Teaming up to look at a greener future (From South Wales Guardian)

Teaming up to look at a greener future

1:00pm Monday 17th September 2012 in News

RESIDENTS of Pantyffynnon have joined forces with householders from other Communities First areas to imagine a different, more sustainable future.

They met up with residents from Tyisha, Felinfoel, Llwynhendy, Glanymor and Bigyn as part of a pilot schemerun by the Welsh government.

There was a great turnout at the workshop event held in Felinfoel Resource Centre where members showed the environment is still a major priority, despite the new Communities First programmes focusing on other themes.

More than 30 local community members, 25 children and 12 development organisations attended to ensure that environmental projects will be developed alongside the new Communities First scheme.

The workshop was run by West Wales’ change makers the TYF Group as part of the scheme.

Darren Gibbs, of TYF, set out the focus for change in terms of global issues such as resource depletion, the rising costs of food, transport and energy and the decline in biodiversity.

The exercises then focused on a more local level with the ambitions of the community for the future forming a vision statement for ten years time.

A lively discussion followedwith animated viewsof how their communities should develop.

The rest of the afternoon focused on planning projects to achieve the vision.

Out of several ideas imagined on each table, one project idea was chosen per table group towork with, including proposals around a community regeneration steering group, linking old and young people, sustainable transport for all, reusable nappies, Llwynhendy safer cycling routes and ways communities can startmoving forward together.

To get involved in any of the projects, call Lindy at Communities First on 01554 780288 or e-mail lbutler@ footholdregeneration.co.uk