Communities First cluster tackles poverty

The Carmarthenshire Communities First Cluster has been awarded more than £500,000 in funding to tackle poverty and deprivation in the area.

The Welsh Government has confirmed funding for the Cluster of £580,000 for the 2015/16 financial year.

The funding is used to deliver the Communities First programme within the Cluster area of Llanelli, Trimsaran and Ammanford to reduce poverty and narrow the health, educational and economic inequalities that areas in deprivation experience.

The programme includes employment advice through six jobs clubs a week, financial capability support and digital skills across the Cluster.

The Education programmes include activities that positively impact on Communities First pupils’ attainment, attendance levels and behaviour issues; working with parents to enable them to support their children’s education and a focus on adults gaining accredited qualifications and support with basic skills.

The Health programmes include promoting healthy lifestyles, through addressing sedentary lifestyles, reducing the level of smoking, increasing physical activity, reducing unhealthy eating, promoting metal wellbeing and increasing the uptake of screening.

Community involvement is central to the Communities First programme with the community being involved with the design, delivery and monitoring of the programmes. There is a comprehensive volunteering programme which underpins all the activity and this is supported through a Time Credits programme.

Since April 2013, with the support of Communities First, 148 participants have secured employment, 1,080 have been helped with employment support, 275 adults have been supported with digital skills, 550 adults have accessed financial inclusion support, 1,300 children have been supported to do well in school, 600 have participated in healthy cooking workshops, 473 accredited qualifications have been gained by adults, and 514 adults have accessed basic skills.

Executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “We are pleased to hear the Welsh Government confirmation of funding to continue the excellent work of Carmarthenshire Communities First to tackle poverty through health, education and prosperity programmes.

“This has included supporting 148 people into employment, over 470 adults have gain accredited qualifications and 1,300 children have been supported to do well in school.”