Abertillery social enterprise wins Welsh Government backing to upgrade community arts training

An Abertillery-based social enterprise which delivers community arts and training throughout South Wales has received backing from Communities 2.0, the Welsh Government’s digital inclusion programme.

Communities 2.0 has supported Breaking Barriers Community Arts (BBCA) with an investment of just over £4,000. The support will enable BBCA to purchase new equipment for training in storytelling skills, as well as more secure electronic storage capacity to archive the material gathered in the process. Communities 2.0 is a Welsh Government programme which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

The programme has also provided technical expertise and advice to BBCA. Set up in 2008, Breaking Barriers is a community-focussed social enterprise, using the arts to transform and regenerate communities and lead to positive personal change.

Breaking Barriers Community Arts uses digital storytelling, combining the ancient art of storytelling with an imaginative use of new media, to build confidence and develop employability skills. BBCA works with the public, private and third sector organisations. Through Communities 2.0 support, an investment in hand-held tablets and mobile wi-fi facilities will allow the business to take a more flexible, up-to-date approach to workshop delivery, in line with recent technological developments. The support has also aided BBCA’s development of an online personalised digital story product.

Natasha James, Manager of Breaking Barriers, welcomed the news,

“The support is extremely welcome. It helps us to keep working within our communities, to help them share their stories and experiences. We will be able to invest in the new digital technology to work more creatively with all age groups and abilities. The support we have received will enable us to be more mobile and deliver new workshops in new areas. It will enable us to be more accessible and there soon won’t be a place where we can’t go to, to help people make digital stories!”

Communities 2.0 Project Director Cathryn Marcus commented:

“Communities 2.0 is delighted to be able to support Breaking Barriers Community Arts. The organisations offers an innovative service which helps communities develop their ICT knowledge and skills, and helps individuals back on the road to employment. This investment will allow BBCA to improve their services and their capacity for developing training and storytelling activities”.