Minister visits NSA Afan Employment Academy

Jane Hutt Minister for Finance and Government Business has visited NSA Afan, a successful example of how Community Asset Transfers can benefit local communities.

The principle of community asset transfers is to empower and strengthen local communities, and supporting them to provide services in their communities. They can also provide opportunities to lever more resources into a community and provide more accessible and a more responsive base to deliver local services.

Where appropriate, one way to ensure that buildings can remain in public use for the benefit of local communities is through Community Asset Transfers, where the lease for a building is transferred to a community group or organisation for an agreed period of time.

Neath Port Talbot Council, along with other public sector organisations are facing unprecedented difficult financial times. Keeping  land and property portfolios under constant review and finding better ways to use  public assets is important to helping to meet these challenges and delivering services in a more efficient and joined up way.

The Council worked with New Sandfields Aberavon (NSA) and arranged to transfer the lease of Dalton Road Community Centre to NSA. Following grant approval from the Big Lottery’s Community Asset Transfer Fund NSA were able to refurbish the centre into a modern community facility.

Re-branded NSA Afan Employment Academy, the facility provides offices and meeting rooms and conferencing facilities, as well as continuing to provide a home for local community groups and organisations and social events.

Private, public and voluntary sector organisations are encouraged to use the centre and a programme of current activities include fitness and literacy and numeracy classes, community social events and Karate Club sessions. A café has also recently opened at the centre.

Cllr. Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council said: ”We are committed to making the best use of our resources, investing in and protecting services for our residents in Neath Port Talbot, even in very difficult financial times.

“The Council has, in recent years, transferred a range of community buildings and facilities to local organisations and community groups. They already make extensive use of them, have local knowledge and take great pride in their local area and I am pleased to see NSA Afan continuing to provide facilities for the benefit of the local community.”

Finance Minister said:  “The current challenging financial climate means that we must find new, innovative ways to deliver our public services.  It is more crucial than ever that we join together to protect our communities and services and Community Asset Transfers are on way to achieve this.  NSA Afan is a great example of a successful transfer that has ensured the continuation of a valuable service and facility for the whole community.

“Our recently launched guidance on Community Asset Transfers  provides support and advice for communities and voluntary groups across Wales to take ownership of local assets and services at threat of closure.   I hope that with the sharing of best practice we see a growing number of successful asset transfers.”