Welsh Government
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
£2.5m for innovative scheme to help communities prosper
A £2.5m project aimed at forging an enterprising culture and raising prosperity amongst communities in three south Wales counties has received an EU funding boost, Deputy Minister for European Programmes, Alun Davies announced yesterday.
Led by Timebanking Wales, the project will invite people in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Bridgend to join Community Enterprise Networks where they will undergo a skills audit to identify their particular talents which can be used in their local areas.
Those who join the Community Enterprise Networks will be thanked with time credits, equivalent to the amount of time they have voluntarily spent using their skills. Time credits can then be exchanged for an equivalent time spent on educational and cultural activities, developing new skills to improve their capabilities and work opportunities.
It is expected that some of the individuals involved will go on to set up their own social enterprises to continue delivering services within their communities such as creative industries, catering, landscaping and environmental ventures.
Backed with £1.8m from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, the remainder of the funding will be provided by the Networks involved.
Announcing the funding for the project, Deputy Minister for European Programmes, Alun Davies, said:
“Unlocking the potential of people in our communities is vital for their future prosperity and the creation of enterprising initiatives which can deliver local services and support the growth of the social economy.
“I am delighted that we have been able to invest EU funding to back this initiative which will help encourage a local entrepreneurial culture by identifying under-utilised skills and talents of people in these communities.
“Looking ahead I am determined to ensure that we maximise the impact of any future EU funding to develop innovative, high quality projects which create jobs while making it easier for applicants to access the funds.”
Timebanking Wales Chief Executive, Geoff Thomas, said:
“Many post industrial landscapes of the South Wales Valleys will never see the return of heavy industries or dependent on their location light manufacturing. The challenge is to foster and promote a new culture of indigenous growth leading to wealth creation. The real wealth that remains in the Valleys is its people, and given the right opportunity their ability to create the future.”
Case study
The Community Enterprise Networks builds on successful initiatives involving timebanking already underway in Wales. In 2005 Timebanking Wales teamed up with the Creation Development Trust, a social enterprise based in Blaengarw, Bridgend – an area where unemployment posed a major challenge - to identify the talents of local people.
Focusing on what people could do, a range of activities got underway with timebanking underpinning schemes such as a community café, physical regeneration and arts projects. Blaengarw Workman’s Hall became the epicentre for many activities hosting a theatre, social events, training opportunities, childcare and office facilities.
Creation Development Trust Chief Executive Dawn Davies said:
“Using timebanking local people are able to co-produce local services and enterprises that really address people’s needs as they are designed and delivered by the people themselves. All our schemes, like the café and the real food box scheme, offer training and skills opportunities which enable people not only to invest in their communities with their time, but also in their own career development.
“Using timebanking we even offer childcare services so that individuals are able to participate in our activities which could eventually lead them to progress into employment or setting up their own local venture.”
The approach taken has informed the development of Community Enterprise Networks.
Timebanking Wales Chief Executive, Geoff Thomas, said:
“Membership and mutuality are the core elements of Community Enterprise Networks which have been tried, tested and modified through a collaborative process with the Creation Development Trust.
“Working together we developed this methodology to act as a springboard –widening opportunity, promoting the creativity of local people and enhancing community economic development by creating new conditions for growth.”
