Torfaen Community Wellbeing Strategy

The Torfaen Community Wellbeing Strategy outlines a vision to radically transform the way services are designed and delivered in Torfaen, focusing on community resilience, wellbeing, and prevention in line with the County Plan Wellbeing Objectives and the Marmot principles.

By 2027, the council aims to empower communities to be healthier, better connected, and more equal, with community assets playing a central role in supporting residents' independence and wellbeing.  

This will be achieved through increased community participation and influence in local decisions, growth in volunteering and community group membership, improved access to wellbeing information and community-based support, reduction in areas of deprivation and referrals requiring statutory intervention. 

Key elements of the strategy

Community resilience  

Resilience is defined as the ability to cope with challenges, crises, or transitions in life.  Communities are the first line of prevention, offering support through community assets like clubs, groups, churches, schools, and volunteers.  Protective factors such as low loneliness, vibrant high streets, clean spaces, and access to green areas help maintain resilience.  

Threats and protective factors  

Threats include isolation, financial insecurity, crime, poor health, and unemployment. Protective factors vary by community and include social connections, affordable activities, clean environments, and access to essential services.  

Strategic Objectives 

  • Community Leadership: Empower local leaders to plan and respond to wellbeing challenges.  
  • The 'Connect' Network: Build relationships between community hubs, schools, and venues to maximize resources and awareness.  
  • Volunteering & Connecting: Increase volunteer participation and make volunteering accessible to all.  
  • The Front Door: Provide personalized wellbeing information and advice through Council services.  
  • Targeted Prevention & Reablement: Deliver early interventions to prevent crises from escalating.  
  • Whole System Delivery: Collaborate with public sector partners to align objectives, principles, and data.  

Communities Operating Model 

The Communities Operating Model is designed to enhance community resilience through distributed leadership and collaboration across various stakeholders. It includes: 

Distributed Leadership

  • Governance at strategic (Borough), tactical (Community Council), and operational (Ward) levels.  
  • The Community Resilience Group coordinates delivery and monitors outcomes.  
  • Local Community Resilience Groups prioritize wellbeing outcomes at the community level.  

Key Actions 

  • Community Leadership: Support community leaders through mentorship, training, and funding.
  • The 'Connect' Network: Develop an online platform to centralize information about community assets and activities.
  • Volunteering: Partner with Torfaen Voluntary Alliance (TVA) to streamline volunteering opportunities and campaigns
  • The Front Door: Redesign Council services to prioritize community-based support and universal services.  
  • Targeted Prevention: Redesign early intervention services and incentivize local groups tackling resilience threats.
  • Whole System Delivery: Establish shared governance, data tracking, and service design principles across public sector partners.
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