20 March 2019 Press release Business, economy and innovation
20 March 2019 Cabinet statement Health and social care
20 March 2019 Cabinet statement Business, economy and innovation
20 March 2019 Press release Health and social care
20 March 2019 Press release Business, economy and innovation
Finance Minister, Rebecca Evans and Housing and Local Government Minister, Julie James announced 2 streams of funding – £243,000 from the Welsh Government’s Invest to Save fund and £400,000 of Innovate to Save funding – during a visit to the accommodation for young people.
The 2 projects will be delivered by Swansea-based organisation, FABRIC, who already provide accommodation for young people aged 16-17 in the area. The £243,000 support package will help FABRIC to expand its services to the Neath Port Talbot area, providing a home for a further 6 people in the care system.
The second package, worth £400,000, will provide semi-supported accommodation for young adults over the age of 18 leaving the care system and taking their first steps into adulthood – giving them the space to develop their independence whilst offering a support network to fall back on.
Both projects aim to generate cost savings to local authorities by providing a housing solution for young people in care, avoiding the local authority having to use expensive emergency accommodation.
Minister for Finance and Trefnydd said:
“I am pleased that the Welsh Government’s Invest to Save fund, along with Innovate to Save funding, is helping support care leavers as they make their transition into adulthood and independent living.
“The evidence tells us that young people leaving the care system are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, or to end up in the criminal justice system. As well as being terrible for the young people involved, it inevitably leads to costly interventions for the government. This innovative idea seeks to go some way to breaking this cycle by providing young people with help and support when they need it most.”
Minister for Housing and Local Government added:
“This is a great example of how Innovate to Save funding can support some of Wales’ most vulnerable young people at a crucial time in their lives. I look forward to seeing more young people fulfilling their potential thanks to help from these projects.”
Together these 2 projects will provide a consistent pathway from care to independent living for some of Wales’ most vulnerable young people, supporting them to develop the required living skills, engage in education and training, employment and address personal development.
Director of FABRIC, Harri Coleman said:
“Combining the goals of achieving equal opportunities and improving outcomes for young people alongside the financial savings which our approach delivers, was the basis of our involvement in Innovate to Save. It is FABRIC’s aim to be a part of eliciting positive change in the FABRIC kids and creating alternative positive outcomes in adulthood. Whilst it may not be possible to achieve equal outcomes for all, FABRIC aspires to see “Equal Opportunities for Care Leavers” in Wales and across the UK.”
The money will support a range of initiatives that shift services from hospital to people’s homes and communities making it easier for people to access the care they need, stay well and keep their independence.
Led by the Regional Partnership Board, the West Wales programme is the latest to receive funding from the Welsh Government’s £100m Transformation Fund. The Fund has been created to support key actions from the Welsh Government’s long term plan for health and social care, A Healthier Wales.
The programme includes:
Mr Gething said:
“With an increase in life expectancy and our continued public health challenges, our health and social care services will face even greater demand in the future. In order to meet that demand we need to truly transform the way we deliver care in the future.
This will require better integration of health, social services and the third sector to deliver care closer to home and reduce pressure on hospitals. A Healthier Wales sets out how can achieve this and our Transformation Fund will deliver that vision by funding projects that have potential to scale up to be used across Wales.”
Chair of West Wales Regional Partnership Board Councillor Jane Tremlett said:
“We are delighted to have been awarded this investment and opportunity to deliver further integration between health and care in our region for the benefit of our communities. Our initial three projects will focus on technology, strengthened integration and more community based support to make a real difference in people’s lives.
We are confident that each of these areas will not only benefit citizens in our area but could potentially lead change across Wales and further afield. We are keen also to develop other areas of regional work through development of staff and other partners to maximise social value and to engage meaningfully with our citizens.”
The university-run scheme will be fully funded by the Welsh Government, with all students’ fees paid for. Courses will be available in key sectors for economic growth identified by the Welsh Government, including IT, Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing.
In the academic year 2019-20, subjects include Software Engineering, Cyber Security and Data Analytics, with further courses being developed.
Courses are being provided this year by Bangor University, Cardiff Met, Swansea, Trinity Saint David, the Open University, Wrexham Glyndŵr and the University of South Wales.
The funding will be managed by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW).
Degree apprentices work throughout their degree, spending part of their time at university and the rest with their employer, developing the skills and knowledge needed to excel, both in university and in their work role.
Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education, said:
“It is essential people are equipped with the right skills and knowledge to benefit from the opportunities an evolving labour market presents. Degree apprenticeships are ideal for people already working in technology industries but are keen to study to degree level, or those who are new to the workforce but would like to study for a degree at the same time.
“This is also about improving social mobility and widening participation – providing alternative routes into higher education for people who didn’t consider or may not have had the opportunity to go to university straight after leaving school.
“The degree apprenticeship therefore offers those all-round benefits – they’re good for individual development, good for diversifying entry into the professions and good for Wales’ economic well-being.”
Ken Skates, Minister for Economy and Transport, said:
“Our rapidly changing economy means that securing and retaining a highly skilled workforce is imperative to our future economic wellbeing. And with the ongoing challenges and uncertainties of Brexit there is no doubt that developing a highly skilled and flexible workforce is more important than ever. These degree apprenticeships have been designed to reflect the needs of employers in Wales, providing the knowledge and skills they recognise and value. They will help improve productivity by upskilling both the new and the existing workforce, and will deliver clear benefits to both employer and employee.”
Siobhan Stephens is currently undertaking a Degree Apprenticeship at University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) while working at Mobilise, a digital cloud development business in Swansea.
Siobhan said:
“I’ve always known I wanted to work with computers – I find them fascinating. I took computer science and ICT at A Level, but I wasn’t sure if university was the right fit for me. I just wanted to get straight into work.
“For me, a degree apprenticeship is the best of both worlds. I spend four days a week working at Mobilise, getting hands-on experience in software development, and one day a week at university learning the theory behind it. Working this way means I can see how the theory works in practice and apply my on-the-job knowledge to my studies.
“My degree apprenticeship will only take a year longer than a normal degree. At the end of it I’ll have a recognised qualification and four years of industry experience under my belt.”
Barry Liles OBE, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Skills and Lifelong Learning) at UWTSD, said:
“As a provider of high level skills, we recognise the immense benefits to both our students and employers that can be achieved through digital degree apprenticeships. They are invaluable for preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for industry – using a combination of expertise to upskill the talent pipeline for employers in Wales and beyond. We want to ensure that every student who walks through our doors, leaves with a skillset for life.”
Further information on the available courses can be found on the university websites.
The funding allocation includes:
Julie James said:
“Our three-year Integrated Care Fund capital programme aims to better integrate health, social care and housing, because we know homes can make a difference to our health.
“The right housing can support people to remain independent, or provide the right environment for people leaving hospital, reducing delays in getting people home. The programme is beginning to support this objective but I want it to feature more housing which supports people’s health and social care needs in the future.
“As well as this, the right kind of support in our hospitals can improve care, and help people return home sooner. We know our health and social care services face long term pressures, and this programme can also support investment which will help them to operate and integrate more effectively.
“It is vital that people receive the right support when they need it, whether they are older people with complex needs and long term health conditions, people with learning disabilities, children with complex health needs, or carers.”
Councillor Rob Jones, Leader of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council chairs the Western Bay Regional Partnership Board. He said:
“We welcome this additional investment which will enable us to deliver more sustainable services that better meet people’s needs. Through bringing local partners together, Western Bay’s innovative, integrated services are making a real and meaningful difference to people’s lives.
“2019 represents a time of great change for us as a partnership as the Health Bound boundary change comes into place and Bridgend leaves to join the Cwm Taf region on 1st April, but all partners remain fully committed to delivering services of the highest possible standard”.