CDC recognises that addressing the complex issues of social justice and inequality cannot be tackled in isolation. CDC is committed with working with a range of partners at different levels. Examples of partnership working include the following: WCVA, JRF, Welsh Government, Communities First, Oxfam Cymru, The YMCA College, Centre for Regeneration and Excellence Wales (CREW) Sylfaen, Bangor University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Glasgow University, ETS Wales, Federation of Community Development (FCDL) England Standards Board, (ESB) Penparcau Community Forum, Llanelli Business and Social Action, ESB, Building Communities Trust, Big Lottery's Rural Tackling Poverty Programme.
Below we have outline more detail about the partnership work developed through the Big Lottery funded project
Project Partners
Often, our projects lead to further partnership working, and this has been the case with the Turning around the Telescope project. CDC is now working in partnership with Rhyl Create on an arts based project funded by a grant from the Arts Council of Wales, and this has been developed as one of the initiatives of our Lottery funded project. The project targets previously homeless young adults (aged 16-25) who live at Clwyd Alan's Crescent Court Project in Rhyl, where the young people are given an 18 months placement to try and turn their lives around.
The project focuses on art workshops, aiming to build self-esteem and explore routes to improved wellbeing through creativity. It also hopes to enable the young people to try out new skills in a positive relaxed environment.
Building on a serious of art taster sessions that helped the young people prepare art work for the Resfest Competition, the project will run for 26 weeks to allow time to build trust and positive relationships and bring continuity to the young people.
So far the sessions have explored the theme 'Who am I?' and produced collages, painted masks, tried wax resist techniques and begun using clay to create 'green man style masks'
The emphasis is always on the journey rather than the end result but some great work has been produced and it is lovely to see people growing in confidence when they achieve a satisfying result. In this relaxed environment issues and worries are often shared. So are aspirations, where possible support is offered to begin to turn these into reality. The young people also enjoy the opportunity to get together and socialise, have a cuppa, swap stories and often a good laugh.
Through our work, we are always aiming to work with Partners to support the development of new projects with the communities where they are working, adding a valuable community development perspective . If there is anything that your community or organisation is working on which you think could benefit from a community development perspective, please do not hesitate to contact us! A member of the team will be more than happy to come and discuss this with you.
