Monkton looks to bright future (From Western Telegraph)

Monkton looks to bright future

The children of Monkton have been declared as some of the poorest in Wales - but community leaders say the area is a close community with a bright future.

Save the Children's recent child poverty report ranked Monkton as the fifth poorest area in Wales.

But Monkton is an area that is beginning a slow process of regeneration. A major source of change is the excellent school at the heart of the community.

Bill Rees, headteacher of Monkton Priory, said: "I adore working here because I am extremely passionate about Monkton. We are the starting point; education is the answer."

Two years ago, the National Assembly published the results of a similar study, which became a catalyst for action.

Councillor Pearl Llewellyn said: "The people of Monkton were horrified when they found out they were among the most impoverished in Wales. They see poverty as having nothing - which is not the case here. But at least the Assembly and Pembrokeshire County Council began to recognise the scale of the problem and began attempting to tackle it." Grants began to trickle into the area. A community group, Monkton Voice, was formed. Small successes have helped make big improvements to the lives of the most vulnerable in the community.

And bigger schemes are seeing results too. Communities First is a ten-year National Assembly led initiative aimed at tackling poverty. Erica Fielding, head of regeneration at the county council, said: "This community-driven scheme has been embraced in Monkton. It is about the community telling us what they want, and the public have been incredibly supportive."

Two full-time Communities First workers will be in place in Monkton by the autumn to carry the project forward.

Back at the school, Pembrokeshire County Council is expected to begin working on a £780,000 adult learning centre in January. The centre, which is backed by the National Assembly and ELWa, will be used by gipsy children in the day and by adult learners at night. Bill Rees said: "This superb scheme will enable us to give the best possible start in life to the next generation and to provide opportunities for those who may have missed out first time around."

Councillor Pat Griffiths, cabinet member for lifelong learning, said: "Without a car, it is a long way from Monkton to Pembroke Dock or Haverfordwest. This will provide the best facilities for skills training at the heart of the community."

Unemployment rates in Monkton still hover around the 60% mark. The school is helping parents looking for work, especially single parent families, by providing a breakfast and after school club. Children can be dropped off at 8 in the morning and kept busy until six at night. Younger children can be looked after at the innovative family centre in Colley Court.

As well as looking after babies and toddlers in the day, the centre provides washing facilities for those who do not have a machine and also provides a toy library - the only one of its kind in the county. It also provides a free meeting room, runs parenting classes and has regular visits from health visitors.

Objective One money is also coming into the area through the Pembrokeshire Keyfunding scheme, the Pembrokeshire Action Team now has a base in Monkton, and the Sharp Project is proving a success. Bill Rees said: "I am so optimistic about the future because there is so much happening in Monkton. We are a tight community that is looking to the future with confidence."