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National Lottery Awards £100,000 to Pathways to Empowerment Project

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THE NATIONAL LOTTERY Community Fund has this week confirmed that they will fund £100,000 of PATH’s most ambitious project yet.

PATH – Pembrokeshire Action for The Homeless – is Pembrokeshire’s leading homelessness charity.

The Pathways to Empowerment: Digital, Literacy and Numeracy Upskilling project is the natural evolution of PATH’s Numeracy Project.

Until now, the Numeracy Project has been SPF funded and has helped over 100 people across Pembrokeshire in the last year upskill in all areas of mathematics, which has enabled them to manage their money, pay their bills, and stay out of debt.

The Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, Deputy Prime Minister, on a visit in 2024 (Image: PATH)

All of these things help reduce the risk of homelessness, which is the overall aim of the project.

In addition to this, the project has also been hugely successful in improving the overall wellbeing of the participants, with mental health counselling, tenancy support and much more being available at each session.

Learners have made friendships, built up their confidence, and some have even become volunteers on the project itself.

The success of the project was evident in August 2024 when the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, visited a session in Haverfordwest.

“It’s not just the numeracy, but the social interaction, the confidence… you can see firsthand the incredible work that’s going on here,” she said during her visit.  

With the SPF funding coming to an end in March 2025, PATH has made several applications for funding to continue the project, with the National Lottery Community Fund being the first to make a decision.

Going forward, the project will still teach numeracy skills, but with an additional focus on digital and literacy skills.

During the first year of the Numeracy Project, the learners were keen to improve their reading and writing skills, and many had little to no confidence using devices such as laptops and mobile phones.

With that experience and feedback guiding PATH, it was an obvious choice to expand the scope of the project for its second year, they said.

“I’m delighted that we have secured this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and want to thank them for seeing our vision for the future of the project,” said Michael Hooper, Managing Director.

“Our innovative Numeracy Project has been a huge success and the results we’ve seen from our learners has been amazing.

“We have ambitious plans to reach many more people in the second year of the project, and by offering far more support we know we can continue to make a big difference in reducing homelessness.

“The application was informed by the learners on the course, a public consultation which had over 500 responses, our stakeholders and partners, and the delivery team who had constructed the course content.

“Last but not least, I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all of the PATH team who have worked so hard on this project over the last year. The team’s dedication has not only helped over 100 people already, but enabled us to help many, many more in the years to come.”

If you need help with your numeracy, digital or literacy skills, contact PATH by visiting www.pathpembrokeshire.co.uk or call 01437 765335.

Community

Plans submitted for disability-friendly bridge at Tenby train station

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TENBY railway station could soon see a new accessible footbridge, with Network Rail submitting plans to the National Park for the installation of an ‘Access for All’ bridge at the Grade-II-listed Victorian station.

The proposal aims to improve accessibility, providing an unobstructed route from at least one station entrance to all platforms via the new footbridge. A supporting statement from Network Rail explains that the scheme is designed to ensure step-free access between platforms, replacing the current barrow crossing, which is not suitable for those with mobility issues.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “At Tenby Station, there is currently no obstacle-free accessible route between platforms 1 and 2. The existing barrow crossing does not provide suitable step-free access, and the proposed footbridge will address this issue.”

The plans, which include associated works to integrate the bridge with the historic station infrastructure, are now under consideration by the National Park authority. If approved, the scheme will mark a significant improvement in accessibility for passengers at the popular seaside station.

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Community

Is enough being done to tackle fly-grazing?

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A PEMBROKESHIRE road was closed after horses were running loose during rush hour yesterday (Wednesday, February 12), raising further concerns over the ongoing problem of fly-grazing in the county.

The incident occurred on the A477 near Nash Fingerpost junction at 8:50am. The road was shut while the horses were removed.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Dyfed-Powys Police received a report of two horses loose on the A477 near to Nash Fingerpost junction at around 8:50am yesterday (February 12). The horses were safely moved from the road.”

This latest disruption comes as Pembrokeshire County Council and Dyfed-Powys Police continue their efforts to tackle the growing problem of horses being left on public land and highways. Known as fly-grazing, the issue has been causing increasing safety concerns and public disruption across the county.

Authorities launched a joint initiative over the Christmas period, aiming to combat the issue through a coordinated operational effort. However, with roads still being closed due to roaming horses, many are questioning whether enough is being done to address the problem effectively.

The situation highlights the ongoing challenge of managing fly-grazing incidents and ensuring public safety.

Members of the public are encouraged to report any concerns about fly-grazing by contacting [email protected] or calling 01437 764551.

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Pembrokeshire Catholics travel to Cardiff for Blessed Carlo Acutis relic visit

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A GROUP of Catholic faithful from Pembrokeshire will travel to Cardiff to witness the visit of a first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, a revered young figure set to be canonised by Pope Francis on April 27, 2025. The relic, a fragment of the membrane surrounding his heart, will be brought to the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia from February 14-17, offering the faithful an opportunity for prayer and veneration.

A modern saint for a digital age

Blessed Carlo Acutis, who was born in London and later lived in Milan, dedicated his short life to his faith and the use of technology to spread the Gospel. Diagnosed with leukaemia, he died at the age of 15 in 2006, but his legacy continues to inspire young people worldwide. Carlo’s passion for technology and his deep faith earned him recognition as a model for modern youth, and his beatification by Pope Francis in 2020 has drawn significant devotion.

Pilgrimage from Pembrokeshire

Devotees from parishes across Pembrokeshire, including Milford Haven, Haverfordwest, and Tenby, are organising transport to attend the event in Cardiff. Many are eager to take part in the Masses, veneration sessions, and talks surrounding the visit of the relic.

Local parishioner Mary Davies, who will be making the journey, said: “Carlo Acutis is a real inspiration, especially for young people. He used technology to share his faith, showing that holiness is possible in our everyday lives. This visit is a blessing for Wales.”

Father John Morgan of St David and St Patrick’s Church in Haverfordwest said: “We encourage as many people as possible to take this opportunity to pray before the relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis. It is a moment of grace for our diocese.”

Schedule of the relic visit

The relic will visit key locations, starting at the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St David in Cardiff on Friday, February 14, before moving to Belmont Abbey, Swansea’s Co-Cathedral, and the Sacred Heart Church in Morriston over the weekend. The tour will conclude with a visit to Blessed Carlo Acutis School in Merthyr on Monday, February 17, where Archbishop Mark O’Toole will celebrate Mass.

Throughout the visit, there will be Masses, opportunities for veneration, and talks about the life and legacy of Blessed Carlo. Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo, from the Diocese of Assisi, will accompany the relic, offering insights into Carlo’s journey to sainthood.

A historic moment for Wales

The relic’s visit to Wales is particularly significant as the Church prepares for Carlo’s canonisation. With his focus on modern evangelisation, many see him as a saint for today’s world.

“His message that ‘everyone is born an original but many die as photocopies’ is a call to embrace our faith fully,” said youth leader Tom Jenkins, who is organising a group from Pembrokeshire. “This is an event that will strengthen our faith and deepen our devotion.”

For more information on transport and group travel arrangements from Pembrokeshire, local parishes are encouraging interested individuals to get in touch as soon as possible.

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