Crunch time for Fusion as programme nears end
Welsh project's partners hope funding will be renewed in March, as the initiative has broken down silos and fostered a holistic approach to arts and heritage
The two-year programme for the Welsh government's Fusion: Creating Opportunities through Culture project, which has used heritage and the arts to support people in deprived communities, is close to completion.
The project's partners across Wales are hopeful that Fusion's funding will be renewed when the initiative finishes in March 2019, but highlight the need to tweak some of its evaluation criteria, which include employability, empowerment, children, and health and wellbeing.
Emma Routley, the Fusion programme coordinator at Newport City Council, says: "It's very difficult to measure social impact and we are awaiting evaluation training, as it's something we've all raised as an issue. There are some amazing case studies, but we need to look at the longitudinal studies before we can tell whether it's achieved what it set out to."
Performance measures for the projects include counting those engaging in early-years and family learning, gaining a qualification and regular volunteering.
Routley says partners are trying to introduce these measures more broadly into their organisations. "We're all looking at a joined-up way of evaluating our performance - it's a way of ensuring that even if the funding ceases, then the work we've started at this level will continue in some form.
"Our biggest achievement has been a holistic approach across all the organisations involved in the cultural and heritage sector, because we've seen people previously working in silos, so it's brought us together into a city-wide approach."
The programme is being run in eight areas including Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. The evaluation programme for the current tranche of funding is ongoing ahead of Fusion projects reapplying for money at the end of the financial year.
Impact praised
An evaluation report considering Fusion's first pilot year praised its impact on the health and wellbeing of participants, especially through volunteering and physical activity. It was also found to have helped the understanding of local health practitioners on the value of culture in improving health.
Owain Rhys, the community engagement and participation manager at Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales), one of Fusion's partners, says the coordinator role at each local authority is crucial in maintaining a link between the government, third sector and charities.
"One of the most successful aspects of Fusion has been creating those links," says Rhys. "Culture and heritage have a major effect on health and wellbeing, providing opportunities to work, volunteering opportunities, digital skills, family integration and furthering academic achievements."
He also underlines the programme's potential to develop soft skills such as confidence and motivation. "The individual stories are fantastic," adds Rhys. "The ethos and purpose of Fusion is perfect. It gives heritage and culture a role in people's lives."
The Welsh government's Welsh Language and Communications Committee has launched a digital poll asking the public to decide which subject the committee should focus a future inquiry on.
The options are: literature in Wales; teaching of Welsh history, culture and heritage in schools; community involvement in protecting the heritage of Wales; supporting traditional and unique Welsh artforms; improving diversity in provision and uptake of arts and culture in Wales; using the arts to improve health and wellbeing; and Welsh in the digital world. The poll closes on 8 October.
The project's partners across Wales are hopeful that Fusion's funding will be renewed when the initiative finishes in March 2019, but highlight the need to tweak some of its evaluation criteria, which include employability, empowerment, children, and health and wellbeing.
Emma Routley, the Fusion programme coordinator at Newport City Council, says: "It's very difficult to measure social impact and we are awaiting evaluation training, as it's something we've all raised as an issue. There are some amazing case studies, but we need to look at the longitudinal studies before we can tell whether it's achieved what it set out to."
Performance measures for the projects include counting those engaging in early-years and family learning, gaining a qualification and regular volunteering.
Routley says partners are trying to introduce these measures more broadly into their organisations. "We're all looking at a joined-up way of evaluating our performance - it's a way of ensuring that even if the funding ceases, then the work we've started at this level will continue in some form.
"Our biggest achievement has been a holistic approach across all the organisations involved in the cultural and heritage sector, because we've seen people previously working in silos, so it's brought us together into a city-wide approach."
The programme is being run in eight areas including Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. The evaluation programme for the current tranche of funding is ongoing ahead of Fusion projects reapplying for money at the end of the financial year.
Impact praised
An evaluation report considering Fusion's first pilot year praised its impact on the health and wellbeing of participants, especially through volunteering and physical activity. It was also found to have helped the understanding of local health practitioners on the value of culture in improving health.
Owain Rhys, the community engagement and participation manager at Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales), one of Fusion's partners, says the coordinator role at each local authority is crucial in maintaining a link between the government, third sector and charities.
"One of the most successful aspects of Fusion has been creating those links," says Rhys. "Culture and heritage have a major effect on health and wellbeing, providing opportunities to work, volunteering opportunities, digital skills, family integration and furthering academic achievements."
He also underlines the programme's potential to develop soft skills such as confidence and motivation. "The individual stories are fantastic," adds Rhys. "The ethos and purpose of Fusion is perfect. It gives heritage and culture a role in people's lives."
The Welsh government's Welsh Language and Communications Committee has launched a digital poll asking the public to decide which subject the committee should focus a future inquiry on.
The options are: literature in Wales; teaching of Welsh history, culture and heritage in schools; community involvement in protecting the heritage of Wales; supporting traditional and unique Welsh artforms; improving diversity in provision and uptake of arts and culture in Wales; using the arts to improve health and wellbeing; and Welsh in the digital world. The poll closes on 8 October.