Uned 7 Cae Gwyrdd, Greenmeadow Springs, Tongwynlais, Caerdydd
CF15 7AB www.colegaucymru.ac.uk [email protected] Ff: 029
2052 2500 Cwmni Cofrestredig Rhif 2832103 Elusen Gofrestredig Rhif
1060182
Unit 7 Cae Gwyrdd, Greenmeadow Springs, Tongwynlais, Cardiff
CF15 7AB www.collegeswales.ac.uk [email protected] T: 029
2052 2500 Registered Company No 2832103 Registered Charity Number:
1060182
Russell George AM Chair, Economy, Infrastructure and Skills
Committee National Assembly for Wales Cardiff Bay Cardiff CF99
1NA
24 April 2020
Dear Russell,
Consultation on Valleys Taskforce
ColegauCymru is pleased to respond to the National Assembly for
Wales Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee's consultation
on the Valleys Taskforce.
The decision to strip back the delivery plan and focus heavily
on a more limited number of areas in the remaining time available
until the Taskforce completes is sensible. The rolling out of the
RCT Empty Homes Grant Scheme across the Valleys Taskforce area is
to be welcomed, although this will understandably, like all other
areas of planned work, be impacted by Covid-19. Likewise, the work
on developing responsive public transport allowing people to access
new or existing employment is both necessary and useful. While this
work will also have been disrupted, there is potential positive
impact in ensuring key workers in the Valleys Taskforce area are
still able to get to work in order to keep services running during
the public health crisis.
The alumni programme which forms part of the Delivery Plan is a
positive. Coleg y Cymoedd have been involved in, and are supportive
of, this. It is important that encouraging young people to engage
with role models is not just viewed as a schools activity. This
should be integrated with existing Further Education college
approaches to alumni and role models across the area covered by the
Valleys Taskforce.
In light of the expansion of the area covered by the Valleys
Taskforce, greater detail on the skills dimension and plans until
March 2021 would be useful. This includes any Welsh language
implications. This would enable the Further Education sector to
provide support and work together with the Taskforce on the
challenges ahead, which will be especially important as we seek to
manage responses to the Covid-19 public health crisis over the
coming months.
Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru National Assembly for Wales
Pwyllgor yr Economi, Seilwaith a Sgiliau Economy, Infrastructure
and Skills Committee
Tasglu’r Cymoedd Valleys Taskforce EIS(5) VTF06
Ymateb gan Colegau Cymru Evidence from Colleges Wales
http://www.colegaucymru.ac.uk/mailto:[email protected]://www.collegeswales.ac.uk/mailto:[email protected]
As so many jobs are currently home-based as a necessity of
Covid-19, an opportunity now exists to build on this and think
about how good quality jobs that were previously office or other
location-based can now be undertaken from home, or closer to home,
on a more permanent basis. This thinking should help form the basis
of legacy-preparation for the Valleys Taskforce.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Rachel Bowen Director of Policy and Public Affairs,
ColegauCymru
Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru National Assembly for Wales
Pwyllgor yr Economi, Seilwaith a Sgiliau Economy, Infrastructure
and Skills Committee
Tasglu’r Cymoedd Valleys Taskforce EIS(5) VTF06
Ymateb gan Colegau Cymru Evidence from Colleges Wales
