SIX care-experienced teenagers have secured a professional qualification and flexed their way through an important community gym project, thanks to an award-winning Rhondda Cynon Taf Council scheme.
Care to Work delivers additional support for those who have grown up with experience of being in care, helping them progress towards future career aspirations.
It has long been recognised that those who are care-experienced face additional challenges when it comes to making the next steps into independence.
Care to Work is delivered by the Council’s Education, Employment and Training (EET) Team, which has won several national awards for its innovative work.
Each of the young people, aged 16 to 18, was interested in construction, so the EET team got to work, bringing partners together to deliver a unique course funded by the Reaching Wider programme at the University of South Wales.
Following an Introduction to Construction session at the National Lido of Wales, Lido Ponty, with refreshments provided by Castell Howell the teenagers explored construction learning materials prepared for their CSCS qualification and card.
They also received important insights into the university pathways and degree apprenticeships within the construction sector from the Reaching Wider project.
It was then time to swap the classroom and books for Cwmparc Community Association and work boots! Working with Paul, a highly skilled tutor from Realskillz (ARC) they spent a week transforming the community gym, which is used and valued by residents of all ages.
Seren Allsop, Social Value Officer at Cardo Group, provided equipment and support to make the project possible.
The young people learned how to effectively and safely use construction tools and materials, getting to work to fit plasterboard, paint walls and work collaboratively to modernise and improve the gym.
After all that hard work and effort, the young people went on to secure their CSCS qualification and card, both of which are vital for those who wish to work in the construction industry.
Cllr Gareth Caple, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Care, said: “We could not be prouder of the young people and the way they committed themselves to this project.
“Their work on the new gym is impressive and I hope each of them is extremely proud of themselves for what they have achieved. Not only in terms of the skills and qualifications they have secured for their futures, but for the massive difference they have made for those who enjoy the facilities at Cwmparc Community Association.
“What began as a group of individuals with a shared interest in construction became a team of friends and, potentially, future colleagues. Throughout the programme they have grown in confidence, developed practical and employability skills and demonstrated their reliability, resilience and determination.
“Care to Work and its partners have once again delivered a programme that is making a very real difference to the lives of young people who are starting to find their way in the world following experience of care.
“Hundreds of lives have been changed over the 16 years Care to Work has been running. Every child in care is a child of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council. As their corporate parent, we wanted to do more to support them and help them achieve and have done just that via programmes like this, which run several times a year.”
This opportunity was delivered with funding from Reaching Wider, a national initiative funded by Medr to bring together universities, colleges, schools and community partners across Wales, supporting those who face additional barriers to higher education.
Additional funding from the UK-wide Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) enabled the teenagers to undertake their CSCS examinations – and secure qualifications and cards.
Matt Knight, CAP Regional Adviser for Southeast Wales, championed the work of the team and supported the creation of meaningful opportunities for care-experienced young people. CAP was also a key partner in the last Care to Work initiative that offered young people practical insights and work experience in Pontypridd town centre.
The programme highlights the positive outcomes that can be achieved through effective partnership working between Reaching Wider, Care2Work, Realskillz (ARC) and Cwmparc Community Association, providing a safe, supportive and realistic introduction to careers within the construction industry.
Posted on 23/10/2026