The Communities First Programme is a long term plan for improving the living conditions and prospects for people in the most disadvantaged communities in Wales. The programme ensures that the money and support available from the Welsh Assembly Government and various other publicly funded agencies are targeted at the poorest areas Our role is to coordinate community led regeneration of the area with local residents, through Taff Bargoed Partnership Board, seeking cooperation from other organisations within the public, private and voluntary sector to work together with us to tackle many issues that affect the lives of people who live in the area. Local transport, access to relevant health care, activities for children and young people, services for the elderly, family support, the environment, education and training opportunities are just some of the issues that have been brought to the attention of Communities First of which we are all working on at present.

We have now reached a stage whereby most needed and common issues that affect our communities have been identified. It is part of our job to gather these issues together and form a Community Action Plan to work on resolving the issues with the community. This may also mean looking for funding for different projects, working with other areas that have similar needs and monitoring and evaluating progress.

Currently over 70% of the areas population benefit from the work of Taff Bargoed Communities First Partnership Board who are involved in over 40 different ongoing projects including an internet café, educational course, mother and toddler groups, crèches, youth drop in centre, after school clubs, senior citizen clubs, environmental groups, sports clubs and health and well being community groups.

Successes are from one thing... Involvement from the community!