Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee

National Assembly for Wales

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Communities First – lessons learnt

The following are my  views as the Programme Manager for Anglesey Flying Start in response to your request for views/lessons learnt  :     

A. how different poverty reduction programmes (Communities for Work, Lift, Flying Start etc.) will change as a result of the end of Communities First.

1. As part of the initial programme planning for Communities First, Flying Start was part of the planning process with a focus upon avoiding duplication as both Communities First areas were also Flying Start areas. 

2. The Flying Start programme’s primary focus is parenting and school readiness. If parents were   looking for work opportunities, they were signposted to Communities First or other appropriate agencies. However few parents were in this position to be able to take advantage of work opportunities with a number of children under 4 years of age/school age.

3. There may be duplication with other programmes such as PaCE, and Flying Start  signposts parents to such programmes as these appear to be more parent friendly – they can work from home as a childminder, still caring for their own children, fetch them from school. Childcare is also provided to enable them to take advantage of courses etc.   

4. There are also a number of groups within Flying Start – all of which are accredited in Anglesey – and parents can  attain qualifications, build up a portfolio. The children remain as the priority, but with a long term look at the future in terms of work opportunities. The emphasis has been on building confidence, resilience and supporting networks for parents. The provision of financial support is available within the Flying Start programme itself, in particular with the programme devised by Money Advice Service and Welsh Government -   “Talk, Learn Do Parents, Kids and Money”-  and referrals are made to national agencies such as CAB and local money advice centres such as O’Toole ( both of which are located in one large Communities First/ Flying Start area).  Staff have also been trained to provide basis financial assistance.

5. Flying Start also signpost to the local college, the Open University, Lifelong Learning grants and others.

6. Flying Start Anglesey includes areas which are not Community First areas and subsequently takes advantage of any agency offering support to families.    

7. Consequently Flying Start Anglesey’s core programme and linkages with    other generic and specialist services  mean that the removal of the Communities First Programme will have little impact upon our families or the services which Flying Start provides. 

Should you wish any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Bethan H. Jones