£1.4m for Colwyn Bay learning centre

Oct 22 2009

PLANS to create a learning and information centre in Colwyn Bay will receive more than £1m from the Assembly Government.

The development of the Bay Learning Centre is considered pivotal in the regeneration of Colwyn Bay.

The package for the £1.4m project was announced by deputy regeneration minister Leighton Andrews at the Wales Regeneration Summit in Llandudno.

It includes £704,000 from the strategic regeneration area programme, £325,000 from the education budget and £371,000 from Coleg Llandrillo, as the lead organisation.

Mr Andrews said it is one of a number of key projects designed to help the economically inactive and ensure people have the skills and training to be in a position to grasp new opportunities.

"The planned interventions by the strategic regeneration area programme over the next seven to eight years will create a demand for new employees with skills across a number of sectors," he said.

"If these are met from within the ranks of the locally unemployed and the economically inactive we can start to address this issue.

"Success in reducing economic inactivity will ensure that those of working age not only contribute to the economy but their increased earnings will also help raise the overall standard of living."

The funding will enable Coleg Llandrillo to buy, convert and refurbish the former Kwik Save/ Furniture Wales unit at 47 Conway Road, which will be open in the current academic year.

The centre will provide advice, information, support and learning to those who are economically inactive, unemployed, have been recently made redundant or wish to progress from low skill employment.

It will be developed and run in partnership with Communities First and both organisations feel that working closely together within the same accommodation will result in significant added value for all clients, as well as ensuring the efficient use of facilities such as activity and meeting rooms.

Conwy Youth Service will also make use of the facilities to provide information, support and informal learning for 16- to 25-year-olds.

Principal Huw Evans said: "Coleg Llandrillo is committed to this project as a ground breaking initiative at the heart of the regeneration programme, working in partnership with other agencies.

"The interaction with students – from initial inquiry to participation in learning and then to progression to further learning and/or employment – will be designed to address local needs in a positive way.

"We are delighted that the funding has been approved which will enable us to take this project forward with immediate effect.

"The centre is designed to become a hub of activity within the town entirely focused on supporting the regeneration agenda."