Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board launches new website
A new website for the Cwm Taf Morgannwg (CTM) Regional Partnership Board (RPB) is live today.
The CTM RPB brings together partners from health, social care, the third sector, education, housing and the private sector to tackle health inequalities and improve health, social care and wellbeing services.
The website has been developed with local residents and organisations, and aims to provide a platform for people across Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf to be informed on, inspired by and involved with the RPB ’s work.
Priority areas for the CTM RPB include people with learning disabilities; people with physical disabilities and sensory impairments; unpaid carers; people with mental health problems; autistic people; young people and children and older people.
The RPB partners work together to look at how services and support can be accelerated and improved for these groups, so they have better wellbeing and health outcomes.
To support this, every five years the RPB undertakes a regional Population Needs Assessment, which guides what services are needed, and the range and level of services required to meet that need.
To ensure this work genuinely captures local people’s voices, the assessment will be developed in partnership with community groups, organisations and residents across Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The website will play an important role in updating people on the progress of this work, and informing them how they can get involved.
The website also aims to celebrate the great work taking place across the region.
The CTM RPB administers and manages funding programmes, including £12m of Integrated Care Fund and £7m of Transformation Programme funding.
The Transformation Programme includes seven health and social care projects across the region, employing 260 people across Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil.
The Integrated Care Fund supports 68 projects, ranging from community hubs to an Assisted Play programme for vulnerable children.
Over the COVID-19 pandemic, the Regional Partnership Board has also been supporting the Welsh Government’s ‘Test, Trace and Protect’ strategy, bringing together partners in the NHS, local authorities and the third sector to find ways to provide support to communities.
Underpinning all of this work is the Research, Innovation and Improvement Co-Ordination Hub, which identifies, aligns and co-ordinates innovative services and projects, to improve services, avoid duplication and enable sharing of good practice.
The new website is launched as Councillor Chris Davies joins as Chair, and Luke Takeuchi, joins as Vice Chair.
Councillor Chris Davies, who is also Deputy Leader with Portfolio for Social Services at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council said:
“I am delighted to join as Chair of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board. By working together as partners, organisations and residents, we can secure the best health and wellbeing outcomes for our communities across Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“We are lucky to have so many passionate partners around the RPB table who work tirelessly to support their local communities.
“However, we know there are many people who are not yet engaged with our work, who may want to share their thoughts and experiences with us. We hope this website will help us reach out into our communities so we can ensure as many people as possible are heard.
“The website is just one space. We know from talking with our communities and partners, that many people like to participate in other ways, such as at events. We will ensure there’s lots of opportunities for people to get involved, so nobody is left out.”
Luke Takeuchi, who is also Chief Executive of RHA Housing Association in Rhondda Cynon Taf added:
“I am so pleased to be Vice Chair of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board, and to launch our new website today.
“Listening to and involving communities in our work is so important, and we are all responsible as members of the community to look at how we can make the region a great place to live and work.
“We know that a person’s home can have a huge influence on their mental health and wellbeing, so working together will help us bridge the gap between health, housing and social care, and ensure we are genuinely making a difference to people’s lives.
“Housing associations in Wales offer a number of services including specialist homes so people can live independently, and projects that help people stay active in their communities.
“We are looking forward to looking at how we can create more opportunities for people to live happily and independently for as long as possible.”
To stay informed about the CTM Regional Partnership Board’s work, click here.