Foundations in Maintenance

On the day some people decided to vandalise a 3-bedroom house in Clase - a house similar to many others in Beaconsview Road - it was transformed into an un-lettable local eyesore and a 'no-go' area. It also had a major impact on the self-esteem of the whole community.

That same house now stands proud again, thanks to a group of local and black minority ethnic volunteers who were part of the Foundations in Maintenance project. The project was established and led by Gwalia in a partnership which included Swansea Bay Race Equality Council, City and County of Swansea Employment Training and Lifelong Learning Depts, Construction Industry Training Board (Construction Skills), and Clase and Caemawr Community Partnership.

Vince Millband Community Initiatives Co-ordinator with Grwp Gwalia explained "This project hit so many buttons and had a political, social, environmental and economic impact on the area. It was about offering people from different cultures the opportunity to learn new skills, learn about each other and to work together towards a common goal which improved their daily lives".

Sustainability is key to regenerating communities and the experience gained by the volunteers from the local and BME communities can provide a model for others. Skills such as electrical, plumbing, carpentry, plastering, tiling, painting and decorating were learnt, resulting in a finished product which is now used as a community facility.

The project won the Community Action Group award at the NIACE/ELWa Adult Learners Award 2005. It has also received an award in 2006 from the Chartered Institute of Housing in Wales and Tai Pawb for Race Equality in Housing.

For further information on this project read the Foundations in Maintenance report (PDF 100KB).

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