Social Justice Minister Dr Brian Gibbons has visited Pill following an invitation by Rosemary Butler.He saw how the Assembly’s Communities First money for disadvantaged areas is being spent in this historic part of Newport.

Dr Gibbons and Mrs Butler visted the Pill Millennium Centre where Edward Watts, Chair of Pill Communities First demonstrated a whole range of projects which are helping the Community to regenerate itself through skills training, sporting and creative activities .

They then met Dave Phillips, Chief Executive of the South East Wales Race Equality council to talk about the way help and support for the Black or Ethnic Minority groups is provided in the area.

They moved on to Urban Circle where 14 to 19 year olds from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds are given the chance to develop their skills as disc jockeys, entertainers, film producers or radio presenters. Dr Gibbons was interviewed by young broadcasters for Urban Circle Radio - an online station which operates every evening between 5 and 11 o’clock.

They ended by visiting Pill police station where there was a presentation on Community Policing in the area.

Rosemary Butler said:

"The minister’s visit helped to highlight the needs and achievements of an historic community. Pill is one of the most vibrant and diverse parts of Newport, and its people are beginning to experience the growing prosperity which is now benefiting Newport as a whole.

“However a lot remains to be done. There’s still too much unemployment and deprivation, and the local community - with its diverse cultural background - still needs to express itself in its own distinctive way.

“Communities First Money has already achieved an enormous amount for the area, and £760,744 has been being awarded to local schemes since 2001.

"But we have to make sure that existing projects become sustainable and that new, worthwhile projects are given the chance to develop.

“That’s why I invited Brian Gibbons here and he was as enthusiastic as I am about the exciting possibilities for Pill under this scheme.”

Friday October 11