The Welsh Assembly Government's Communities First Programme exists to provide local people with opportunities to play an active role in shaping the future of their community. It is about supporting communities, groups and individuals to find their voices and use their skills and experiences to change, challenge, negotiate, persuade and jointly plan for the benefit of their communities.
Communities First employed Heledd, a Psychology graduate, to support the Communities First Steering group and coordinate the efforts of its members to raise awareness of the impending Communities First programme within the Trowbridge Ward. This involved gathering information from the community, design of newsletter/questionnaire/T-shirts, launch and promotion of competitions, initial work on the design and launch of a website and reporting back to the committee and forum of findings.
Heledd made many valuable contacts throughout the ward and gathered loads of significant information for the project. The benefits to the project include promotion and profile raising with the community.
Although Heledd already had some work experience she felt her placement at Communities First had been 'a revelation in cohesive working on the part of organisations and individuals'. She gained 'mediation, diplomacy and project management skills' and the placement helped her focus on her future career aspirations.
Senior Into Work Advisor, Marge Wyton said GO Wales Placements was:
“a valuable scheme providing real world experience for those who may previously have little. Or in Heledd's case, for those who already have employment experience the scheme allows for experience of differing fields, and facilitates the focussing and forming of longer term goals.”
She added:
“Heledd was both energetic and innovative in her approach to the project and will be missed by everyone.”
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