The Partnership undertook a number of initiatives to help members of the local community to gain experience and professional qualifications, and to increase their employability in the local job market.

Life Support Programme

The Life Support Programme is a partnership between Equal, Genesis, People and Work Unit, Glamorgan University and WEA (Workers Education Association), providing 4 years intensive training to help local community members achieve this aim. Six learners have progressed to Merthyr College to study on Access courses for degrees in Nursing and Humanities whilst one learner has started work for Snap Cymru. WEA continue to provide learning courses, both day-time and evening, based in the community and available to everyone.

Parentline Plus Parenting Modules

Feedback from the community told us that people think that good parenting plays an important part in bringing up confident children. We have worked in partnership with the Local Authority Family Support Partnership and joint fund and support the delivery of a programme of parenting modules in North Merthyr and then throughout the borough.

Supporting self-employment

We have supported a local woman from Pant to set up her own cleaning business. She had previously worked at a local school, and had been cleaning as a sideline to increase her income. She could see that she could possibly earn a greater income if she cleaned full time, and wanted to work for herself, but wasn't sure how to go about it. We were able to provide the guidance, support and encouragement needed to help achieve self-employment.

"Sparkle" was setup in April 2006. Equal has been able to provide funding for courses and produce flyers and business cards. the computer group are also working on a website for the business.

Our beneficiary has worked hard to pass her NVQ level 3 in Business Management and hopes to qualify for a grant from Business Eye that will support her for 2 years. She is currently full to capacity, and is looking at the possibility of employing someone to expand the bsuiness in the near future.

Preparing local people to become speech and language therapy assistants

The Speech and Language Therapist working in a community base, The People in Communities Project, within the target area identified the need. New families in the Gurnos and Galon Uchaf areas were not taking up the opportunity of a speech and language appointment for their newborn child. Developed two local people to become a speech and language therapy assistants over a fixed term of 5 months. The local assistants, who are residents within the target area, adopt an engagement role, providing information, reassurance and encouragement for nervous new parents. The interventions of the two assistants have increased participation in the service by 80%.