The following Partners have agreed to work collaboratively for the good of the community. In practise this means they are committed to using their local knowledge, experience and roles within their respective sectors and parts of thier community to help target support where it's needed most in the Llanion community.

At a visioning workshop in December 2005 the guiding principle or community vision was "to directly address the root causes of disadvantage and poverty"

A word from the Chair: Summer 2008

It’s been a productive and social 6 months.

December saw a further development in the growth and activity of the Pembroke Dock Festival Group – a second large scale community event preceded by 15 workshops.

The Lantern Festival “Lighting up the Night” was the culmination of productive partnership working between Pembroke Dock Festival Group, Llanion
Communities First Partnership, Pembroke Dock Town Council, Pembroke Dock CANDo and Bush and Park Tenants and Residents Association.

The preparation saw people from the Youth Centre, Pembroke Dock Community School, St Marys School and the Anchorage to name but a few hand craft over a hundred lanterns, sculptures, moon and stars and an impressive angel. 250 people joined the parade through the memorial park and the town – a stream of light and goodwill in the depth of Winter.

Cleddau Community Media are now delivering their third tranche of media and citizen journalism training.

The Dockleaf and Springboard projects are continuing to serve the ward with both informal learning and accredited employment related training.

The ‘Friends of the Pembroke Dock Memorial Park’ are now active and work has begun on the improvements to the memorial park identified in the public consultation.

A celebration of the Llanion Community hosted by the Quins provided a networking opportunity for groups and agencies active in making our community a safer, healthier and more rewarding place to live and work.

The third week long midsummer festival begins on the 14th June with something for all the family – of particular interest to families will be the Fun in the Park day on the 15th of June. Look out for the posters.

Once again thanks must go to all the volunteers, community groups, partners and venues that regularly commit their time, energy and goodwill in the
service of the local community.

Sue Perkins, Chair, on behalf of the Llanion Communities First Partnership

A word from the Chair: Winter 2007

It’s been another busy and productive period.  One of the key themes of the Communities First programme is Education & Training.  In Llanion the Communities First team are supporting this both at community level and in partnership with statutory provision and in ways, which are affordable and accessible to everyone. 

Cleddau Community Media are creating opportunities for people to learn broadcast skills and “citizen journalism”, while in the Pembroke Dock Youth Centre a new group of young people with our support have been awarded a Gwraidd grant to learn how to make a documentary film.  Complementary projects such as these will bring local people of all ages together to create their own programmes and films to broadcast online.

Another Gwraidd grant awarded to Greenlinks is allowing young people at Pembroke School to develop hands on practical skills.

For adults, the Dockleaf training project now in its third year, has resulted in 36 local people finding full-time employment, while the Springboard project continues with its focus on getting residents on the first rungs of the training and learning ladder – a positive foundation for the future.

Co-operation - Involvement for a purpose

Llanion Communities First is also actively encouraging and supporting local people to work together for the benefit of their community.  We are supporting a new community group (from an initial public consultation), the ‘Friends of the Pembroke Dock Memorial Park’. The group has already, through its joint working, facilitated improvements to the park. A second successful midsummer festival was a real boost to the community and has been recognised at a national level as an example of both how it should be done and of the local benefits. 

The Pembroke Dock Festival Group has now extended its programme and is currently working with other community groups and venues on a winter event.

Sue Perkins, Chair, on behalf of the Llanion Communities First Partnership

A word from the Chair: Summer 2007
The Partnership and team has had a very busy and productive 6 months.

Following the comprehensive survey of the Llanion Ward the results have now been analysed and an action plan produced for the coming year.

The main purpose of this action plan is to set out the identified aspirations of the Llanion community, identify the issues of concern and prioritise the actions the community wishes to take forward to address those concerns. It is also an important tool for agencies, authorities and organisations with a responsibility and the capacity to make things happen locally. As an example it has informed the local police of the issues of concern. Copies of the plan are available in the office and on the website.

Two major projects, working with education and training and the creation of employment within the ward, the Dockleaf and Springboard projects, are flourishing.  Both are based on training and learning, and run in the community and the community school. See inside for further details.

In the Spring Llanion Communities First were pleased to be asked by Pembroke Dock Town Council to facilitate a public meeting on the future of the Memorial Park. Many people from Llanion have now voiced their aspirations for the future of this beautiful park and would love to see a safe play and recreational area for children and adults.  For further information please contact Ian Jones, Town Clerk, at the Pater Hall.

We also joined forces with Global Connections with sponsorship from the Co-operative Group to hold a Fairtrade Day in Pembroke Dock Youth Centre; inspiring and conscience pricking talks and workshops promoted Fairtrade and care for the environment. Many schoolchildren and local people attended.

Looking Forward!

Sue Perkins, Chair, on behalf of the Llanion Communities First Partnership

A word from the Chair: Winter 2006
As the year draws to a close we can look back on the achievements of the Partnership over the Summer and Autumn and look forward to the year head.

Without doubt the Summer highlight was the week long Pembroke Dock Midsummer Festival supported by the partnership and team.

2 significant projects for the ward are continuing to make a positive difference in the community.

The Dockleaf project has recruited a further 7 people.  This brings the total to benefit from the project to 21, with more lined up to join the project soon.  The training and support provided by Dockleaf has been a key factor in 8 of the participants in the project finding full and part– time employment in the Community School

The Springboard project, about first steps to learning, is going from strength to strength and welcomes ideas from residents on courses they might like to do.
Courses to date have included basic pottery, computer literacy and employment skills.

The community survey has now been completed and everybody within the community who gave their time to feedback their views on many aspects of life in the ward are thanked.  The results (available on the website and in hard copy from the office) will inform and steer the work ahead.

We are in no doubt that for lasting, sustainable change to happen the community needs to find its voice and build on the wealth of skills and experience already here – a very rich seam we work to expose.

In October the Farepak hamper savings company went into administration, a terrible situation for many customers. The article outlining the work and contact details of the Haven Credit Union is particularly relevant at this time.

The Communities First Trust Fund grant scheme has been very supportive of developing groups within the ward and there are some innovative projects on the horizon.  These include some arts based projects which have come about as a direct result of the Midsummer Festival. The addition of the Communities First Music Trust Fund is a welcome addition to the grant support available for local groups.

We welcome the continued positive engagement of the Co-operative Group and are clear that Co-operative values and principles are closely aligned with the principles of the Welsh Assembly Government Communities First Programme.

Looking Forward!

Sue Perkins, Chair, on behalf of the Llanion Communities First Partnership

A word from the Chair: Spring 2006

As Spring moves into Summer the Communities First Partnership and team are very much looking forward to building on the positive work in the ward to date.

The Dockleaves project is producing employment and raising skills levels in the ward. Based in the Pembroke Dock Community School, the project has to date trained sixteen adults to NVQ level 2 Childcare, one going on to level 3 with four of the trainees successful in gaining full time employment as Classroom Assistants.

The Springboard Project, about to begin, will provide informal learning opportunities including family learning, ‘get cooking’ and many others chosen specifically by the people who live and work in the ward.

The Pembroke Dock festival is set to bring together many individuals and groups who care about the town in a Llanion and Pembroke Dock celebration.

With the Communities First Trust Fund grant scheme now opened and the Gwraidd scheme also accessible to smaller, often informal, developing groups there are many opportunities for bringing ideas to fruition and positively impacting on our community. These are just a few of the sources of support available.

This year the partnership will to continue to focus on building the capacity of groups, however small, who make a positive contribution to our community and further research what people consider to be the biggest issues that need tackling. All members of the partnership having undergone a skills and resources audit are keen to draw into the ward what expertise and resources they can from their respective roles. 

Looking Forward!

Sue Perkins, Chair, on behalf of the Llanion Communities First Partnership

Date of next Llanion Communities First Partnership Meeting:

27th August 2008 at 7pm

10 Meyrick Street
Pembroke Dock
SA72 6UT

Joining the Llanion Communities First Partnership

If you feel you would like to represent your community or a part of it on the partnership and can spare a few hours a month please contact us or drop in for an informal chat. A first step might be to attend a partnership meeting to see if it's something you could commit to. All members receive an induction into the nature of Communities First and the work to date in the ward. Ongoing training and development of partners is positively encouraged. Expenses for i.e. travel to the meeting, childcare etc will be paid for by the partnership - so you won't be out of pocket. Becoming a member could help you develop new skills and provide an opportunity to serve your community.

Minutes

Minutes of all meetings are available in the office.

Email:llanionenquiries

Partnership Chair - Sue Perkins