Communities First Backs the ‘Goodies in Hoodies’

A film about community participation produced by a group of young people in Neath Port Talbot has won praise from local community leaders.

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas, Aberavon AM Brian Gibbons and Council Leader Ali Thomas have all congratulated Croeserw Youth Action Group (CYAG) on the launch of their film, TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More).

The movie promotes the work of CYAG, known locally as the ‘Goodies in Hoodies’. The youngsters have been supported by the Upper Afan Valley Communities First Team CYAG on this and other projects to help their local community and counteract the negative perception of young people.

Aberavon AM Dr Brian Gibbons said: “All too often people want to put our young people down and stereotype them all as being up to no good when in reality nothing could be further from the truth. Sadly a few bad apples affect the over all perception, which is why groups like CYAG must be applauded for their work.

“These youngsters must be heartily congratulated for their efforts in producing this film. Over the last year they have been involved in numerous projects from running film screenings at a local residential home to helping set up a children’s disco. Their activities span the generation gap and make genuine contribution to the life of the community.”

Gwenda Thomas, AM for Neath said: “This is exactly the sort of project that the Communities First programme has been instrumental in developing. Whilst the recent report from the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee has demonstrated ways in which the Communities First programme can be improved, this should not overshadow the excellent work that has already been done in helping some of Wales’ most deprived areas.”

“The positive impact that Communities First has had on the lives of so many people must be recognised. In Neath Port Talbot the programme has grappled with some of the most fundamental problems affecting our communities.”

Amongst the many projects initiated by Communities First Partnerships in NPT schemes such as the Melin Advice Centre have provided impoverished communities with a gateway to welfare advice and access to affordable credit through the NPT Credit Union. A variety of projects, including a smoking cessation support group in Ystalyfera and Wii Fit sessions in youth clubs in the Dulais Valley, are helping to improve the health and wellbeing of people throughout the county.

Mrs Thomas said: “We can see in Neath Port Talbot what Communities First can achieve when it has the committed support of the Local Authority.”

Ali Thomas, leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said: “We are very proud of what we have attained in our work with the Communities First partnerships. There are areas where the affect has been nothing short of transformative. Briton Ferry West, for example, stands testimony to this sort of regeneration.

“This said, much work still remains to be done. The coming year will see us learn from and build on our successes. We have, for example, secured money from the Welsh Assembly’s Outcome Fund to extend the invaluable welfare advice provided by Melin Advice Centre throughout NPT’s twelve Communities First areas.”