What is the Communities First Programme?

The Communities First Programme revolves around the process of supporting communities to decide their own needs and play an active role to shape the future of their community. It is to appertain their abilities to develop confidence, knowledge, skills and experience to operate independently .The aims and objectives of the programme are:

• A ten year programme to improve living conditions and prospects of people who live in the most deprived areas in Wales;
• A programme the seeks to ensure that funding and support is available from the Welsh Assembly Government and other agencies who receive public funds are targeted towards the poorest areas;
• A programme which invigorates local people to enable them to decide what is needed to regenerate the area they live and work in;
• A programme that endeavours to make far reaching difference to our most deprived communities.

Who is Eligable?

The 100 most deprived electoral wards according to the Multiple Index of Deprevation (2000 edition). The programme targets 6 main themes:

• Employment and Business
• Education and Training
• Environment
• Health and Welfare
• Active Communities
• Crime and Safe Communities

Communities First

Since September 2005 Mantell Gwynedd have had two officers working specifically in Communities First areas. Carys Williams works in the Arfon and Dwyfor areas and Mair Morys Huws works in the Meirionnydd area. The Aims and Objectives of the posts are:

• Support voluntary and community groups in the Communities First areas
• Represent the voluntary sector in partnership metings
• Hold network meetings for the partnership to enable them to
  • Exchange good practice
  • Exchange ideas
  • Create connections
  Hold information/training sessions for the partnerships

If you are a voluntary or community group in Communities First areas you can contact the officers at the addresses below:

Carys Williams	Mair Morys Huws
Communities First Support Officer	Communities First Support Officer
Mantell Gwynedd	Mantell Gwynedd
24-26 High Street	The Old Police Station
CAERNARFON	Lombard St
LL55 1RH	DOLGELLAU
	LL40 1SB
01286 672626	01341 422575
carys@mantellgwynedd.com	mair@mantellgwynedd.co.uk

Communities First :
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