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Blaenau Gwent

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This project was set up because there was a recognised shortage of suitably qualified Community Development Workers in Blaenau Gwent and the CATS (Community Apprenticeship Trainees) and GAVO (Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations) have made several presentations about the project to other CVS and voluntary and statutory organisations across Wales. As a result the project has created a great deal of interest and is quite well known in the voluntary sector in Wales. As a result of these presentations and also its proven success, there have been a number of enquiries about this model of delivering a Community Apprentice Training Scheme and the Project Co-ordinator has had discussions with organisations from 6 other Counties around putting together a joint bid for the new European Convergence programme for a project based on the CATS model of community apprentices. These discussions are still at a very early stage but there is a commitment from a number of organisations to be part of a potential project. Such is the success of the project locally; organisations are now approaching the project to have the CATS as placements rather than the project approaching organisations to see if they will take the CATS as placements The project continues to progress really well, with of 7 of the 12 original CATS having left the project - 5 have gained employment as Development Officers, the remaining 2 left for personal reasons. The Project Co-ordinator is working with the 5 remaining CATS on interview skills and specific work placements to give them the best possible chance of securing employment. In this reporting period the CATS have helped set up 6 new community groups and worked with over 500 people. They have worked on submitting 9 funding bids for small community groups, totalling over £32,000. They have also worked with 4 groups on setting up constitutions. Their extensive training is continuing with one CAT taking a degree in Psychology, one a degree in Youth and Community, and one MSc in Community Regeneration, one OCN in Special Education Needs and one a course in Community Regeneration. These courses are extra to their NVQ work in Community Development.

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