Embedding a culture of prevention based on what matters to communities in the Afan Valley

What is the project?

Hosted by Neath Port Talbot Council, this project gathered the views of people living in the Afan Valley and aimed to support a more coordinated, preventative approach to well-being.  

It aimed to understand: 

• what was working well in the area 
• what the main challenges were 
• what opportunities existed in areas like the environment, housing, transport, employment, income, services and safety. 

It also explored how Pro Afan – a grassroots group of professionals who support each other as well as local individuals – was responding to these needs, especially for people who are harder to reach. 

The project was shaped by what residents said matters most to them. 

By using local data, community feedback and research, the project built a clear picture of local strengths, needs and priorities. As well as highlighting local frustrations, the work showed a strong desire for real, practical action and support. 

Pro Afan’s members have long-standing relationships in the area, know their community well, and work together to meet needs across all ages. 

It uses a ‘no wrong door’ approach, offering practical and timely support that considers not just the individual but also their wider family and support network. 

This approach shows how prevention can be embedded across services when professionals are trusted, connected and able to use their local knowledge to target support and funding effectively.  

Why was the work carried out?

The Afan Valley is a rural community with a strong sense of identity, committed residents and valuable natural and community resources. 

But it also faces long-term problems linked to economic decline, cuts to services, poor transport links and a lack of stable jobs. These issues particularly affect young people and those who don’t have access to a car. 

The project aimed to better understand the strengths, challenges and priorities of the community, and to support a more coordinated, preventative approach to well-being.  

It gave a balanced picture by highlighting both community strengths and unmet needs, and showed why long-term planning and sustainable funding are essential if prevention and community well-being are to become shared responsibilities across organisations. 

The project also highlighted the resilience of a community.  

Residents and community groups have responded to the closure of local facilities by working hard to keep services going and set up new ones using different funding sources.  

But these efforts can be impacted by short-term funding, reliance on volunteers, and the skills and capacity needed to run services. The project helped identify these pressures and looked at emerging solutions, such as more support and buddying arrangements. 

Finally, the project aimed to evidence the benefits of Pro Afan. The group’s approach helps prevent crises, reduce referrals, support professionals and improve outcomes for individuals and the wider community.

Where and when did the work take place?

The work took place in the Afan Valley, in the local authority area of Neath Port Talbot. The project focused on the Upper Afan Valley, a geographically isolated area with limited transport links and longstanding social and economic challenges.  

Work is taking place through partnership between the council, local community groups, Council for Voluntary Services and the health board to build trust among the community and address local challenges. 

The project began in September 2024 and was completed in September 2025.

Who was involved?

The project was developed and delivered in partnership between the IMPACT Centre, Neath Port Talbot Council and Pro Afan.  

Many community groups, residents and local businesses also contributed through interviews and discussions. 

The project was funded by the IMPACT Centre through its Demonstrator delivery model. 

IMPACT’s role has been to support and strengthen this local approach by gathering learning, reflecting on practice, and exploring how Pro Afan’s early help model and person-centred support could be replicated elsewhere.

What did they learn?

A key learning was that prevention is not only about services, it also depends on a wide range of social and economic factors that shape daily life, health and well-being in the Afan Valley. 

To support prevention, the project found that it’s important to address issues such as: 

• unemployment  
• in-work poverty  
• poor transport  
• limited job opportunities 
• pressure on housing 
• gaps in youth and community services 
• financial strain  
• concerns about safety 
• access to green space 
• access to learning opportunities. 

These issues involve many organisations, so prevention needs to be a shared responsibility. 

The project also showed that these challenges were deeply connected and couldn’t be addressed through short-term or isolated initiatives. Residents expressed the need for action rather than repeated engagement.  

Another important learning was that responsibility needed to be coordinated across sectors such as health, housing, transport, employment, education and community organisations. 

Despite the challenges, the project benefited from strong community spirit, committed voluntary groups and valuable local assets.  

Working closely with Pro Afan showed the value of collaborative, place-based approaches, helping to build shared priorities and shape a clearer long-term direction for prevention in the area.