Written - Communities Next

In the One Wales document the Welsh Assembly Government committed to developing Communities First into its Communities Next phase, drawing on the experience of the wider community development movement in Wales and the findings of the interim evaluation of the programme.

We want Communities First partnerships to understand that Communities Next will entail a focus on outcomes and activities rather than capacity-building. These are likely to be programmes which successfully engage in practical ways with the challenge of community regeneration and social justice objectives such as child poverty.

We will be looking to see successful evidence of programmes that are working with other partners such as local authorities and Local Health Boards to adjust or ‘bend’ programmes and believe that this will be an important element of Communities Next.

In developing Communities Next, we will be seeking to draw on the lessons of the interim evaluation and of best practice in Communities First groups throughout Wales.

However, it is essential that we get the move to Communities Next right, and we intend to consult widely on our plans and to take the appropriate time to deliver the new programme.

Therefore, I do not anticipate us being in a position to implement the transition to Communities Next in the next financial year, 2008-9.  Subject to decisions on the Assembly’s budget in the autumn, we do not expect to make major changes to Communities First funding in the 2008-9 financial year or to make fundamental changes to existing arrangements for that year.

We will now expect Communities First partnerships to be able to demonstrate how they are delivering against targets and we will be discussing these in the context of the new Annual Report process which we have introduced.

Following our consultation, we will embark on a new three-year funding round on the basis of Communities Next to commence in the 2009-10 financial year.