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Minister visits multi-million pound projects to help Swansea’s disadvantaged communities

8 Jan 2014 04:24 PM

Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty Vaughan Gething saw for himself the work of a multi-million pound scheme to help children from the poorest parts of Swansea have the right start in life when he visits the city yesterday.

The Welsh Government is investing more than £4.7 million this financial year into Flying Start facilities in Swansea that offer eligible parents free quality childcare for 2-3 year olds, parenting support, an enhanced health visitor service and help for early language development.

The Deputy Minister visited the Flying Start centre based at Seaview School in Mayhill which has been used by 48 children so far this financial year.

He also visited the Swansea West Communities First cluster in Mayhill. The Welsh Government has awarded £1.4 million of funding to the cluster until March next year so it can continue to provide a range of services including employment support, debt and benefit advice and support for unemployed young people.

Ministers are also investing £3.4 million in Swansea to support the Families First programme that is aimed at improving the way agencies work together and places a clear emphasis on early intervention for families, particularly those living in poverty, to help stop problems from escalating towards crisis. The Minister will meet members of the Families First team working in the city.

Vaughan Gething said: