Building The Future Together

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has secured an additional £1m external funding to continue an inspiring scheme that has already helped change the education, career and life opportunities of thousands of young residents across the county borough.

Originally, the innovative three-year Building the Future Together project was due to end in September 2012, but thanks to the support of the Welsh European Funding office, further funding has been made available for the project to continue in its extraordinary effort to raise the aspirations of young people in the County Borough.

The scheme targets 11 to 19 year olds, offering a range of activities, intensive one to one support for those young people who may be falling behind at school, struggling with literacy and numeracy, or finding it difficult to learn through traditional academic methods. It aims to raise aspirations, boost confidence and support pathways to further learning and employment.

By seeking out those young people who are at risk of under achieving and leaving school without any qualifications or skills to find a job and proactively supporting them to develop confidence and skills to make a successful transition into further education or work, Building The Future Together has improved thousands of lives.

Cllr Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council explained, “We are grateful to the Welsh European Funding Office for their decision to allow an extension of such an important project in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The Council is committed to pursuing the opportunities of external funding for projects in all areas of service, particularly during such a difficult economic period as the impact of the UK Government’s spending cuts on our own budget continues to hit.

“Although the project will be on a smaller scale than previously, it means that several key priorities can continue to deliver an outstanding service to our young people. Through these interventions Building the Future Together aims to provide further targeted support over the coming year, focussing its efforts on the most vulnerable young people in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

“Potentially this will have a positive outcome for 500 young people with nationally recognised qualifications, as well as supporting 20 people into further learning, and 12 people into paid employment. The project will also enable 500 people to gain other positive outcomes, such as entering voluntary work or attending competitive job interviews.”

Working in partnership with the Council’s Services For Young People, Children’s Services, Cultural Services, Coleg Morgannwg and secondary schools, the project financed by the European Social Fund Convergence programme through the Welsh Government and aims to improve the life chances and career opportunities of many thousands of young people in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

If you would like any further information on the project extension and how you or your child could benefit from the services provided, please feel free to contact the central team on 01443 680599 or via email at BTFT@rctcbc.gov.uk