Five deprived areas share £2.5m

The money will be made available in April

Five areas in mid Wales will share £2.5m which will help fund the continuation of a regeneration scheme in deprived communities.

The money will be used to finance Communities First projects in Ystradgynlais, the Dyfi Valley, Welshpool, Aberystwyth and Tregaron.

The scheme, which also addresses problems of social exclusion, is run by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The money will fund jobs and premises from April, to March 2012.

The Communities First partnership in Powys is receiving £1.48m. Ystradgynlais will benefit from £529,102, the Dyfi Valley group receives £485,890, while Welshpool's Oldford housing estate will get £468,326.

Groups in Ceredigion have been allocated £1.1m. More than £568,000 will go to Penparcau and west Aberystwyth partnership, while villages in Tregaron area partnership are to benefit from £524,315.

'Tackling poverty'

The assembly government said the money would fund key posts, premises and other costs in the three areas. It will also pay for consultation and publicity activity.

Leighton Andrews, Deputy Minister for Regeneration said: "The Communities First programme places local communities and local people at the heart of the planning and delivery of local solutions to local problems.

"As we move into the next phase of Communities First the funding I have announced today will ensure that partnerships have the resources to build on the progress they have made and focus their work on delivering practical solutions to tackling poverty and supporting regeneration initiatives."

Susan Morley, Communities First link officer for Powys, welcomed the news.

"This announcement is very welcome, as the staff and members of the three Communities First partnerships in Powys have all worked very hard to bring about involvement by local people in practical activity to strengthen their communities," she said.

Partnerships across Wales can also bid for a slice of the new £25m Outcomes Fund, which is also designed to help deprived areas.