THE SMELL of freshly baked cakes wafted across the RNLI Fishguard Lifeboat Station on Sunday morning as lifeboat crews from Fishguard and Cardigan squared off in their inaugural Bake Off competition.

This week’s challenge? Vegetable cakes. From carrot classics to more adventurous courgette creations, the bakers pulled out all the stops to impress the judges — the HM Coastguard Fishguard team, who eagerly took on the role of official tasters (and coffee drinkers).

“It was a tough job, but someone had to do it,” quipped a coastguard spokesperson, clutching what may or may not have been their third slice of cake. “We’re stuffed!”

Ian Davies honoured for service

Amid the friendly competition, a moment of heartfelt celebration took centre stage. Ian Davies, a longstanding RNLI crew member, was presented with an award marking 20 years of dedicated service. Applause echoed through the station as colleagues and families congratulated Ian on his incredible milestone.

The atmosphere was electric, with the station buzzing not just with lifeboat crews but also with local families and their four-legged friends, who seemed equally delighted by the day’s events..

Weather warning issued

Despite the cheer, the Coastguard issued a reminder to the public to stay safe as extreme weather conditions continue across the region. “It’s all fun and games here at the station, but remember to respect the water and stay vigilant,” they added.

A sweet success

The Bake Off was declared a resounding success, with plenty of laughs, camaraderie, and crumbs to go around. No word yet on which lifeboat team emerged victorious, but one thing’s for sure — this competition is likely to become a station staple.

Here’s to cakes, community, and the incredible heroes of the RNLI. Stay safe out there!

THE SALVATION ARMY in Carmarthen has set its sights on becoming an even greater force for good in the community in 2025. New Community Manager, Carolyn Yelland, is spearheading efforts to ensure more people in need can access vital support and services.

Carolyn, who took up the role three months ago, brings a wealth of local knowledge and experience to the position. Having grown up in Carmarthen, she previously taught Information Technology at a local secondary school and worked with Towy Community Church and The Trussell Trust. Her familiarity with the area and its needs is shaping her ambitious plans for the organisation’s buildings on Lammas Street in the heart of the town.

Carolyn Yelland said: “We are planning to launch a couple of new events. We’ll expand our drop-in advice sessions by inviting more outside agencies to share their expertise alongside our existing services, such as housing support, job seeking, and addiction recovery. I’d love to introduce a workshop on healthy eating led by someone with a healthcare background, and we’re also starting art and crafts sessions.

“One of my key priorities is to work in partnership with others who can bring fresh and helpful ideas.

“It makes a massive difference being on the main street in town. People know where we are. We have two buildings: one houses our charity shop and café, while next door is our church and community centre. These spaces feed into each other, creating a very real and practical sense of support.

“So far, I’ve found it deeply satisfying to see how quickly and directly we can help those in need.”

With plans for expanded services and new workshops, The Salvation Army is cementing its position as a cornerstone of the Carmarthen community.

ALDI stores in Wales donated 50,900 meals to those in need during the recent festive season.

The UK’s fourth-largest supermarket collaborated with local charities and community groups across the country, providing fresh and chilled foods from its stores after early closures on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Research by Neighbourly, the community giving platform that partners with Aldi, revealed growing concerns among charities this Christmas. It found that 78% of the good causes it supports were more worried about meeting demand compared to the previous year, while 51% reported being unable to respond to all requests due to limited capacity and funding.

To further assist, Aldi contributed £25,000 to Neighbourly’s GoGive Christmas campaign, which supports local charities across the UK and Ireland.

Aldi has been working with Neighbourly since 2019, donating surplus food from all its UK stores to hundreds of charities year-round.

Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “This Christmas, we were proud to support so many incredible charities across the UK that provide essential help to those in need.

“The services provided by food banks are more important than ever over the festive period, and we’re committed to ensuring those who rely on them have access to a wide range of high-quality foods.”

Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, added: “We’re so grateful to have had Aldi’s support for another year. Christmas is one of the busiest periods for our charities, and the donations from Aldi mean we can help even more people who need that extra support over the festive period.”

Shoppers can contribute by donating to local charities, food banks, and community groups through donation points located in Aldi stores nationwide.

In addition, Aldi partners with Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products. This year, it provided more than 2,000 free Christmas lunches to Community Shop, an award-winning social enterprise run by the group.