A community learning initiative in Bettws has been so successful that a sister project has been started in two other areas of Newport. Now five women from the Alway and Ringland estates will benefit from the Citizenship, Health, Lifestyle and Learning (CHILL) project launched by the University of Wales, Newport.

"CHILL, which aims to identify the impact of learning on the well-being and aspirations of the women from Ringland and Alway, has grown out of the enormous success of the Bettws Women's Education, Health and Learning (BeWEHL) project," explained project manager Janet Pinder.

"BeWEHL has been running for three years and so far, six women from the project have gone on to do degree courses, two are completing ACCESS courses and one has gained part-time employment working with the community.

"The sister project, CHILL, has been established to find out if BeWEHL's success was a one-off or if its model could be transferred elsewhere."

"Newport's University has a very good record of bringing students from deprived areas into higher education," said guest speaker at the launch, John Griffiths, AM for Newport East.

Five women are taking part in the CHILL project, which is run by the Centre for Community and Lifelong Learning and the Workers' Education Association (WEA). Its participants come from the Making A Difference (MAD) initiative, which was set up to help women boost their aspirations and confidence by becoming actively involved in the local community. The CHILL project involves carrying out a detailed research project into an aspect of community life in Alway and Ringland.