Blaenau Gwent Council has launched a bold new initiative to reshape how public services are designed and delivered - and local residents are being invited to help shape it.
The Blaenau Gwent Deal is a new social contract between the council, residents, and partners. It sets out a shared vision for a fairer, healthier, and more resilient borough - one where health inequalities are tackled and every resident is empowered to thrive.
Residents are encouraged to visit The Blaenau Gwent Deal and complete a short survey about their community, helping to shape the priorities and actions that will underpin The Deal.
The comments and views will then be considered by a Citizens’ Assembly in the New Year, with The Deal due to be put out for further consultation in February.
Blaenau Gwent Council’s Chief Executive, Stephen Vickers, said:
“The Deal marks a significant shift away from traditional models of top-down service delivery in communities. Put very simply, The Deal is a mindset that will transform the way we all work together. It’s about developing a new relationship with residents and partners that builds on the strengths and capacity in communities and is a genuine commitment to working together to design and deliver community services and facilities.
"By working together with a focus on prevention, empowerment, and collaboration, The Deal aims to break the cycle of rising demand and shrinking budgets and create the foundations to improve long-term community wellbeing.”
The Deal is built around five key missions:
- Early Years – Building Bright Futures: Supporting children and families to give every child the best start in life.
- Lifelong Learning and Resilience: Creating opportunities for people of all ages to learn, grow, and adapt.
- Wellbeing Through Community Leadership: Empowering local people to lead change and improve health and happiness.
- Thriving Economy and Vibrant Places: Creating spaces and opportunities where businesses and communities flourish together.
- Empowered Communities – Shared Power and Success: Placing power in the hands of residents to shape local priorities and co-produce solutions.
Council Leader, Steve Thomas, said:
"We need a Deal because since 2010, councils in Wales have lost significant core funding and at the same time demand for critical services has surged. To balance budgets councils have been forced to raise income and cut many universal and community services, and this approach simply cannot go on. We need a new relationship with residents and a new mindset across the whole borough to raise aspirations and expectations on what we can achieve together.
"Alongside Torfaen Council we are already taking bold steps designed to deliver a future where everyone can flourish in our borough and proud to be doing things differently. We are the first federated councils in Wales reducing the costs of senior management, the first Marmot councils addressing health inequalities and now the first councils to develop a Deal with our communities.
"By empowering our communities and investing in prevention, we can tackle the root causes of inequality and unlock the full potential of Blaenau Gwent together."
To deliver on these missions, the Council is making a fundamental cultural and operational shift - aligning investment and services behind prevention, fairness, and resilience, and supporting staff to work closely with our communities as leaders and agents of change.
How to get involved
Residents, community groups, and partners are invited to take part in shaping The Deal. Visit The Blaenau Gwent Deal to complete the survey and find out more about upcoming engagement events.
Residents can also get involved by joining the Blaenau Gwent Citizens’ Assembly for three sessions during January and February. A letter will be sent out with a deadline to register before the 30th of November. The participants will then be selected by a random, representative process to ensure the assembly reflects the diversity of the community.
This is a fantastic opportunity to help to shape the future of the borough.