Unique Opportunity For 16 – 24 Year Olds In NPT’s Rural Wards

A Pontardawe-based social enterprise is now offering young people from the rural wards of Neath Port Talbot the chance to learn new skills in the great outdoors thanks to a successful bid for funding targeted at those areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A Pontardawe-based social enterprise is now offering young people from the rural wards of Neath Port Talbot the chance to learn new skills in the great outdoors thanks to a successful bid for funding targeted at those areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Glantawe Outdoor Education Academy has been awarded £59,259 of LEADER funding, for a scheme which aims to encourage people to become involved in improving and developing their own rural communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

LEADER is part of the Welsh Government’s Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020 and is funded by the European Union’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Based in a 25-acre park and woodland area near Pontardawe, the Glantawe Outdoor Education Academy provides opportunities for young people to gain skills and qualifications through contact with the natural environment both within the park and beyond. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Academy is an Agored Cymru accredited centre offering young people the chance to have fun whilst learning and to increase their confidence through gaining essential skills and improving their employment prospects. The centre’s courses are based outdoors and give students the opportunity to develop interests in many areas not covered by conventional education. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The two-year LEADER-funded project will offer free personalised programmes for participants aged 16 to 24 from rural wards of Neath Port Talbot who are not currently in employment or training. Young people taking part will have the opportunity to gain Agored Cymru qualifications, whilst building up their confidence and skills in order to lead more successful and fulfilling lives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The LEADER programme in Neath Port Talbot is administered by ‘Regenerate NPT’ a partnership made up of members from the public, private and voluntary sectors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council Cllr Ali Thomas OBE welcomed the funding award, he said: “This will enable young people from our rural wards who are not in education, employment or training to gain new skills, national qualifications and experiences in order to improve their prospects in an informal and healthy setting in the beautiful Swansea Valley.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rob Clapham, Head at Glantawe Outdoor Education Academy said: “Through working with the Rural Development Team at Neath Port Talbot Council, we have been successful in our bid for LEADER funding to run this two-year project.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Thanks to this funding we will be able to offer eligible individuals and small groups a fascinating programme of learning and outdoor experiences such as problem solving and team work activities, having fun around open fires, helping to improve the park, and making good friends. This not only gives increased employability prospects, but helps the participants gain national qualifications.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This opportunity is open to youngsters within Neath Port Talbot’s rural wards, who are not currently in employment or training and participants can stay as long as they are able, or up to the full two years, visiting us just once or twice a week or more if they want.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​