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Spring / Summer 2006 Newsletter

28th Jul 2006

 

Inside this issue:

 

Communities First Bro Ddyfi Self-build Seminar

John Gillespie addresses delegates at the recent Self-build seminarLand for People recently organised a Self-build affordable housing seminar on behalf of Bro Ddyfi Communities First at the Machynlleth Community Centre, to look at the lack of affordable housing in rural areas such as the Dyfi Valley.

This issue has been highlighted by the Bro Dyfi Communities First Partnership, Machynlleth and District Community Forum and in the Powys Community Strategy.

With the continued rise in house prices, (Powys being at number 6 in the top 10 counties which have had the fastest rise in house prices between 1996 and 2006, with a 222% increase in the price of an average house to £172,199), there has been a failure to adequately replace the stock of affordable housing lost through right to buy and second homes.

The event was held as a consequence of a series of public meetings and housing needs surveys conducted in the area, which suggested that there was significant interest in the prospect of self build groups forming in the area to get more affordable homes built.

Councillor Gwilym Fychan opened the event, and in his introduction he emphasised the need to explore every avenue, and to be innovative, in the drive to provide affordable housing to the benefit of the social and economic life of the area.

He hoped that as a result of the day, more discussions would be had and action taken to get more affordable homes for local people actually built.

He wished the seminar every success in its deliberations.

The five speakers, John Gillespie, Southern Development Co-ordinator for The Community Self Build Agency; John Green, Director of Technical Services for Mid Wales Housing (MWHA); Jonathan Brown, Director of Land for People; David Thomlinson, Affordable Housing Officer for Powys County Council and Trish Andrews, Architect at The Centre for Alternative Technology, gave presentations on various aspects of self-build and were also able to provide advice and guidance on specific issues.

Display stands and information were arranged on the stage area for delegates before and after the presentations.

24 delegates from several communities in the Dyfi Valley and further a field, along with elected members from Machynlleth Town Council and Powys County Council attended the seminar.

A full report is available on our website, whilst a hard copy can be sent to you in the post upon request.

caption: Photo: John Gillespie addresses delegates at the recent Self-build seminar.

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Social Housing Grant Programme

House graphicOver five million pounds is to be spent on new social housing projects in Powys in 2006 to 2008.

That's the news from Powys County Council as it unveils its Social Housing Grant Development Programme.

Housing portfolio holder, Cllr Fred Barker, said, "This is excellent news. The council put in a number of bids to the Assembly and I am very pleased to say that the majority of them were successful".

Cllr Gwilym Vaughan said, "I am delighted. All the bids for the Bro Ddyfi area were successful and we can expect building work to start on some of these sites later this year."

The schemes will be developed by a number of housing associations, which will also own and manage them once they are completed.

Several schemes have come about following involvement of local communities concerned about the lack of affordable housing in their areas.

Some of the grant will be spent on the Rural Homebuy scheme, which helps people in need to buy a home.

Successful applicants can receive a loan for up to 50% of the cost of buying a property. The scheme is run by both Mid Wales and Gwerin housing associations.

Social Housing Projects in the Bro Ddyfi area include sites at Derwenlas, Llanwrin, Cemmaes and Dolfach, near Llanbrynmair.

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Putting Bro Ddyfi First

Towards the end of May, a flyer entitled 'Putting Bro Ddyfi First' was mailed to every household and business address in the area.

The flyer provides a brief outline of the Communities First process to date, as well as summarising what the seven themes of the current Bro Ddyfi Action Plan says about the way forward.

To do more, we need you to get involved!

There is room left on the Bro Ddyfi Communities First Partnership for people who live or work in the Powys area of Bro Ddyfi, and if you are interested in joining the Partnership, or indeed any of its Thematic Work Groups, either now or at any time in the future, then please feel free to contact the Communities First Office for more details.

Additional copies of the flyer and a hard copy of the full Partnership Agreement can be sent to you, along with any other information you may require regarding the Communities First programme by contacting the Communities First Office.

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Defra launches 'Community Halls for Rural People' On-line

community hallDefra has launched an information hub 'Community Halls for Rural People' on its Rural Affairs website.

The website has been designed to help rural communities to benefit from the variety of funding opportunities available for community halls.

It has information and links to funding sources and other advice for those running local community buildings where rural people meet, or would like to meet in the future.

The website has been developed in consultation with Action with Communities in Rural England, and has links to the 38 Rural Community Councils who have expertise in advising on best practice for managing rural community buildings.

(A considerable amount of this information also applies to Wales).

It is a resource that will help the dedicated people who run village halls to find out quickly and easily, how they can access a whole range of funding, services and advice.

It will help them to share their experiences of applying for and securing funding.

>> 'Community Halls for Rural People' or for paper copies call the Defra Helpline on 0845 933 5577.

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Launch of Bro Ddyfi Integrated Centre

community hall

Lempit Opik MP recently launched the Bro Ddyfi Integrated Children's Centre, with this being one of only four in Powys.

Machynlleth Community Children's Project Ltd have been appointed to take on the management of the new ICC building and Diane Jones, the Project Manager, will also be responsible for the Co-ordination of Information across Bro Ddyfi.

Diane explained that, "As part of the ICC network we have a new building - 'Ty Melfed' which will house a range of existing services including Early Years Education, Out of School Care, Toy Library and Community Training/Development. Rooms are available to hire and we have a stock of open access play equipment to loan to member groups.

"If any group is interested in making use of the facilities available at 'Ty Melfed', then please contact me to discuss your requirements."

The Centre is able to offer a signposting and networking service to the community, and if your group is planning an event or offering a service, which you would like to advertise, then please send Diane details (bilingually please!), and she will arrange to forward this across the ICC network.

If you need information about services available in the area or have an interest in multi-agency working on a project, then please contact Diane Jones - Project Manager MCCP Ltd, Tel: 01654 711000.

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Plugging the Leaks Event

people brainstormingCommunities in rural Wales have grown used to seeing jobs disappear under pressure from the globalised economy, but people in the Dyfi Valley have been going back to basics in an attempt to change this pattern.

An evening funded by Communities First and organised by Ecodyfi at the Owain Glyndwr Institute in Machynlleth on Thursday evening 30th of March explored the power that all people hold in their hands to create and support local jobs.

The event, introduced several light-hearted techniques that the new Economics Foundation has developed.

The foundation offers a new approach to local economic development that gives control back to local people.

Treating the economy as a bucket, the trainer showed how money flows in and a full bucket means that local people have enough money for a good quality of life, but if the bucket is leaky - money will flow out.

While people were welcome to treat the event as a 'one-off' just out of interest, we hope that some participants will want to use what they've learnt by going on to identify opportunities for local enterprise.

A report will appear shortly on our website, and anyone with an interest in the local economy is more than welcome to join the Communities First Economy & Employment Theme Group.

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Partnership News

Four members have recently left the Partnership due to increased work commitments and/or having taken up new posts out of the area.

We would like to thank Iona Sawtell (Past Chair), Myra Francis, Anwen Davies and Cerys Humphreys (Past Chair), very much indeed for all the hard work they have put in to the Bro Ddyfi Communities First Programme, and would like to wish them the very best of luck for the future.

We would at this time also like to welcome Will Dunn as a member of the Partnership.

Will has been appointed as Cerys's successor as the Inequalities in Health Officer for Bro Ddyfi.

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Partnership meetings

For dates and venues of meetings please contact the Communities First office: Email:cyril@powys.gov.uk; Tel: 01654 700315.

Anyone is welcome to attend these meetings as an observer to find out more about the Communities First programme in the Bro Ddyfi area.

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Youth Forum weekend

Since last summer, one of the areas youth worker's, Cathy Evans, has been working with Ant Edwards from 'Save the Children Fund' on a project to enable the youth of the Bro Ddyfi area to have a say in the way that things are run and the type of amenities that are provided for them in the locality.

A small number of interested young people had worked with, Ant, Cathy, and fellow youth worker Clive Thomas; to draw up a constitution and to write to Communities First seeking funding.

Group of young people posing for camera

This led to them successfully presenting their case for funding before the Bro Ddyfi Communities First Partnership, and culminated in a residential training weekend on the 21st-23rd April in Stackpole, Pembrokeshire.

The weekend was jointly organised by the young people themselves, youth workers and Ant Edwards.

Nine young people attended the training, their ages ranged from 13 to 16 years of age.

Training sessions were held on various topics, including:

  • Aims and objectives of the training
  • What qualities a forum member will need
  • What skills a forum member will need
  • What does a youth committee do
  • What facilities are there in your area, what's missing and what would you change or improve
  • What's going on that needs to stop
  • Issues and how to deal with them

A main committee was elected with a chair/vice chair/treasurer and secretary plus a sub-committee devoted to events and fundraising.

The first meeting of both the main and sub-committees were planned for the following month.

A visit to Heatherton Park, with activities such as paintballing and karting was organised for the Saturday afternoon, whilst there were a number of other activities on site such as archery, laser shooting and putting.

Cathy said "I am very proud of the young people; they worked extremely hard during the weekend and made an effort to get along with each other during their training sessions and also during their 'chores' groups".

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Communities First go for Option 3

The Bro Ddyfi Communities First Partnership, who also act as the core group for the Machynlleth and District Local Community Forum, has responded to the ELWa Dyfi Valley Pathfinder in favour of Option 3.

The Co-ordinator Cyril Evans explained that "One of the main reasons why we favour Option 3 is that it seems to be the only option that ensures the continuation of a sixth form at Ysgol Bro Ddyfi, and that through supporting this option we hope to ensure that the children of the area will be able to access quality bilingual education for years to come without having to travel outside their locality".

The Partnership feel that it is of the utmost importance for there to be close liaison with those developing plans for use of The Plas, whilst should a need be identified for additional building on site, then the Old Canteen maybe available, but is likely to be sold soon.

Option 3 provides an excellent opportunity to get everybody working together in a positive way for the benefit of the area as a whole.

Elwa's National Council, as a result of the consultation process, have recommended Option 3 to the Minister as the preferred option for Bro Ddyfi.

Useful Website

A website that offers advice to cyclists, pedestrians, motorists and even horse riders has proved to be very popular.

It also provides downloadable road safety colouring books and quizzes for children.

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**Note: Anyone is more than welcome to come along and observe Partnership meetings**

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