SE Wales Regional Engagement Team Weekly Bulletin

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Hello Subscriber,

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news and information related to the delivery of ESI funded projects in the Cardiff Capital Region. Please circulate amongst your teams and networks. If you have any queries about the content, please contact us by emailing sewalesret@bridgend.gov.uk.

Lisa, Amy, Kate and Dylan

SE Wales RET Celebration Event - Register Now!

Registration is open to join SE Wales RET at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Cardiff, on 10th May to reflect on the impact of EU funded projects across the region and explore how their legacy can be sustained through future policy and programme developments. Register now as there are limited spaces!

Click here for further details and to register for a space.

We hope to see you there!

WCVA New Strategic Plan Launched 

WCVA has now completed phase one of a two phased change programme, which aims to re-design and develop the organisation to ensure they are in the best possible position to support the sector in the future.

The change programme came about for three main reasons:

1. The launch of thee new strategic plan for 2022-27
2. The end of EU funding in Wales
3. Changes in the way WCVA works with the introduction of hybrid and flexible working

WCVAs new agile structure is now in place as of April 2023, and has been designed to deliver around their strategic plan. Throughout this journey, the purpose of the new strategic plan remains the same - to enable voluntary organisations in Wales to make a bigger difference together.

The changes being made will enable WCVA to adapt and respond to support the sector with challenges and opportunities, by leading change through key areas such as diversifying the voluntary sector, and ensuring these organisations are equal partners in achieving well-being in Wales.

Click to view WCVA's Strategic Plan for 2022-2027.

Community Ownership Fund: EoI paused for new applications

On 25th April, DLUHC announced that the Community Ownership Fund’s expression of interest (EoI) is currently paused for new applications, ahead of the launch of the next application window of the fund. DLUHC expects to reopen the EoI form in May 2023.

The government is providing funding over four years to support community groups in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to take ownership of assets and amenities at risk of being lost such as community centres, parks, pubs and post office buildings.

Visit the UK Government website for further information. 

Chwarae Teg Womenspire Awards 2023

Chwarae Teg's Womenspire Awards showcase the remarkable accomplishments of women across Wales to inspire future generations. The nominations for the awards are now live!

The Womenspire Awards is an opportunity for organisations to highlight women overcoming barriers, and supporting other women to achieve and prosper. Now in their eighth year, with plans for a larger and more spectacular event, the awards will be held live in November!

For more information visit the Chwarae Teg website.

Cardiff Capital Region Unveils Regional Economic & Industrial Plan 

The plan builds on the inaugural plan that has already seen the £1.23bn CCR City Deal deliver substantial investment and achieve significant intervention milestones – including successfully completing the UK Government’s first Gateway Review – in its evolution towards fulfilling a wider economic and social remit for South East Wales.

The new REIP roadmaps CCR’s plans to nurture a bigger, fairer and greener economy – generating good growth and creating conditions for shared prosperity, realising the best possible opportunities and outcomes for every community across the ten local authorities that make up the Region.

The REIP represents a guiding light on how CCR aims to create a Region that is:

• More Competitive – Enabling businesses within our priority sectors and public services to achieve higher levels of productivity through innovation-led growth.
• More Connected – Investing in cutting-edge digital and physical infrastructure and growing our green economy to support the decarbonisation of SE Wales by 2050.
• More Resilient – Maximising ‘good growth’ by taking direct steps to reduce inequality, ensuring prosperity is shared and spread across our region.

Visit the CCR website to view the report.

FSB - Growth Belt Report 

The Federation of Small Businesses have recently released their report The Growth Belt: Supporting Rural Small Businesses. This report highlights the way rural businesses are struggling against a backdrop of mounting energy costs, poor transport links, and unreliable broadband.

The report also emphasises the diversity and ambition rural small firms have – and how rural areas hold enormous potential for businesses to thrive and contribute to the wider economy.

Read the report on the FSB website. 

LWI Report - In-Work Support Service for Wales

Learning and Work Institute (LWI) have released their evaluation report of the In-Work Support Service for Wales. The evaluation aimed to gather key lessons from the project that focussed on south west and north east Wales ahead of a nation-wide rollout.  

The report sheds light on the recommendations and key findings which tells us how participants and employers valued the service and identifies valuable insight and learnings for similar services.

Visit the LWI website for further information and to read the report. 

Circular Economy Innovation Communities - In Person Workshops 

CEIC are hosting several in person foundational economy sessions, aimed at those who are interested in learning how to incorporate statutory frameworks such as Wales Future Generations Act, Foundational Economy, Community Wealth Building, Circular Economy and Social Value into their policies, processes and practices. 

At these free, half day sessions CEIC, will introduce the above concepts and discuss where they overlap and differ, as well as barriers to implementing foundational economy and how to overcome them without creating more workload. 

Find out more and sign up via the Eventbrite.