Previous Projects

Paul Hamlyn Foundation has funded Sylfaen for two years (2017-2019) to:

• develop and implement the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) in a range of settings (e.g. Rhwyd Arall within Education, and a pilot project with Grŵp Cynefin around young tenants);
• develop Social Value evaluation skills within Sylfaen for the benefit of other organisations in the future;
• offer SLA training to other organisations.

Sustainable Livelihoods Approach Peblig (funded through the Lottery) and Sustainable Livelihoods Approach Maesgeirchen (funded through Comic Relief) (January 2013 – December 2017)

This unique project adopts Oxfam’s Sustainable Livelihoods Approach to support young people aged 16-25 who are not in education, training or employment.

The model has been developed by Oxfam in Africa and adapted recently to conditions in Wales. Based on an asset building approach, and including all members of the family/support network, it offers support that is holistic, intensive, and not time bound.

By getting to the root of the individual’s problems and providing practical and emotional support to address obstacles, the approach achieves long-term solutions that other organisations, bound by time, remit and resources, cannot reach.

Sylfaen was part of Oxfam Cymru’s national Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) project (2012-2016).

Eight partners worked with different target groups:

• Caia Park Partnership in Wrexham;
  
• Rhyl Older People’s project;
  
• Dove Project in Banwen, Dulais Valley;
  
• African Community Centre in Swansea;
  
• South Riverside Project in Cardiff;
  
• Duffryn Community Link in Newport;
  
• Wallich in Ebbw Vale; and
  
• the Glyncoch Partnership in Pontypridd.

The final evaluation demonstrated the success of the project.

In December 2015 Sylfaen attracted funding from Comic Relief for a new three-year SLA project with young people aged 16-25 in another community in Gwynedd.

Sylfaen has specialised in using the model to support young people aged 16-25, not in education, training or employment.

The young people get mentors who work with them intensively for the duration of the project, and they can access support at any point.

A young person’s assets (financial, personal, physical, social, and community) are identified, before considering short-term and long-term goals and any obstacles in their way. Difficulties are confronted with emotional, financial, or practical support, or by referral to a specialist organisation.

Regular review meetings monitor progress. Support from the family and friendship network is used to ensure that young people have the best chances of achieving successful outcomes.

Llwyddiant Llythrennedd (2017)

Funded through Garfield Weston Foundation, Bangor University Widening Access Centre, and the Welsh Government Intermediate Care Fund, the project provided training for 10 youth and community workers in literacy support skills at Level 4 through the Bangor Miles Dyslexia Centre in order to support young people with literacy issues.

Myned (2011-2014) was funded by Countryside Council for Wales to ensure access for excluded, non-traditional groups to the environment, encouraging a range of groups all over Wales to enjoy open air activities.

Climbing the Walls (2006-2011) trained Welsh-speaking women from Dyffryn Nantlle in outdoor pursuit skills, funded through the Rank Foundation, Gwynedd Council and the Tudor Trust, in response to the lack of Welsh-speaking women working in the local industry as instructors. The process of setting up the project was documented in 'O Gerdded Tai i Ddringo'r Waliau'. 

Engagement Gateway (2011-2012) was EU-funded through the Wales Council for Voluntary Action. It provided training to young unemployed people in basic cooking skills, and supported them to volunteer for a healthy eating social enterprise.

Sylfaen Wledig (2003-2006), an EU-funded project, supported community groups in South Anglesey in the Aberffraw, Bethel, Bodorgan, Malltraeth, and Newborough areas. It facilitated a community development process that led to many new groups and projects such as Eglwys Bach and Malltraeth Ymlaen. The project evaluation noted that £326,628 had already been secured for community groups, with £518,121 pending.