Court House Street Offices Latest To Benefit From RCT Together

The former Court House Street offices in Pontypridd are to be operated by the not for profit company Bright Futures in the latest RCT Together success story. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The RCT Together approach aims to ensure the sustainability of services and/or facilities that may otherwise face closure in light of the impact of austerity on the Council’s budget. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There have been a number of successes through RCT Together with libraries, the MUNI Arts Theatre, Day Centres, Paddling Pools and more now being run by community groups, voluntary organisations and not for profit companies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bright Futures is a social enterprise whose principle focus is on learning and development, growth and support for social enterprises and construction and facilities management and their plans for the building include the development of a creative industries hub, involving local organisations and the University of South Wales, and the provision of back office services to support local resident groups. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Mark Norris, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services with responsibility for Corporate Estates, said: “RCT Together is our proactive approach aimed at minimizing the impact of austerity the on the facilities we run and services we provide. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Given the UK Government’s continued cuts to public sector funding the Council has had to significantly reduce its budget in recent years meaning some services and facilities cannot be sustained in the future as they have been in the past. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The success of RCT Together, which has led to a number of services and facilities now being maintained under community ownership, has meant that services and facilities which would have potentially been under threat continue to operate for the benefit of the community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The offices in Court House Street is the latest positive example of RCT Together and will bring together into a community hub groups and bodies in the centre of Pontypridd supporting the business and social economic development of third sector and voluntary organisations within the Borough.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jonathan Huish, Chairman of Bright Futures added: “The Courthouse Street offices provide a space where social enterprise comes together collaboratively to produce innovative ways of delivering social outcomes in partnership with the public sectore. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Further phases include the provision of professional and administrative services in a cost effective way and action learning based leadership and management development programmes.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There are already a variety of established organisations who have committed to occupancy within the building, which includes an Armed Forces veterans room, such as ‘Our Place’ – a group for young mothers and children to come together. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​