Partnership

The Welcome To Our Woods Partnership has been operating in its current format since 2014. It developed from ideas and initiatives from activity that had been going on in the area from around 2009. Our Partnership has become a blend of local private sector businesses and landowners, statutory government and agencies, voluntary sector organisations, local community groups and individuals who offer their time and skills. In 2018 the Partnership was awarded the ‘Sustainable Community Award’ from the Cynnal Cymru Sustain Wales organisation for its work in the Upper Rhondda Fawr.

The Welcome To Our Woods Partnership continues to develop new ways of connecting people and place in the Rhondda. Sustainably managing local resources and local spaces for health, wellbeing, recreation, training and employment outcomes. Our work focuses on finding solutions to overcome related social problems that can be summarised as:

Health and Wellbeing – including inequalities in access to good quality green spaces, poor mental health and physical inactivity.

Skills and Jobs – low skills, low wages and few employment opportunities. Much of the existing employment is minimum wage, part-time.

Poverty – lack of access to resources and services, and addressing fuel poverty.