Written statement (Wales) on ARFOR Programme Update - Feb 3

Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: This statement provides an update on delivery of the ARFOR programme and coincides today with the publication of two reports providing further detail, as follows: 

1. a report on the ARFOR 2 programme by local authority partners 
2. the independent evaluation of ARFOR 2 undertaken by Wavehill Consulting Ltd

Link to both reports: Second phase of ARFOR

The Welsh Government has provided £11m of grant funding to the local authorities in the ARFOR region of Ynys Mon, Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire to deliver a strategic programme designed to support economic development and the Welsh language across the four local authority areas. The programme, which has been managed by Gwynedd Council and delivered by contracted partners alongside the local authorities themselves, has tested a range of approaches: the core principle being recognition that a strong local economy is vital to sustaining the Welsh language in its rural heartlands.

Building on the earlier £2m ARFOR programme operating between 2019 and 2021, ARFOR 2 has focused on encouraging young people to stay or return to their communities, supporting local enterprises, promoting economic and social opportunities, and strengthening the use of Welsh in the workplace and wider community. The programme has supported a number of elements, including:

1. Llwyddo'n Lleol [Succeeding Locally] – Focused on changing perceptions of the region as a place to live and work, using marketing and direct support to help young people settle, find jobs, or start businesses.
2. Cymunedau Mentrus [Enterprising Communities] - Provided grants to businesses to create jobs and promote the Welsh language. 
3. Cronfa Her [Challenge Fund] – Funded innovative projects for a wider range of stakeholders to explore new ideas and generate learning about the   relationship between the economy and language, in line with the programme's objectives. 
4. Bwrlwm ARFOR [The vibrancy of ARFOR] – A communications and marketing strand to promote regional identity and the Welsh language and awareness of the programme objectives.  

Wavehill Consulting Ltd was commissioned to work alongside the delivery of the various elements of the ARFOR 2 programme. The evaluation, published today, concludes that the programme has delivered a significant amount of activity in a very short period. Several key performance measures were agreed as part of the contractual process, and overall the outcomes and outputs suggest effective performance. Of the 23 indicators which included a quantitative target, the programme met or exceeded 18 of them. However, for some aspects of the programme e.g. changing perceptions etc, it has been difficult to apply any meaningful quantitative measures.

The evaluation reports that ARFOR 2 has delivered short‑term economic benefits, including:

• creation of 327 and safeguarding of 295 jobs; 
• Supporting 263 new and 678 existing enterprises; 
• 210 businesses increased their use of Welsh and over 200 young people received in depth support. 

The evaluation report makes a number of broad recommendations, including:

1. The need for a long-term intervention to make a real difference, given that the two year delivery programme is not sufficient to address the challenges posed.  It suggests a focus on:
   1.  sharing good practice and providing guidance and strategic coordination.  
   2. research, testing and piloting, with focus on young people 
   3. marketing and communication – aimed at changing perceptions
2. Use a transition period to plan thoroughly for longer term intervention, with continued support for Llwyddo'n Lleol on a smaller scale to support marketing aspects, and to work towards mainstreaming the successful and innovative elements of the programme
3. Applying the research's main lessons to inform next steps 

Building on the recommendations of the Wavehill report, we have provided further funding of £500k to the local authorities during the current financial year to support the ongoing role of the programme co-ordinator at Gwynedd Council, to continue delivery of aspects of the Llwyddo'n Lleol programme aimed at young people and to undertake a “pause and reflect” exercise. Working closely with Wavehill, this is intended to allow the local authorities to identify what has worked well, where impact has been strongest, what has been less effective, and where opportunities exist to take the lessons learnt into mainstream activity. I look forward to receiving the results of this exercise once completed. This will be key to informing a way forward. 

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language and I will attend the Senedd's Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee on 4 March to discuss the ARFOR 2 programme.