Charity

Paul Sartori Hospice at Home celebrates Co-op Community Fund support

Published

6 months ago

December 9, 2025

PAUL SARTORI Hospice at Home is celebrating more than £3,000 of funding from the Co-op Local Community Fund and has announced it has once again been selected as a beneficiary for the 2025/2026 funding round.

The Haverfordwest-based hospice at home charity is now appealing to Co-op members across Pembrokeshire to choose Paul Sartori as their nominated cause, helping to secure crucial support until October 2026.

Co-op members can decide how the Local Community Fund is distributed simply by selecting a preferred local cause via the Co-op Membership App.

“We welcome this opportunity once again to appeal to Co-op members to choose us as their local Co-op cause, especially as funds for charitable organisations are becoming more difficult to access, with greater competition,” said Judith Williams, Grant Development Officer. “This is an opportunity for us to engage and encourage our community – and it doesn’t cost Co-op members a penny. Engaging with our local Membership Activator, Anwen, has really helped us to do this.”

The charity has received £3,044 in the 2024/2025 funding year. “This, along with the Co-op’s ongoing support, will help us make a difference and continue supporting end-of-life patients and their families in Pembrokeshire by providing the resources and equipment they need to live independently at home,” Judith added.

Since its launch in 2016, the Co-op Local Community Fund has supported nearly 40,000 community projects across the UK, with a focus on enabling communities to thrive by improving access to food, boosting mental wellbeing, creating opportunities for young people, strengthening community cohesion and supporting sustainable futures.

David Luckin, Head of Social Value and Community Engagement at Co-op, said: “We are delighted to hear the difference that our funding for Paul Sartori Hospice at Home is making in the community. As a co-operative, we are focused on creating value for our members and communities, and members have a say in where and how our funding is shared. We know that things are increasingly challenging for local causes, and our funding can make a real difference — helping people and communities thrive.”

The new round of support will help sustain the charity’s Equipment Loan Service, which provides essential items at short notice to help patients remain at home. The service complements statutory healthcare provision and often steps in where statutory services struggle to respond quickly, offering a compassionate, community-led model of care that promotes dignity and independence at the end of life.

All Paul Sartori services are free of charge and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year thanks to local generosity. The charity provides home nursing care, 24-hour support, standby services, complementary therapies, physiotherapy, bereavement and counselling support, future care planning and training. These services enable people with life-limiting illnesses to remain at home — pain free, supported and surrounded by loved ones, where that is their wish.

Further information about Paul Sartori Hospice at Home is available at www.paulsartori.org or by calling 01437 763223.

Pic: Anwen Evans, Co-op West Wales Membership Activator (left), with Judith Williams, Grant Development Officer at Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.

Charity

Busy Saturday for VC Gallery as veterans, families and pupils rally behind charity

Published

5 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Community spirit shines across Haverfordwest with museum displays, breakfasts, workshops and school sleep-out

THE VC GALLERY enjoyed one of its busiest Saturdays of the year as staff, volunteers, veterans and supporters spread across Haverfordwest for a packed day of community events.

From military artefacts at Pembrokeshire College to a riverside art exhibition, a veterans’ breakfast and a charity sleep-out involving local pupils, the veteran-led charity was at the centre of activity across the county town.

At Pembrokeshire College, the charity’s popular “Speak to a Veteran” initiative proved a success, with the VC mobile museum drawing attention from students and visitors alike. A range of military artefacts on display sparked conversations and helped veterans share stories and experiences with members of the public.

Meanwhile, the Pembrokeshire Veterans Breakfast at Waldo Lounge saw the VC minibus deployed to help bring people together, with staff at the restaurant praised for making attendees feel welcome.

The charity thanked Myles for driving and Gareth for helping organise the event.

On the riverside in Haverfordwest, the VC Gallery showcased artwork at its new gallery space, where RAF veteran Mark hosted members of the public throughout the day.

Back at Waldo Lounge, Charles, Donna, Phil, Rose, Lucy, Nia and the wider VC team kept busy with duck sales and jewellery workshops as families gathered for the afternoon activities. Pembrokeshire’s Armed Forces Liaison Officer, Hayley, was also among those lending support.

As day turned to night, pupils from Haverfordwest High VC School took part in a sponsored sleep-out to raise money for the charity, hearing first-hand about homelessness from veteran Pete.

The event saw pupils spending the night outdoors alongside former military personnel to better understand the realities faced by some ex-service men and women.

The day also included the Waldo duck race on the river, helping round off what the charity described as “an amazing community” effort.

Photo caption: Busy day: VC Gallery teams, veterans and supporters took part in events across Haverfordwest on Saturday, including museum displays, breakfasts, workshops and a charity sleep-out (Pic: VC Gallery).

Charity

Family’s £570 donation in memory of devoted RNLI supporter

Published

1 day ago

June 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE FAMILY of the late Gerald Hartry, of Tonypandy, Mid Glamorgan, have donated £570 to the RNLI in his memory.

Gerald was a long-standing supporter of the RNLI and had a particular affection for Tenby Lifeboat Station, which he visited many times over the past 40 years while staying at the family’s caravan near Narberth.

Relatives recently visited the station to present the cheque to the crew.

Tenby Lifeboats RNLI said it was a pleasure to welcome the family and thanked them for their generous donation.

Pictured, from left, are members of Gerald’s family with Tenby Lifeboat Operations Manager Carl Evans.

Charity

Henry Tufnell visits St Davids RNLI lifeboat station

Published

3 days ago

June 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MP pledges to raise funding and regulation concerns after meeting volunteer crew at St Justinian

HENRY TUFNELL MP has visited St Davids RNLI lifeboat station to hear first-hand about the work of its volunteer crew.

The Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP met crew members at St Justinian, where he was briefed on some of the rescue missions carried out by the station off the Pembrokeshire coast.

Mr Tufnell said the visit had highlighted both the dedication of the lifeboat crew and the pressures facing the service.

He said: “It was a privilege to visit the RNLI St Davids Lifeboat at St Justinian and hear first-hand about some of the remarkable rescue missions the crew have undertaken.

“They do extraordinary work keeping our community safe.”

Mr Tufnell added that crew members had also raised concerns about ongoing challenges, including funding and regulation.

He said: “It was also important to hear about the ongoing challenges they face, particularly regarding funding and regulation.

“As your MP, I will continue to champion and protect the interests of our community heroes in Westminster.”

The RNLI station at St Davids is one of Pembrokeshire’s key coastal rescue bases, serving a busy and often challenging stretch of coastline popular with walkers, kayakers, boat users and visitors.

The charity relies on volunteer crews and public support to continue its lifesaving work.