A Flintshire project is being showcased in an All-Wales guide of best practice as part of Youth Work Week Wales.

The ‘Flintshire Wheels 2’ is a young people’s transport and youth work project for 16-25 year olds in areas of rural Flintshire. It supports young people through a range of innovative transport initiatives and opportunities for informal learning.

FW2 is showcased within the Welsh Assembly Government’s ‘best practice’ publication of youth work in Wales. The FW2 project is also viewed as an example of best practice in the fields of rural regeneration, community development and youth support services. It is also viewed as a good practice in tackling child poverty and social exclusion in rural Wales.

The project helps improve access to work, education or training opportunities. It also strengthens the personal and social education of young people.

Current initiatives include: A Scooter Loan Scheme; Young Driver & Rider Support Scheme; Pilot Research into an Electric Bike Loan Scheme; Transport Information Support & Signposting Guides and Project User Involvement.

For further information and how to apply, young people aged 16-25 in rural north Flintshire should contact FW2 on 01745 854881. The next deadline for returning application forms is Friday 27^th November, 2009.

A summary report entitled ‘Young People and Transport in Rural North Flintshire’ is also available for download from the FW2 project’s blog: www.flintshirewheels2.wordpress.com . This report outlines the background, evidence of need, the rationale, outcomes, and further practical details of the FW2 project.

Notes for Editors:

1. Best Practice

The FW2 Project has been viewed as an example of best practice both locally and nationally, for example:

Good Practice in Youth Support (2006): The project has been acknowledged and recognised as an area of good practice within Estyn’s inspection report on the quality of youth support services in Flintshire.

Best Practice in Rural Regeneration (2007): The FW2 project has also been referred to as an example of best practice by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Leader + Programme for access to basic services and rural regeneration.

Best Practice in Youth Work (2008 & 2009): The FW2 Project has been showcased in the Welsh Assembly Government’s best practice publication for Youth Work in Wales.

Best Practice in Communities First (2008 & 2009): There is a case study of the project in the Welsh Assembly Government’s good practice guide for ‘making a difference’ in Communities First neighbourhoods.

Good Practice in Tackling Child Poverty (2009):
Flintshire Wheels 2 is also identified as good practice in the report, 'Child Poverty and Social Exclusion in Rural Wales' (October 2009) by the End Child Poverty Network Cymru.

2. Downloads

The Welsh Assembly’s best practice in Youth Work publication can be downloaded from http://www.thankssam.org.uk/

The report 'Child Poverty and Social Exclusion in Rural Wales' by the End Child Poverty Network Cymru can be downloaded from:
http://www.childreninwales.org.uk/areasofwork/childpoverty/endchildpovertynetwork/index.html

The Summary Report entitled ‘Young People and Transport in Rural North Flintshire’ is also available for download from: www.flintshirewheels2.wordpress.com .

3. Funding

The project is part-funded by the Flintshire Children & Young People’s Partnership and Flintshire Youth & Community Service.

This project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.