Penywaun Enterprise Partnership

Description & History

Penywaun Enterprise Partnership is a community based charity and Development Trust established to regenerate the Penywaun Ward by designing and delivering tailor-made projects to address local needs.

The trust serves the 4000 people of Penywaun and Trenant estates situated at the head of the Cynon Valley in South Wales. The Trust supports people through capacity building activities and aims to establish community enterprises that will generate income, create employment and training opportunities and improve the local economy.

The Trust manages 2 buildings: the Cana Community Resource Enterprise Centre and the Old Area Housing Office which acts as its administrative base and a number of projects, for all ages, covering health, lifelong learning, community safety, environment, jobs, business support.

PEP is the Lead Body for Communities First in the Penywaun Ward and seeks to influence a strategic approach to meeting needs in disadvantaged communities across Rhondda Cynon Taf.

PEP has developed a Performing Arts Company “Dynamic!” assisting talented young people towards sustainable employment, and in partnership with Rhondda Community Radio have set a up Dapper FM a community radio station.

The Trust is working with other development Trusts across the Heads of the Valleys Region in order to establish a joint venture company BUILDWALES LTD which will deliver maintenance and environmental improvements to social housing.

Location and Area of Benefit

Based at 2 sites buildings: the Cana Centre and the Old Area Housing Office (Administration).

Serves the 4000 people of Penywaun and Trenant estates situated at the head of the Cynon Valley in South Wales. It is in a Communities First area – Penywaun ward. PEP is the lead body for Communities First in the area.

Main services, Enterprises and Activities

The Penywaun Enterprise Partnership exists to further the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Penywaun Ward.

PEP does this through:

• Consultation with the local community regarding needs and aspirations.
• Designing and delivering tailor-made projects to address need, enabling local people to engage in community development through capacity building activity.
• Working with partner agencies of all sectors to address local need.
• Establishing community enterprises that will generate income, create employment and training opportunities and improve the local economy.
• Challenge injustice and exclusion where it exists in mainstream service provision, seeking to improve the level and quality of local service delivery.
• Manages a number of projects, all of which are designed to tackle poverty and social disadvantages affecting the locality.
• Embraces the needs of people of all ages – covering health, lifelong learning, community safety, environment, jobs and business and active communities.
• Projects include an after school club (175 children on its register, with priority given to those requiring childcare) and a crèche.

Emerging & Proposed Future Developments

PEP continues its role as Lead Body for Communities First in the Penywaun Ward and seeks to influence a strategic approach to meeting needs in disadvantaged communities across Rhondda Cynon Taf.

An Integrated Services Centre located in Penywaun, which would facilitate greater access to services for local people whilst also housing a Community Enterprise offering Family Leisure facilities in order to de-stigmatise the facility and its long term sustainability.

A Performing Arts Company “Dynamic!” assisting talented young people towards sustainable employement.

Build Wales – PEP is working with other development trusts across the Heads of the Valleys Region in order to establish a joint venture company which will deliver maintenance, improvement and environmental enhancements to social housing stock. The company will create training opportunities for underemployed people and assist local trades people to access medium size contracts.