Action in Caerau & Ely Annual Report 2016 - 2017 ace Action in Caerau & Ely Gweithredu yng Nghaerau a Threlái
Our Ambitions For Our Community Through Our Own Efforts
1 Hello....
Chair’s Report
We might have expected ACE to be in other parts of Cardiff for the first community activities and facilities gripped by gloom as it faces the end time. (including our development of of Communities First funding and Caerau Gospel Hall) connected unavoidable staff redundancies. But New ways of working and with the nationally important despite the distress and uncertainty, diversifying our funding sources are archaeological site at Caerau Hillfort. the mood of most staff and trustees important aspects of our efforts is as confident, committed and to achieve long-term financial Fundraising progress is undoubtedly determined as it’s ever been. How is independence. ACE Training was a tribute to ACE’s growing reputation this possible? launched this year, our first fully as a well-managed and effective commercial social enterprise, regeneration organisation. Quite simply 2017 had been ACE’s offering courses and qualifications Outcomes of our Communities for most successful year so far. Perhaps to people entering the construction Work programme for unemployed the best sign of our growing industry. At the same time two people are the best in Wales, for independence is the move into a dedicated volunteer groups at instance, and all Communities building of our own at Our Place the Dusty Forge have established First targets have been achieved Dusty Forge on Cowbridge Road a café and a popular nearly new or exceeded. As awareness of our West. After lengthy preparations and shop, which ingeniously includes work has spread wider, in recent hard work we signed a 99-year lease facilities to help job candidates dress months ACE has hosted visits by the on the former council youth centre appropriately for interviews. Cabinet Secretary for Communities in the spring and have established and Children, Carl Sargeant, and the Dusty as the office base for all Staff have taken up the fundraising the Chief Economist at the Bank of our staff, a home for new projects task with extraordinary energy – England, Andy Haldane. and a welcoming meeting place and producing nearly 20 applications activity centre for the community. so far this year. Of those where the I can’t thank the staff enough for This is only one of several goals results are known three quarters their skills and commitment in which were far-off dreams five years have been successful. These very difficult circumstances which ago and have become realities this include an innovative programme have helped ACE make so much year. with the Charity’s Aid Foundation impressive progress. Hearty thanks to help develop ACE’s resilience too to our many volunteers and the A new contract to deliver crucial as it faces the challenges of a resourceful and dedicated trustees mental health support in East post-Communities First world, and who have made my job as Chair so Cardiff over the next three years money to develop a Children’s enjoyable. is the result of our first successful Zone pilot project for Cardiff commercial tender. This and Council. In December the Heritage Mel Witherden an energy efficiency project to Lottery Fund announced funding ACE Chair encourage the take-up of smart of £150,000 – our largest grant to meters are also funding landmarks date - for a joint project with Cardiff which allow ACE to provide services University. This involves planning
2 Vision, Beliefs ....
ACE vision, beliefs and objectives
ACE works co-productively with communities to achieve lasting positive change for an equal and just Cardiff. Working co-productively means that we work with local people as equal partners in all aspects of our work.
ACE’s vision is of a happy and healthy community characterised by co- operation, equality and social justice. We believe that everyone who lives in our community has something unique to contribute. Our 1,055 members actively participate in turning this vision into a reality.
Through our work we deliver a range of activities across Cardiff through ACE Community Enterprises, a not for profit Social Value Enterprise/Business, embedding community development principles, social impact and a person- led approach into everyday delivery.
We base our efforts on the Objectives for the community: Organisational objectives: following BELIEFS: • To create individual opportunities • To progressively reduce our • Local people know their for residents through community dependency on grants and to community best development activity become financially sustainable in the • Everyone has something unique to • To tackle poverty by creating long term by operating a strategy contribute employment and building the for diversifying and maximising our • Everyone’s contribution should be local economy sources of income valued equally • To improve the quality of life • To design, operate and monitor • Poverty should not be accepted as for residents of Ely and Caerau policies and procedures which a fact of life generally by enhancing the ensure high standards of governance • Social injustice should be environment, improving facilities and management, financial propriety challenged and changed and fostering partnership and co- and personnel management production • To design and operate an effective Promotions Strategy
Our objectives are described in our 5 year Strategic Plan (launched June 2014, available at www.aceplace.org).
ACE Membership
Anyone who lives, or has an interest in, Ely and Caerau, and who supports The Membership Pledge: the aims of the organisation, can become a member. There is no All members are asked to make charge. the following pledge:
ACE currently has 1,055 members. I will….. Act with others to help make Ely When you join ACE you automatically and Caerau an ace place to live become a member of Timeplace too, which means you can earn Care for the streets and parks time credits for your efforts in the and places we share as a community. Members who are community over 18 can vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and can Encourage my family, friends put themselves forward for election and neighbours to do the same. to the board of directors. Every registered member receives Visit our website or contact us an invitation to the AGM with for more information and for a information on making nominations membership application form to the board. - www.aceplace.org.
3 Looking forward....
Future Plans
We have a future, we have a plan and we are very determined. A strong, persistent commitment to independence and sustainability has enabled ACE to establish a diverse range of income sources including grants, public service contracts, and social enterprise activity. Using an asset based approach, and tapping into the values and approaches of co-production, ACE has placed local people as active participants at the heart of its governance and delivery. The organisation is thus well placed to embrace the opportunities afforded by the end of the Communities First programme - developing an exciting programme of work and activities in years to come.
Over the next three years (led by a new Strategic plan, 2018-21) we will play to our strengths by continuing to develop and deliver projects and services that have a proven track record in tackling poverty and creating community resilience. We will continue experimenting with new approaches that allow local people to take an active lead in these initiatives. We will use freedom from the constraints of Communities First to pilot new ways of integrating projects so that the multiple dimensions of poverty can be tackled effectively and flexibly. We will work across Cardiff supporting communities to develop, delivering community led projects and exploring partnership opportunities with like-minded organisations. We will continue our journey towards sustainability by pursuing new forms of funding, especially by further developing our skills related to social enterprise and contract tendering and delivery.
In 2017 we were delighted to be selected as recipients of support under the Charities Aid Foundation’s (CAF) Resilience programme, allowing us to dedicate senior staff time over the following two years to strategic development, improving project management and the design of improved monitoring and evaluation systems.
Planning, careful consideration, community-led activity, determination and hard work gives ACE a way forward, and crucially the ability to exist and serve the local communities of Ely and Caerau – something that we are very proud of.
John Hallett
4 Profile & Volunteering....
An ACE journey
Caroline Barr, Participation Officer, met with Elizabeth Lewis to discuss her ACE journey.
My name is Elizabeth Lewis and I am 13 years old, I have been volunteering with ACE for the last 4 years. My journey began when I attended a local litter pick with my mum. At the end we were handed some Timecredits. We didn’t really know what they were so we just put them in the drawer when we got home! On our next litter pick we found out all about how Timecredits work and the amazing opportunities you have to as I get to meet and talk to lots of Timecredits. We have now decided use them. community members. to make this into a proper group and I’ve suffered from panic attacks will be holding fortnightly litter picks After that, myself and my mum went for quite a while and being able to in the area. We are hoping to spread along to as many things as we could volunteer and be supported by ACE the word of having a pride in our to earn Timecredits as this gave us staff members has helped me with community! the opportunity to do things that we this a lot. wouldn’t be able to do as a family I look forward to many years of otherwise. I love the fact that I can take my volunteering with ACE and have friends to the cinema using my decided that my chosen career path Over the years I have loved being a Timecredits that I have earned will be to work in my community as part of the ACE family as it has given volunteering. This gives me a great I think I’ve found something that I’m me lots of opportunities to be part sense of pride. I recently decided really good at and suited too. of my community. I help out at lots to get my friends involved by of events that ACE have held, but having a litter pick so they could Caroline Barr my favourite has to be Ely festival have the chance to earn their own Timeplace / Streetace - goes from strength to strength
Timeplace timebank allows us to place equal value 8,801 Timecredits were earned through Timeplace in on everyone’s contribution. The currency underpins 2016/17. 1,720 Timecredits were spent on local spend ACE’s ‘co-productive’ approach to our work – enabling activities during the same period. us to develop projects and activities with people as full participants. Over the last year we have continued to run Streetace sessions in the community, setting up a pop up stall to For every hour that is volunteered participants receive give us the chance to engage with community members one credit. Timecredits can then be spent on local and we wouldn’t normally meet. UK-wide spend opportunities including London Bridge or Over the last few months we have worked in partnership Blackpool Tower! Closer to home they can be spent at the with the Communities for Work team, using Streetace leisure centre, at a local cinema, at soft play centres, and sessions to promote the training and support available many other venues. through the programme. The Communities for Work team have reported a significant increase in the number of Timeplace has a very effective steering committee which people taking up support through the scheme as a result. is made up of local people from Ely, Caerau, Fairwater Through Streetace sessions we have also been able to and Pentrebane. They have recently been focusing on give information about the whole range of activities and helping participating groups to plan their own spend projects ACE oversees including - energy saving advice, opportunities. Pizza Forge provision, CAER Heritage Project and local litter picks. As with so many ACE projects, Streetace is As ever, the number of Timecredits earned this year supported by volunteers who are an invaluable source through Timeplace has increased. Participants say they of knowledge, information and enthusiasm. Without the value being given the chance to earn Timecredits and that support of these volunteers we would not be able to run it has involved them in a range of new experiences. such sessions.
Caroline Barr
5 Training & skills....
ACE Training
Council accredited support, active learning sessions centre status, has between training and testing become a certified sessions, and free course materials Pearson Vue test to reduce barriers to learning. We centre, and has been do this with the aim of supporting awarded the ACT / people over and beyond that of other Welsh Government training providers. Our method is Communities for applauded by participants and has Work and PaCE consistently gained high outcomes. contract specifically for the Construction In 2016-17 ACE Training has Skills Certification delivered an 87% pass rate for Scheme package. all training participants. We also have had inspections from both Our aim as a training the British Safety Council and CITB provider is to offer a (Construction Industry Training This last year has seen many unique experience for our learners, Board) with no fault marks - milestones achieved in the to step away from the stereotypical achievements we are exceptionally development of ACE Training, in rigidity of classroom based learning proud of, especially as we are in our particular the delivery of Level 1 and replace it with an environment infancy as a training provider. Health and Safety in a Construction that is welcoming, friendly and Environment and the Construction engaging, whilst maintaining a Simon Murray Skills Certification Scheme. ACE professional approach. Our training Training has achieved British Safety centre offers 1 to 1 mentoring Pizza Forge
The latest oven Val and Liam at the Prince’s Trust making ovens Roath Farmers’ Market Kim and Michelle at ‘Beating the Bounds’ event It’s been a year since the inception and a chance to sell our wares and involved tied into the construction of the wood fired pizza oven project. gain valuable experience of working qualifications we already deliver and The idea was suggested by an at an event. many people gained their Level 1 arts organisation in Roath and the Health & Safety in the Construction inspiration of the dragon theme In February 2017 we started Environment and the CSCS card came from an ACE staff member attending the Roath Farmers’ Market whilst constructing the ovens. - Nerys. The oven proved a creative where staff and volunteers ran the We have been hired for countless tool for engaging the community stall on a fortnightly basis which events such as the Llandaff Hub by offering free food to people at enabled us to hone our skills in launch, Cadwyn AGM, Beating the events and street based outreach developing a diverse artisan menu. Bounds, Newydd Housing, St Fagans sessions. The construction of the ovens Museum, madeinroath, as well as also created opportunities for us numerous outings in Ely & Caerau We quickly realised that we needed to involve others and over the last including the Festival. to explore the potential of the oven year we have hosted alternative project and secured a stall at the curriculum young people from With ovens out on trial in three Blas Street Food event in Pontcanna. Michaelston School, the Prince’s separate locations, we now have an Despite rather inclement weather Trust and others from within excellent product that is in demand. conditions it gave us a chance to our immediate community. Production is now underway to sell experiment with different ingredients The principles and techniques the ovens commercially.
Simon Murray
6 Arts & Environment....
Breaking the Mould - Hands on Art at Our Place
‘Having work on display makes us feel informally while we proud, shows our achievement, it’s pursue further funding. a reminder of what we’ve done. It’s good for the self-esteem.’ Community members – Breaking the Mould participant have enjoyed exploring different art forms Breaking the Mould offers free including: painting, art workshops run by professional sketching, making artists. Between March 2016 and mosaic and dream- October 2017, 56 workshops have catchers, painting with been delivered with 45 participants natural materials, using successful, we’ll be creating artwork in total. On a Monday you can usually power tools, ceramic work, Christmas for the garden from 10am Monday find a friendly, close-knit group wreaths, print making, wood work mornings from December to July. of 5-10 adults creating art in the and sculpting with willow and flax. workshop at Our Place: Dusty Forge. The artwork is displayed in the main Participants have told us that Our funding from the Paul Hamlyn hall, the café area and the garden at creating art in a safe space has Foundation ends this autumn, but the Dusty Forge. improved their wellbeing and mental the group plan to continue meeting health, helping them feel more We’ve been on trips to the beach, creative and confident. We are woodland, art galleries and artists’ seeking further funding to enable studios, including the Printhaus ACE to invest in this community of in Canton and Coed Hills Rural developing artists and offer more Artspace, where we harvested willow people locally the opportunity to to create our own living willow arch try out art activities in a relaxed, for the community garden. We are supportive environment. awaiting the results of a funding bid to partner with Grow Well to develop Becky Matyus a Creative Community Garden. If
Diana Gardens
For a number of years volunteers, amount of access available, along with ACE and Cardiff Council, which was usually only once a have been trying to utilise an area of month. By the time anyone had land tucked away off Hiles Road in done anything to help clear the Ely. The space was commonly known ground it would be overgrown as Diana Gardens, as Princess Diana upon returning to it. opened a new park there in 1993, where ACE has been awarded during a Royal visit to Ely. The park From January 2017, ACE obtained a £10,000 to help to buy equipment was used by local residents until it ‘Licence to Occupy’ Diana Gardens and run regular sessions to help was closed by the Council due to which means ACE now have access develop the site. antisocial behaviour. There have all year round. This is good news, been many restrictions on using the however one big issue has been Recently Sue Ansell, a gardening plot of land, the main one being the finding the money and staff time to expert, has come on board, to work run anything meaningful on with local community members the site. to develop a programme to help improve and cultivate the site, In July ACE was successful as well as providing volunteering in two funding bids, firstly, opportunities and training in Tesco’s Bags for Life where horticulture and environmental £1,000 was awarded to help management. We hope to be up and to clear the site and make it running by the start of October 2017. safer to utilise. Secondly, the People’s Post Code Lottery Carey Davies
7 Dusty Forge ACE’s home at Our Place Dusty Forge has gone from strength to strength. We signed a 99 year lease with Cardiff Council in December of 2016, so we’re definitely here to stay! These are just some of the things we’ve been able to get going with members and volunteers…
Hafod Housing team with ACE staff. Community Shop
Families are so grateful with the help we have given them, here are some of their comments: Dusty Forge
‘Great for my children who go (Val’s) Café through clothes and shoes like no tomorrow and I cannot afford full price in a shop’
‘The service and people are awesome. They make people Volunteer Natasha Hayes tells us feel great and it’s nice to be about Dusty Forge’s new community appreciated. shop… ‘Love coming here, makes my day, Back last year Billy (Estate Manager) girls are just great’ Our fantastic volunteer Val Allen had an idea to open a community has been working with ACE to serve shop. He asked myself, Natasha ‘It’s always well organised and food out of the Dusty Forge Café. Hayes, my mum Michaela Ward and clean. The volunteers are really Val underwent Food and Hygiene dad Arthur Brown if we could help. helpful and kind. I was very training and has put in place safe stressed and upset, but left feeling methods and statements achieving We were given a small space in the happy and at ease.’ a food hygiene rating of 5. Val heart of the Dusty which we filled currently serves food most weeks on quite quickly with donations from our ‘Friendly staff, make me and my Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays local community. daughter feel very welcome and and has recently been making less self-conscious, will definitely be wonderful homemade food such as As time went on we were getting back’. corned beef pie, bolognaise, soups, donations thick and fast - we were so apple crumble, Jamaican jerk chicken grateful for everything that came in. To date we see an average of 8 and many others. She has even We have been going now for nearly families a day who are able to take been able to use fresh, home grown a year with a Facebook page and a items they need for free, or make ingredients from the Dusty Forge mention in the Grapevine. The shop a cash donation if they are able garden. The cafe also offers a variety is well used daily with people coming to. This is then used to help buy of hot paninis, jacket potatoes, from all over the community. essential storage items and rails. sandwiches, toasted sandwiches and salads. We find that women’s and children’s We hope we can move into a bigger clothes and shoes go first, so are space within the Dusty Forge and Volunteer Amanda Ward helps Val always on the lookout for more continue our project. out in the café and there has recently donations. We are willing to take been an upgrade to the serving area anything clean and non-electrical. Many thanks to everyone who has outside the kitchen. Unfortunately we cannot take donated, you really don’t know how Everyone is welcome to come along anything big as we only have a small much this has helped families. and taste great home cooked food….. space. Natasha, Michaela and Arthur all at a very reasonable price. Well done Val and Amanda! 8 Dusty Forge
us over two days to help transform Dusty Forge some neglected areas of the building. They laid fresh carpet Hafod work days tiles and painted the walls in the offices, painted the front railings and varnished the back garden We were privileged to be selected fence. We were pleased to be able by Hafod housing Association for to provide them with pizzas from the one of their ‘Give and Gain’ staff pizza forge ovens as a token of our volunteer projects. 20 staff joined appreciation. Thank you Hafod!
Community Garden
It has been exciting to see a tasty cottage pie in the Dusty celebrating these achievements with committed group of local volunteers Café, courtesy of Val). Towering a summer garden party (despite starting to transform the rather sunflowers have brought some the rain!) The group are planning drab rear of the building into a much needed colour to the rainier further developments including the new community garden – our summer months. The Breaking the installation of a polytunnel. We are little oasis of calm in an otherwise Mould arts group have contributed also now pleased to be working with busy environment! A range of veg some fantastic outdoor art, partners Grow Cardiff to encourage has been planted and harvested including a mural and some mosaic GP referrals to the garden. (and recently served up in a very tables and chairs. We all enjoyed Dusty Shed
We are rapidly approaching the anniversary of our first year as The Dusty Shed, a Men’s Shed project supported in no small way by ACE. Aimed at men with time on their hands we have renovated what was the old betting office at Dusty Forge into a wood workshop. Open 3 days a week Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we have seen a steady increase in involvement of men in what we are doing from all over the city. As of September we have had 29 supporters and volunteers who building, to build on the success to different men through the doors with helped make the Shed a reality. The date. 12 regular attendees. highlight was the visit from Red Watch of Ely Fire Station complete Thanks to all the volunteers, trustees, The official opening took place in with their fire engine! local businesses and organisations November 2016 by Sarah Rochira, that helped make Dusty Shed a the Older Peoples’ Commissioner Looking ahead we are already reality. for Wales, and was attended by working with ACE to secure a larger Dave King 9 Support & Health....
by the energy supplier, SSE. This has enabled us to provide essential appliances to 40 vulnerable households and low-cost energy efficiency measures to a further 70 households. Our key achievements in the last year are:
• 117 clients successfully supported in claiming benefits, resulting in an estimated total annual increase of household income of £153,000.
• 114 clients supported to reduce or better manage debt.
• 209 families provided with low cost energy efficiency devices, giving an estimated total annual energy cost saving of £32,500. Community Support • 70 clients were supported to apply for the Warm Home Discount scheme, giving a total ACE’s Community Support Over the last financial year (2016-17) saving of £9,800 on annual programme works with some of the we have supported 494 community electricity costs. most vulnerable members of our members through weekly drop in community, providing information sessions, home visits and money- With the changes in funding from and advice on benefits, debt, saving workshops with community Welsh Government, ACE have budgeting, and reducing energy groups. We aim to provide a friendly, refocused our support and advice costs. We work closely with Cardiff holistic and professional service work to target those most in need, Foodbank and the Dusty Forge and are very grateful to our team and ensure we can continue to Community Shop to give immediate of volunteers who make this provide effective services that help practical support for those in crisis, possible. With our partners, we have build the strength and resilience of which helps us build positive trusted developed new initiatives to address our community. relationships with people accessing the needs in our community and our service, and enables us to more have successfully delivered Cosy Sam Froud - Powell effectively tackle underlying issues. Cymru, a new pilot project funded
Community Health
This year saw the introduction of • CCI guided self-help – 1 to 1 Following successful delivery of 3 new mental health initiatives to support to complete modules the above initiatives within Ely help local residents experiencing on specific topics such as and Caerau, ACE was successful in mild to moderate or stable, severe panic, assertiveness, worry and winning a contract with Cardiff and and enduring mental health issues. depression. Vale University Health Board to The ACE team can now offer the deliver these initiatives within East following programmes: The Stress Control and ACTion for Cardiff, allowing us to provide this Living courses are open to anyone opportunity to another community. • Stress Control – a six-week self- and can be used to promote positive help course based on Cognitive mental wellbeing as well as helping This year has also seen ACE win Behavioural Therapy, covering with issues such as depression and the contract to deliver patient techniques to control the body, anxiety. Following the introduction participation and engagement thoughts and actions. of a successful social prescribing work within South West Cardiff, scheme last year, local GPs are now supporting patients and health • ACTion for Living – a four- actively promoting the courses to staff to work together to promote week self-help course based on their patients and we have also seen healthy lifestyles, improve access Acceptance and Commitment increasing interest through social and quality of services and identify Therapy, teaching a new way to media and word of mouth. CCI local solutions to tackle the social deal with distressing thoughts sessions are currently only available determinants of health. and feelings via GP referral. Hazel Cryer
10 History & Learning....
CAER Heritage 2016-17
Researching your past to build for provided opportunities for people to your future tell important stories about Ely and Caerau and Ely are home to some Caerau in the past and included the of the most significant heritage creation of an exhibition about the sites not just in Cardiff, but in all of First World War that was featured workshops engaging over 800 Wales. Since 2011 CAER Heritage at the Cardiff Story Museum and local people. The second-stage has been putting local people at the Glamorgan Archives. application will be submitted to the heart of its exploration. This year HLF in May 2018 and if successful saw the completion of two projects, Hidden Hillfort Project will provide funds to instigate an CAER Young People’s Opportunity Excitingly, in December 2016 ACE exciting two-year project of activities Project and The Dusty’s First was awarded first-stage funding of transforming Caerau Hillfort as a World War Project. Working with £157,034 from the Heritage Lottery place to visit, enjoy and learn. Works young people, school children and Fund (HLF) to develop the ‘Hidden will involve the development of a community groups, both projects Hillfort Project’ in collaboration with heritage and community centre, Cardiff University heritage trails, interpretation and will and under the include a range of initiatives, courses banner of CAER and learning opportunities for local Heritage. Over the adults and young people. course of the next year the project In recognition of CAER Heritage’s team will work work over the last few years the with local people project has been shortlisted for the to develop the prestigious Times Higher Education detailed project Awards in the ‘Outstanding plans, permissions Contribution to the Local and networks. Community’ category. Winners are Already the team announced at the end of November have facilitated 2017...Fingers crossed! 6 open days and 4 co-production Olly Davis Learning
2016-17 has been seen lots of decision making. changes in the ACE learning We worked closely with team due to the ending of the the local authority to Communities First programme but organise large scale even with a reduced staff we have community events worked hard to continue to support to consult with local schools across the community. Becki people and organised Miller (Family Learning Officer) has pop up events in school delivered a range of family learning playgrounds, encouraging programmes – most of which she children and their designs herself and provides peer families to help choose support to each school’s Family the name, branding, Engagement Officers. logos and uniform for the new school. Finally This last year has seen the two high we organised a school schools, Glyn Derw and Michaelston, closure event to celebrate permanently close at the end of the positive legacy the schools have manner to Governors, Head Teachers August and Cardiff West Community brought to the community over and parents at an event in May. High School open in September many years. These will now be incorporated by 2017. This will then move into a £30 the architects in design plans. This million new building on the old Glyn Primary school pupils took part in exciting new state of the art school Derw site early in 2019. Change a University of the First Age project will provide a fantastic resource is always unsettling and ACE has where they were trained as young for the whole community to help played a significant role is ensuring researchers and evaluators to find improve the educational outcomes that community members have been out what they would like to see in and prospects for young people kept up to date with developments their new school. Having collected living in Ely & Caerau. and that young people and their and analysed data, they presented families have been included in their findings in a very professional Ruth McDonald
11 Citizenship & Work....
costs of living, in particular the rise in prices of necessities such as fuel and energy costs. Others expressed the difficulties that young families are facing with rising inflation meaning that having to buy or replace children’s shoes and clothes eats so much into a family’s income that often it’s a choice between food and clothes.
The day was certainly successful in breaking down barriers between London and the rest of the UK. Andy had an inviting character and jumped at the opportunity to listen, to understand and to discuss matters Citizen Cymru that were most important to our community members. Whilst the - An hour with Andy Haldane Bank of England do not have full control over many of the difficult matters that societal stakeholders ACE continues to work with other ‘Mr Haldane, touring the UK as currently face, it was refreshing for organisations through Citizens part of an initiative set out by the people from many different walks of Cymru to pursue the common good Bank of England, sat amongst life to come together and talk as one. and to tackle injustice. We were community members for a round An hour well spent!’ pleased to host a visit from the Chief table discussion. Each member took Economist of the Bank of England, their time to explain a little about Sara Davies Andy Haldane (named as one of the their background, their experiences 100 most influential people in the in the community and express their Sara was brought up in Ely where world by Time magazine in 2014). concerns that would later be brought she attended primary school, high up for discussion. school, and went on to graduate with Sara Davies, a young economics a 1st Class Economics degree from graduate from Ely, wrote a blog The main theme amongst the Cardiff Metropolitan University in about her experience… discussion was the ever increasing 2017. Communities For Work – A Year of Achievements
Communities for Work is a Welsh Outcomes achieved Government Programme delivered so far: in partnership with the Department • 418 people of Work and Pensions delivering enrolled on to the employment support services in programme Communities First areas. Since its • 27 people have inception in Cardiff West in 2016 the entered further and programme has gone from strength higher education to strength with local community • 131 people members achieving great outcomes have secured as they move through their journey employment towards gaining employment. Our • 140 people Advisers and Mentors are based in have gained local community venues namely qualifications the Dusty Forge and Ely and Caerau • 25 people are completing a West Communities for Work team. Community Hub. They also host volunteering opportunity This has been recognised twice over outreach sessions in Fairwater Hub • 11 people have completed a the course of 2017 in both February and Ty Bronna Hostel as a means of volunteer placement and May, with Cardiff West being engaging with those that most need ranked top of the performance table help in getting work. These outcomes are testament to the for South East Wales. hard work carried out by the Cardiff Michelle Powell
12 Communities First....
Communities First - Delivering community shaped outcomes in our community
ACE took on the delivery of the Welsh healthier choices and 555 people Government Communities First earning qualifications. of the local community, intend to programme in February 2013. During provide one! ACE will be phasing out 2016-17 a team of 20 staff delivered On the 14th February 2017, the Welsh Communities First work over 2017 a broad range of projects and Government announced the closure and will be continuing to transition activities across Ely, Caerau, Fairwater of the Communities First programme. into other work areas, activities and Pentrebane in partnership At the same time a new approach to which will respond to the new Welsh with partner organisations and building resilient communities is being Government’s focus of ‘helping importantly community members and developed with a proposed focus people into work, supporting children groups. ACE has worked with 5,957 on ‘employment’, ‘early years’ and and listening to communities on participants with work focusing on ‘empowerment’. improving local services’. three themes – Healthy, Learning and Prosperous Communities. Whilst we are sad to see the Throughout our time delivering closure of Communities First, ACE’s the Communities First work, we The info-gram shows keys successes position is one of optimism fuelled have been proud of the vital input, including 92 local people securing by careful planning over the past changes, and progress we have employment, benefit gains of 6 years; ACE was set up to provide made to the lives of people in the £776,476 helping people with their a lasting legacy for Communities community areas of Cardiff West. finances, 1,624 people making First and we, along with the support
13 Team ACE....
ACE Staff Team
Maisey Andrews Donna Hurley Employment Mentor Communities For Work Adult Mentor
Caroline Barr Helena Jones Hywel Price Community Engagement Officer Communities For Work Youth Mentor Communities for Work Community Employment Advisor Hazel Cryer Kimberley Jones Health and Wellbeing Coordinator CAER Development Officer Fiona Robinson Office Manager Carey Davies Linsay Jones Community Enterprise Officer Communities for Work Parent Hasan Roap Employment Advisor Finance Officer Olly Davis Project Manager, Hidden Hillfort George Keane Tazmin Rowe-Anthony Communications Officer Community Learning Officer Becki Miller Family Learning Officer Billy Mainprize Taela-Mae Davies Dusty Forge Estates Manager Community Involvement Co- Julie Evans ordinator Finance Assistant Becky Matyus Arts Co-ordinator Charmaine Simons-Evans Denise Rahman Communities for Work Community Triage Support Worker Ruth McDonald Employment Advisor Project Lead - Children First Sam Froud-Powell Nerys Sheehan Community Support Co-ordinator Simon Murray Community Support Officer Community Training Officer John Hallett Carly Whelpley Director Michelle Powell Community Mental Health Officer Project Manager Employment & Dave Horton Training ACE Development Manager
ACE Board of Trustees 2016-2017
The board of trustees is elected by Nigel Jones (Vice Chair) is a solicitor the membership. We are grateful specialising in commercial and to the following people who have property law. served during 2016-2017: Ken Long lives in Caerau and is Cassie Bodington (Chair) runs a volunteer with the Community a local business and has lived in Ambassadors and a number of other Caerau for several years. projects. Gareth Pierce manages the Ely & Caerau Community Hub. Barbara Cuddihy lives in Caerau and Carl Meredith is Caerau born and is a committed volunteer. bred! He runs a successful building Mel Witherden (Chair) is a retired company. third sector/charity consultant. Marian Dixey lives in Fairwater. She is an active local volunteer and has Veronica Moore lives in Ely. She Gloria Yates lives in Ely. She recently worked for the NHS for over 30 volunteers on ACE’s energy project. retired from leading Age Concern’s years. Healthy, Wealthy and Wise project. Jean O’Keefe (Treasurer) lives in Tony Evans is a local volunteer. He Caerau. She sits on the Timeplace has a degree in accounting and steering group. Cassie Bodington, Nigel Jones, finance. Veronica Moore, Ken Long and Tony Anne O’Regan lives in Caerau. She Evans resigned their posts during Martin Hulland is the head teacher volunteers with Age Connects and 2016/2017. We thank them for the of Ely and Caerau’s new secondary Families Need Fathers/Both Parents significant contribution they made to school, Cardiff West Community High Matter. ACE during their time on the board. School.
14 Accounts....
ACE Finance Report
ACE received a total income of £1,182,672 in the 2016-17 financial year, majority of which was voluntary income such as donations and grants from the government and other charitable foundations. Some of our biggest funders for the year included the Welsh Government, Big Lottery and Cardiff Council. Of the above we spent £1,103,901 for the year.
ACE’s income from funders has increased significantly year on year. In 2011-12 we received £22,864 which increased by x8 to £185,359. It then increased to £861,115 in 2012-13 (increase of x4.5 of the previous year) and now in 2016-17 it has increased to £1.18m.
This income is currently spread across 31 projects. The biggest current project is Communities First, which accounts for approx 67% of ACE’s income.
Thank you.... ACE would like to thank the following people for their contributions during the previous year: The many volunteers who invest their time freely for the good of our community. The ACE staff team, who continue to show real commitment to the cause and who regularly ‘go the extra mile’. Our board of trustees who work hard, in their own time, to steer the organisation towards a bright future. Community groups and partner organisations who share our values and aims and who develop and deliver projects with us. The growing group of funders who provide essential resources and support. We look forward to continuing our work with you all! 15 Partners & Funders
St. Peters Community Garden
Our Place: Dusty Forge, 460 Cowbridge Road West, Ely ace Cardiff CF5 5BZ, Tel: 029 2000 3132 Action in Caerau & Ely Email: [email protected] Gweithredu yng Nghaerau a Threlái Website: www.aceplace.org Facebook: /elyandcaerau.communitiesfirst Twitter: @elycaerau
Registered Charity No. 1150422, Company Reg No. 7623914.