What are we doing?

Dynamix have been engaged in an exciting and rewarding project with the Llwynhendy community to carry out their own evaluation of the last 8 years of the Llwynhendy Communities First programme.

The aim is to evaluate progress against a set of baseline statistics identified through consultation in 2003, establish what has improved and what challenges still face the community.

Why do we want to tell you about this?

The project broke down into two halves in which volunteers from adults and young people's groups along with the Communities First team were supported in understanding what needs to be considered for doing consultation, a range of methods and in designing the consultation, which was then undertaken by the volunteers and Dynamix. This was then presented by the community at an event attended by over 120 residents, written up in a full report, in an easy-read, visual report for community members as well as being presented verbally & visually through a digital report that has been made available through youtube.

Amy Sanders, the Dynamix worker involved found the work exceptionally rewarding. The Llwynhendy community were a pleasure to work with and the Communities First partnership is inspiring, with both a phenomenal level of community engagement in Llwnyhendy and the fact that Communities First is held in such high regard by its community being two themes that dominated the entire project. It is a fabulous success story and shows how positive good community development can be.

The project is also taking the Dynamix approach forward through (even more!) new tailor made consultation methods including our first use of viral consultation through the internet using facebook, football themed consultation methods developed in partnership with young people to consult the participants of the 5 aside football tournament, , family team games themed consultation to bring parents and children together, older residents consulted by young people through a range of techniques and methods and much more! The project demonstrates the special care we take to engage all members of the community and how we supported the community to participate in the consultation.

What has been the outcome?

Participation rates have been exceptionally high and 293 people have been involved. Llwynhendy Communities First has been able to evidence their extensive achievements and their extraordinary level of community engagement in time for the review of Communities First in 2012.

Llwynhendy Communities First have been at the cutting edge of innovative consultation approaches, consultation ownership by community members and most significantly, making the results of community reports accessible to community members.

Lindy Butler, Communities First Co-ordinator presented Dynamix with a Star Trophy at the Community Awards night which recognises individuals and groups that have made a significant contribution to Llwynhendy community.

What else is good to know?

To see copies of the report click on these links:

Easy Read Report

Full Report

To see the digital report click on these links:

Digital Report

This project was funded by the Communities First Advice and Support Service who are part of the WCVA.