Written Statement: Flying Start capital funding announcement

I am pleased to announce just under £3 million of Welsh Government capital funding has been awarded to 50 Flying Start projects across Wales to help improve, develop or extend the settings in which Flying Start provision takes place.

This funding represents a significant, continued investment in the infrastructure of our flagship early years programme and will enable Local Authorities to create new facilities, make building improvements, carry out essential repair work and create better access during 2019-2020. This additional funding brings our total capital investment in Flying Start to over £65m since 2006.

Flying Start supports families living in some of the most disadvantaged communities across Wales. It offers twelve and a half hours of high quality childcare a week for 2-3 year olds; support for the development of children’s speech, language and communication; parenting support; and an enhanced health visitor service.

I attach the list of projects that have received funding

I look forward to seeing the developments take shape over the next year.

Blaenau Gwent

• £60k across all of its Flying Start settings (£6k to each setting).
• £19,500 awarded to Sofrydd Sunflowers in Llanhilleth
• £55,000 to First Friends in Tredegar
• £150,000 to Flying Start Hub in Ebbw Vale North

Bridgend

• £17,000 to Betws Flying Start

Caerphilly

• £83,500 to Canolfan Blant Integredig Parc Y Felin
• £77,875 to Trinant Flying Start Centre Crumlin
• £11,125 to Graig Y Rhacca Flying Start Centre
• £22,250 improvement works to four modular buildings which host Flying Start projects in the county.

Cardiff

• £8,000 to Shirenewton Playground
• £10,000 to First Steps, Trelai Primary

Flintshire

• £180,000 to Holywell Flying Start Centre
• £365,000 to Aston Family Centre
• £190,000 to Queensferry Community Learning Hub
• £20,000 to Ysgol Gwynedd in Flint

Gwynedd

• £25,000 to Plas Ffrancon
• £17,500 to Plas Ffrancon

Merthyr Tydfil

• £22,960 to Dwylo Bach

Monmouthshire

• £4,400 to Thornwell Flying Start
• £9,900 to West End Flying Start

Neath Port Talbot

• £8,000 to Tir Morfa Flying Start Setting
• £6,500 to Brynhyfryd Flying Start Centre

Newport

• £40,000 across the Flying Start estate

Powys

• £820,000 to Priory Church in Wales Primary School
• £292,300 to Open Door, Former Oldford Primary.

Rhondda Cynon Taf

• £50,000 to Pontrhondda Flying Start
• £60,000 to Little Ferns in Cwmbach
• £40,000 to Rachael's Playhouse
• £40,000 to Cylch Chwarae Penrhiwceiber Playgroup
• £16,000 to First Steps, Dai Davies
• £10,000 to Pentre'r Penguins, Llantwit Fardre Leisure Centre
• £16,000 to Messy Monsters, Gilfach Goch Community Centre
• £12,000 to Cylch Meithrin Ynyshir and Wattstown, at the Bowls

Swansea

• £30,000 to Craigfelen Flying Start Centre
• £26,500 to St Helen's Flying Start Centre
• £6,000 to Portmead Flying Start Centre
• £9,500 to Gors Flying Start Centre
• £8,500 to Hafod Flying Start Centre
• £17,000 to Seaview Flying Start Centre
• £6,500 to Townhill Flying Start Centre

Torfaen

• £17,600 to West Mon Flying Start Centre
• £8,000 for Penygarn Integrated Children’s Centre
• £15,400 for Cwmbran Integrated Children’s Centre
• £7,000 to Garnteg Integrated Children’s Centre

Vale of Glamorgan

• £8,325 for communication tools for all Flying Start staff in the area

Wrexham

• £9,600 to Gwenfro Flying Start
• £11,500 to Heulfan Flying Start
• £17,900 to Idwal
• £21,150 to Cherry Hill Flying Start