Training and jobs help tackle poverty in the Afan Valley

22 Jan 2015 12:41 PM

Improving the skills and creating job opportunities for people in one of the most deprived parts of Wales is making a real difference in the Afan Valley, Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty Lesley Griffiths said today.

The Minister met staff and local people during a visit to Croeserw Community Enterprise Centre, which is delivering training and job opportunities in the Afan Communities First Cluster.

Communities First is the Welsh Government's programme to support the most vulnerable people in Wales by combating poverty and promoting education, health and economic prosperity.

The Minister saw a number of projects including a Learning Projects course, a managing debt workshop and met Lift project staff. Lift is the Welsh Government programme helping long-term unemployed people into work and training.

Minister Lesley Griffiths said:

"I was pleased to see how Communities First and Lift are making a real difference to the lives of people in the Afan Valley, where some villages are among the top 10% most deprived parts of Wales. People are being helped to rise above the challenges of poverty to improve their lives through learning new skills to help them into work or further learning.

"There are far too many people whose lives are affected by poverty and who  cannot afford the basics like food and heating. Employment is the best route out of poverty and it is great to see schemes which are helping people to begin the journey to improving their lives for years to come."

Real differences have been made for people in the Afan Valley:

• The Reducing Youth Unemployment and Disengagement  project  has so far in 2014-15 helped  10 young people gain an employment related qualification and all are actively seeking work.
• The Improving Adult Basic Skills, Learning for Your Future project has so far in 2014-15 helped 10 people gain a qualification or progress to further learning.
• The Afan Valley Lift programme is being delivered with social housing provider NPT Homes and the NHS. Latest figures show it has helped people with 78 training and employment opportunities and 20 people have moved into employment.

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