Invest Local recently held a cross-group workshop to bring together members of Steering Groups from different communities to share their experiences of and ideas for the Invest Local programmes in their areas.

Cefn Golau Together – the Invest Local Group in Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent – are progressing with plans to build their MUGA (multi-use games area).

Over the summer, several Invest Local communities have taken part in The Big Lunch.

Last night, BCT and CLES launched Our Local Economies – a manifesto that sets out what is needed for communities in Wales to build prosperity.

The team from Big Lottery Wales came along to visit Invest Local projects in Caerau recently, and spent the day touring the many community projects in the area, meeting the people of Caerau and enjoying some fantastic hospitality.

Clase 4 All – the Invest Local group in Clase, Swansea – have been on a whistle-stop tour of parks across South Wales.

Invest Local in Plas Madoc has got off to a flying start, with many of the projects from the area’s first Driving Change plan already up and running.

Chris Hemmings from the Invest Local group in Glyn, Colwyn Bay, writes about his recent trip to Blaenau Ffestiniog for a two-day conference hosted by our friends at Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog

Vicki Browning from Cefn Golau Together - the Invest Local Group in Cefn Golau, Tredegar – tells us about the latest developments from the project in her area.

Clase 4 All - the Invest Local group in Clase, Swansea – have been busy over the past few months.

There is a shift occurring in our public services. This shift is characterised by a recognition that traditional ‘top down’ approaches can no longer solve the complex social problems that we face as a society.

Matthew Rowlands from Llynfi BMX tells us how funding from Invest Local has put helped put the area on the map for BMXing.

Part of the ethos of Invest Local is to start from what’s good in the area, and build on the strengths that each community already has.

Chris Johnes explains how a conversation about resilient communities led to a sell-out conference on Building a New Local Economy in Wales.

The steering group of Invest Local Penywaun used some of their Getting Going funding to revive their local carnival, an event that was once the highlight of the community’s year.

For many years, Wales has faced the challenge of building a better economy with more resilient communities. Some progress has been made, but too many communities continue to struggle.

Huge congratulations to Hubberston and Hakin – the first community in Wales to receive Invest Local Driving Change funding for their community plan.

Becky - who lives in Clase, Swansea – tells us all about what’s been going on in the Invest Local programme there, from name changes to logo competitions to an Easter Fun Day.

Communications and Events Officer Emma Shepherd writes about a visit to a Somerset community with lots going on.

Consulting the people in Invest Local communities about what’s important to them has led to some common themes emerging. Chris Johnes explains what we’ve found out so far.