WIREDGOV

An additional 21 community hubs and learning centres are to be provided throughout Wales thanks to a £15m Community Hubs Capital Grant fund announced by Education Minister Kirsty Williams yesterday.

The fund comes as part of the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, which will see an investment of £3.7 billion over two waves of investment, which began in 2014, to replace and refurbish education buildings throughout Wales.

The primary purpose of the £15m will be to fund projects that cater for the local community.

This could be through adapting existing buildings for wider community use, such as increasing the size of a school hall, by providing specialist facilities that widen use or enhanced sporting facilities, which can be used by local people. 

Funding will also be used to create spaces that meet a specific need within the local community, such as learning new languages or vocational skills.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams yesterday said:

 “Our 21st Century Schools and Education programme is already making a huge difference to pupils, teachers and local communities throughout Wales; giving them access to state of the art educational facilities.

Schools play a vital role within a community, and I’m fully aware of the importance of ensuring that our schools are not only fit for purpose, but are able to cater to the needs of local communities.

That’s why we’ve committed to introducing more community learning centres, and plan to make community focused projects a key aspect of the second wave of the programme.

Through this additional funding local authorities will be able to build new centres or change existing facilities to provide communities with essential services such as childcare, parenting, and family learning support.