Community

Support grows for new parents

Published

10 years ago

February 23, 2015

NCT West Wales Branch is pleased to announce they are stepping up the support they offer to families in west Wales.

“There have been a lot of changes going on in local maternity care recently” says Kalindi Black, NCT West Wales Branch Coordinator. “Parents are telling us that they feel confused and apprehensive about the level of support on offer to them. They feel uncertain about how and where to access help and information. It has been some years since NCT have offered antenatal courses locally and we are hoping that by introducing our Signature Antenatal courses to the area we will be able to provide additional support to expectant parents during this time of change and confusion in maternity services.”

NCT is the UK’s largest parenting charity and supports parents through pregnancy, birth and the early days of parenting. NCT Signature Antenatal courses will be offered in Carmarthen from March onwards. The 17 hour course offers parents the opportunity, to meet other expectant parents, to share hopes, fears and experiences and attend a group reunion after their babies are born. Courses cost £170. Reductions of up to 90% are available to families earning less than £26,000 a year. Expectant parents who are interested should phone 0844 243 6974 or email: [email protected]. uk to enquire or reserve places.

“We are also very excited to be piloting a series of standalone Breastfeeding Workshops through the winter months” says Kalindi. “These have been funded as part of Carmarthenshire’s Integrated Community Strategy and are offered for free to parents living in Carmarthenshire. Research has shown that mothers in Wales are less likely to be shown how to position their baby at the breast, feel less confident at recognising if their baby is getting enough milk, feel less confident about breastfeeding in public and are less likely to be given the contact details of helplines and local support groups than their English counterparts. We hope that attending these workshops will provide vital breastfeeding information antenatally to mothers and encourage them to come along to our Breastfeeding Support Groups “Y Cwtch Llaeth – Whitland” and “Y Cwtch Llaeth – Newcastle Emlyn”.

One mother who attended the January Breastfeeding Basics workshop said “It was great to meet some other mums and share experiences. It certainly made me view things differently. I feel quite positive now – I don’t expect it to be a walk in the park (in fact I fully expect it not to be!) but I feel so much better knowing where support can be found and that I am not alone. I think with my first I was far too afraid to ask for help.”

To reserve a place please contact us via the West Wales NCT Facebook page or phone 01545 580559.

Community

Shire horses to visit Canolfan Bethlehem for heritage talk

Published

9 hours ago

May 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Special event explores Dyfed Shires’ journey from Pembrokeshire to Horseguards Parade

A PAIR of magnificent Shire horses will be the star attraction at Canolfan Bethlehem in Trefdraeth (Newport, Pembrokeshire) on Wednesday evening, 28 May 2025, as part of a special heritage talk titled The Dyfed Shires Story – From Pembrokeshire to Horseguards Parade.

The popular community talk series at Canolfan Bethlehem continues with a unique opportunity to meet two of the Dyfed Shire horses in person. The horses will be on display on the lawn in front of the chapel from 6:00pm, with the talk itself beginning inside the chapel at 7:00pm.

The evening’s speaker, Mark Cole of Dyfed Shire Horse Farm, will share the story behind the farm’s founding and the remarkable journey that saw its horses selected to appear in ceremonial duties at Horseguards Parade in London.

Canolfan Bethlehem is a thriving community-run centre based in the former Bethlehem Chapel, which was saved at auction in August 2024 thanks to an ambitious local fundraising effort. Supporters raised £146,000 to secure the building for £145,000, transforming it into a Welsh heritage, arts, and culture hub.

The project received vital support from PLANED, the Narberth-based community development organisation. PLANED’s Community Assets Coordinator, Cris Tomos, praised the initiative: “The Canolfan Bethlehem community enterprise shows what can be done when people come together to preserve key assets for future generations. It’s fantastic to see the growing support for these regular talks.”

***Important project:*** *Cris re-opening the doors of the chapel once purchased by local investors.*

Community

Tenby Coaster returns for summer season

Published

9 hours ago

May 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Open-top double-decker back on scenic Pembrokeshire route from Sunday

PEMBROKESHIRE’S popular open-top bus service is set to return to the roads this weekend, offering stunning views of the county’s coastline throughout the summer.

The Tenby Coaster, now in its fourth year of service, resumes its route between Tenby and Saundersfoot on Sunday (May 25), following a brief appearance over Easter.

The eye-catching blue and yellow double-decker, operated by First Bus, was the first of its kind to run in Pembrokeshire since the 1990s and has since become a firm favourite with both visitors and locals.

Each day, the bus travels from its Haverfordwest depot to the route’s starting point in Tenby, passing key attractions such as Carew Castle and Manor Wildlife Park—making it possible to enjoy an extended journey for those catching it early or late in the day.

Passengers can hop aboard the Tenby Coaster from the stop by the town walls in Tenby, with First Bus promising “breathtaking views and a scenic descent into Saundersfoot”.

The service will operate daily until September 6, with hop-on, hop-off tickets available for those wanting to explore along the way. Fares match those of other local services, with singles starting at £1.60, returns from £3.04, and group day passes for up to five people available for £17.50.

Contactless payment is accepted via the Tap On Tap Off system, and both Welsh Concessionary Travel Cards and mytravelpass cards are valid on the route.

More information is available at the First Cymru website.

Community

Public invited to explore Pembroke Port at Open Day and Stakeholder Meeting

Published

1 day ago

May 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MEMBERS of the public are being invited to go behind the scenes at Pembroke Port as part of a special Open Day and Annual Stakeholder Meeting hosted by the Port of Milford Haven.

The event will take place on Wednesday, 18 June, at Catalina House, Pembroke Dock (SA72 6JD), offering a unique opportunity to discover the inner workings of one of Wales’ busiest ports.

Running from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, the Open Day will include guided bus tours around the site, giving visitors a rare, close-up look at port operations and activities across the facility. Port staff, local business representatives, and partners from across the supply chain will also be on hand to discuss their work and answer questions.

From 6:00pm to 7:30pm, the Port’s Annual Stakeholder Meeting will be held, where attendees will hear updates from the Chair and Chief Executive, meet members of the Board and senior management, and take part in a Q&A session. Questions can be submitted in advance via email to [email protected].

Throughout the day, visitors can explore the wide-ranging roles of the Port of Milford Haven – from commercial marine services and energy sector support to community initiatives and leisure activities. A number of external organisations will also be present, including emergency services, marine experts, and conservation groups highlighting Pembrokeshire’s diverse wildlife.