Innovative Community Scheme Underway In Neath Port Talbot

A new innovative community scheme to support individuals and families is underway in Neath Port Talbot. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council’s Local Area Coordination scheme helps people to build resilience and relationships to lead a good life. In doing this, the scheme reduces the demand and dependence on Council services, whilst facilitating the creation of more support within communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Local Area Coordinators act as a single point of contact for providing information, advice and support to people to find solutions to problems within their community or by connecting people together to help each other. The Coordinators also assist people to focus on their own vision for a good life and build on their strengths. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Local Area Coordination scheme complies with the new Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 that came in to place on the 1st April of this year. The Act provides a new legal framework for local authorities and health services to engage with and empower citizens to help them achieve independence and well-being. The Act also promotes strengthening relationships with neighbours, friends and family. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme’s Local Area Coordinators cover three separate locations throughout Neath Port Talbot including Skewen, Neath Abbey & Longford; Cymmer, Glyncorrwg & Gwynfi, and Ystalyfera, Godre Graig, Lower Brynamman & Cwmllynfell. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Councillor Ali Thomas OBE said: “Placing coordinators into local communities can help significantly reduce the growing demand on the Council. Supporting people to feel part of a community can improve people’s health and wellbeing while also ensuring they are more content and independent.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Emma Jones, who is one of the three appointed Local Area Coordinators in Neath Port Talbot, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I thrive on seeing people empowered and taking control of their lives. I have always worked in a person centred way so there is no better feeling to me than seeing people gain confidence and achieve their dreams.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​