Youth Connect provides practical support to help young parents (aged between 14 and 25) develop personal, parenting and technical skills.

The project is run by Women Connect First, which has secured Big Lottery Bright New Futures funding for the next four years to run the scheme for Cardiff’s young BME parents.

Women Connect First provides a range of free services and employment training opportunities to black and ethnic minority women and across south east Wales

The Welsh Government has provided funding to Women Connect First for a number of years and this year granted the organisation £55,536 through its Advancing Equality Fund.

Speaking at today’s event, Jeff Cuthbert, said:

“Projects such as Youth Connect are very close to my heart as they clearly have links to both tackling poverty, empowering communities and ensuring better equality for all.

“The Welsh Government is committed to supporting young parents through its Flying Start, Families First and Communities First programmes.

“Flying Start has a key role to play in the ‘tackling poverty’ agenda.  Its aim is to give children a better start in life and in the longer term this should see young people from our more disadvantaged communities benefitting.”

Across Wales, more than 23,000 children were in receipt of Flying Start services in 2012/13. The Welsh Government is committed to expanding this to 36,000 children and families. The extension is being supported with £19 million of extra capital funding.