Welsh Labour's Regeneration Minister Leighton Andrews has announced that five Communities First areas in Blaenau Gwent are set to receive funding of over £1.1 million.

The funding of £1,138,224 will ensure the continuation of the core programme of the five partnerships, including paying for key staff, from April 2008 to March 2009. 

The financial support announced today is in addition to more than £1.3 million approved in May this year for other Communities First partnerships in Blaenau Gwent based in Ebbw Vale, Tredegar and Blaina. To date the Blaenau Gwent area has received Communities First funding of nearly £9.4 million towards helping local communities to obtain the skills and confidence to tackle the local issues they face.

Leighton Andrews said:

“I am certain that the continuation  funding I’ve announced today will enable these partnerships to continue the good work they are doing within their communities and also help each area prepare for the next phase of Communities First. We made it clear that Communities First programmes would continue largely unchanged for the 2008-09 financial year and, following the consultation held earlier this year, the next phase of the programme will be funded on a three year basis beginning in 2009-10.”