendy: 07786 523982

     Sarah:   07795 391857
e: info@ywcn.org.uk