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Areas

The Communities First programme is active in the following areas of Neath Port Talbot. The areas were selected from data in the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2002.

Briton Ferry West

Briton Ferry West ward consists of the area of Briton Ferry that is west of the railway line. Currently, a Communities First steering group and partnership have been formed and meet on a monthly basis. The co-ordinator has been in post since June 2003 and has been finding out what the community wants via a community survey. This data is currently being analysed.

Llansawel Community House situated on Llansawel Cresent has weekly drop-in sessions providing support and advice to those in the community, for example, Action Team for Jobs, NPT Housing, and Neath Citizen Advice Bureau. (Time-table of Llansawel House).

For further information or to get involved, contact Leigh Batchelor the Communities First co-ordinator on

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Brynbryddan & Penllyn

Brynbryddan & Penllyn are Communities First sub wards situated in the Bryn and Cwmavon electoral ward. The Communities First Partnership has been established for over two years and aims to develop and support the work of the Cwm Together Steering Group. The Cwm Together meetings are open public meetings held bimonthly where residents can get together with local councillors, police officers and the Communities First team to discuss local issues and develop community projects and events. With the support of local group CRAC (Cwmavon Residents Action Committee) Communities First have undertaken a number of successful community projects including:

  • Cwmavon Young Achievers Awards - A bi-annual event that acknowledges and celebrates the achievements of local children and young people.
  • Community Clean Ups - Regular clean ups take place in both Brynbryddan and Penllyn thanks to the support of Keep Wales Tidy.
  • Cwmavon Christmas Cracker - A festive event where all the community get together to see Santa tour Cwmavon on his sleigh before visiting the fete where local children sing, dance and perform.
  • Environmental Improvements - Communities First have worked with a number of community groups including the local schools on a number of environmental projects. The most recent being the planting of over one thousand daffodil bulbs. Look out for the daffodils blooming in the Spring of 2007.

The Communities First Partnership has carried out extensive community consultation and is currently developing and Action Plan for the area. The residents of Cwmavon are determined to develop projects for the young community in order to secure the long term future of the area.

For further information or to get involved, contact Mari Shufflebotham.

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Fairyland

Fairyland is a Communities First sub ward in the Neath North electoral ward. The Fairyland Communities First Partnership has been established for over two years and works closely with the Forward 4 Fairyland Residents’ Association. Much work has been done by the Fairyland Communities First Partnership and includes:

  • Environmental Improvements – Several environmental projects have taken place on the estate with the support of organisations such as Groundwork and the Local Authority. Projects have included improving street lighting, developing children’s play areas and community recreational sites. Regular community clean ups also take place on the estate thanks to the support of Keep Wales Tidy.
  • Education & Training – The Fairyland Communities First Partnership are one of the five organisations in Wales that have been successful in receiving a Learning Community Account. The project aims to address the learning needs of the community and through intensive consultation a Community Learning Plan has been produced. Several priorities identified in the plan are currently being delivered locally with the support of partners such as Neath YMCA, Neath Port Talbot Council For Voluntary Services (CVS) and Neath Port Talbot Youth Service. Current projects include health and wellbeing schemes and informal learning courses.
  • Community Activities – The Communities First team have supported the Forward 4 Fairyland to organise a number of community events. These include family fun days, Christmas parties and family trips.

The Fairyland Communities First Action Plan was completed in 2004 and many of the priorities highlighted have or are being addressed locally. A review of the Action Plan will be undertaken in 2007.

For further information or to get involved, contact Mari Shufflebotham.

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Neath East

Neath East encompasses the areas of Melincryddan, Penrhiwtyn and Pencaerau. Neath East has a Communities First Steering Group and Partnership that meet regularly. Neath East now has a full team of staff including a co-ordinator, welfare rights officer, trainee development worker and an administrator. A drop in advice centre has been developed for the local community named ‘The Melin Advice Centre’. This was opened in March 2004 for the community to use. Organisations who will hold surgeries will include ATFJ, CAB and MEWN.

For further information or to get involved, contact David Edwards on

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Pelenna

Pelenna consists Pontrhydyfen, Efail-Fach and Tonmawr. The partnership continues to meet on a monthly basis. The group is currently looking at youth and health issues in their area. A successful Health & Wellbeing day was organised earlier in the year, which helped to raise awareness of Communities First

For further information or to get involved, contact Martin Ellis on

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Sandfields

The Partnership formed in April 2003 and meets quarterly. Most members of the Partnership live in the Sandfields, but additional representatives of community groups are always welcome. The Partnership also has a number of sub-groups on various themes.

For more information about Communities First in Sandfields go to their website, www.sandfieldsfirst.ik.com or details on Youth in the area can be found on http://www.sandfieldsyouth.ik.com

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Upper Afan Valley

Upper Afan Valley is made up from Cymmer, Glyncorrwg and Gwynfi wards. The area now has a partnership in place, which was established in December 2003. Partnership members are from all three wards. The partnership meets on a monthly basis. The Communities First team consists of the co-ordinator, development worker and administrative assistant.

For further information or to get involved, contact Jo-Anne Thomas

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Upper Amman Valley

This is a cross-border partnership covering Lower Brynamman, Tairgwaith, Cwmgorse and Gwaun Cae Gurwen in Neath Port Talbot, and Quarterbach in Carmarthenshire.

There are village steering groups in every village for local people to get involved and voice their views. Each steering group is coming up with ideas for the action plan and prioritising projects. The steering groups nominate community reps onto the multi-agency partnership that considers the cross-border issues.

For further information or to get involved, contact Tom Williams on

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Upper Dulais Valley

This covers the wards of Seven Sisters and Onllwyn. Each ward has regular steering group meetings, and the Partnerships meet monthly. A questionnaire to every household in the area had a very high response rate, and the Partnership is now looking at projects for the Action Plan.

For further information or to get involved, contact Dean Cawsey on

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Ystalyfera & Godre’r Graig (Pantyffynon sub-ward) 

The Partnership meet monthly, and there is also a lively community steering group meeting regularly. A community questionnaire and planning or real events have generated ideas that are now being considered for the Action Plan. Most recently, the Welsh Assembly approved an application to Communities First for £130,000 to contribute towards the new community Sports Hall in Ysgol Gyfun School. This project will support the involvement of local sports groups out of school hours.

For further information or to get involved, contact Ryland Doyle on

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Domestic Abuse

The Domestic Abuse Community of Interest is a borough wide Communities First implementation aimed at tackling domestic abuse in Neath Port Talbot. A Partnership meets regularly and is supported by a team consisting of the Coordinator, Senior Development Worker, Community Development Worker, Minority Development Worker and Administrator. They have recently moved and are now based on Windsor Road, Neath.

For further information or to get involved, contact Julia Lewis on

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Youth

Youth issues are an important part of the Communities First programme. As such, a Communities First Youth Development Team works with young people from the Communities First areas. This team is headed-up by Kay Davies. Kay works with young people in all Communities First areas. Many day trips/projects have been organized in order to team build. The youth partnership currently sits on the Afan Valley and Briton Ferry West partnerships. Eventually over time, a youth partnership will be able to sit on all partnerships in Neath Port Talbot Communities First areas.

If you would like further information, or are a young person who would like to get involved, contact Kay Davies on


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