Almost £2.5m from the Government’s Community Renewal fund has been invested into Swansea to help people find work, support businesses and encourage the use of community green spaces.
Launched in 2021, the Community Renewal Fund consists of £220m which is distributed to places across the UK and the money that was announced to go to Swansea in November 2021 is to help people recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Run by the council, Pathways to Work is one of the schemes that is being funded to help people in the Welsh city. The programme provides support for employability by improving skills and offering paid work placements for people aged 16 and over that are unemployed.
Figures show more than 250 people have been supported by Pathways to Work since the government provided funding.
As well as helping people with employment, the money has helped businesses in Swansea.
The grant funds programmes such as online power hour and start-up enterprise club events giving free tips on topics from social media guidance to legal considerations and cyber security.
Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: ‘Linked to the key themes of the Community Renewal Fund, projects in Swansea to have benefited include those aimed at supporting our businesses and improving local people’s skills so they can find work.
‘Like many cities throughout the UK and beyond, Swansea was looking to quickly bounce back from the economic impact of the pandemic, so these schemes have been important to give as much support as possible to local entrepreneurs, residents and families.
‘Ranging from online masterclasses and grants for businesses to tailored support for the economically inactive, our support has been targeted where it’s most needed.’
Other schemes that are funded by the Community Renewal Fund include a project with the city’s Centre for African Entrepreneurship to support people from ethnic minorities into education and employment, while tackling issues including language barriers.
The Penderi Green Regeneration project has also benefited from funding as part of a scheme to encourage local residents to enjoy green spaces in their community while showcasing green energy technology.
Photo by Ifeoluwa A