Community

Encompass Group welcomes all

Published

9 years ago

March 2, 2015

ENCOMPASS GROUP community Hub in Diamond Street, Pembroke Dock support the local community in a variety of different ways and always provide a warm and friendly welcome to those who visit.

The Hub had been running for around 8 years and has been in Diamond Street for the last 3 years. Their aim is to help those in need, of all ages and backgrounds by providing services to organisations and individuals, fundraising, advice and information in a relaxed and caring environment. They also display a range of second hand products for sale in the shop, including books, clothes and homeware goods.

Yvonne Earl runs the Hub, along with other volunteers Jean Murray and Bina Kingston: “We’re all good friends and we’re always welcoming to those coming in. We get our regular visitors, who sometimes live on their own and just want to have a cup of tea and a chat to break their day up. People wave as they go past and pop in to say hello. It’s lovely.”

They work alongside the town council and community first and are grateful for their continued support.

Yvonne says it’s frustrating that people think they are just a charity shop and knitting group: “There’s so much more that we do here. Jean and Bina knit items such as cushions, blankets and jumpers to sell in the shop and Jean knits many items to order too. We also help the local community by providing items to local families and organisations as well as support to people who come in to see us. We do catering for events at the Town Hall, attend fetes and are involved with schools and community groups.”

The assistance that they offer to the local community is the most important part of what they do at Encompass. They recently held a fundraising event to raise money for the autistic unit at Pembroke Dock Community school and managed to raise £200 by providing a coffee morning and raffle.

Yvonne adds: “We are often at Pembroke Dock community school. Not long after we started, we made items for children’s book bags, so they have things to make the stories come to life. A storyteller came into the school and used our creations in their reading. It was lovely to see the amazement on the children’s faces.”

Last year they also worked together to create a mosaic letter to add to the alphabet display on the front of the school building.

The community Hub was the first base for the men’s shed club, which has since moved to the Dockyard.

“We often find that only women come and chat to us here. But these men were looking for somewhere to hold their club so we offered our space on a Wednesday, when we are closed. They started with 3 or 4 people and now, in their new premises at the dockyard, they have around 30 people, of all ages.” Yvonne smiles, “they have been back, to help put up some shelves and cupboards for us. Everyone helps each other out here.”

Any unwanted donated items, will be given to the Paul Satori charity shop next door. The computer shop across the road have helped print advertisement posters and Select loaned shop dummies for their window display.

Their hard work and dedication has not gone unnoticed. Yvonne has met the Queen and Prince Charles in aid of the work that she has done with Encompass. Jean has also received an award for her services, presented at the town hall.

Despite these admirable achievements, they are keen to do more to give something back to those that have helped them.

“We finally have official status as a registered charity.” Yvonne says, “It’s a great relief as we have struggled over the years. In the past we have taken people to Carmarthen for the day, shopping and for a trip on the Gwilli Railway. We would love to be able to do that again for people.”

Community

Port of Milford Haven renews partnership with Milford Youth Matters

Published

6 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE Port of Milford Haven has strengthened its commitment to supporting the development of young people via a renewed partnership agreement with Milford Youth Matters. The two organisations have been working in collaboration for over five years to improve skills, aspirations, confidence levels and positive experiences for young people in Milford Haven. The new three-year agreement will enable Milford Youth Matters to deliver Friday night youth provision at a new venue based in Haven’s Head Business Park.

The partnership between the Port and Milford Youth Matters has resulted in hugely successful youth projects including the award-winning Under the Bridge project, WAVE – a water-safety initiative – and Winter Warmers, which provided young people with free meals and a warm space to socialise in a safe environment. All projects are supporting young people to achieve their full potential with many learning new skills, gaining qualifications and taking up volunteering activities. They have also led to a decreased anti-social behaviour in the area.

The new premises at Haven’s Head will allow Milford Youth Matters to expand their current offering and focus more on their academy work, which includes upskilling young people.

Dayle Gibby, Co-Ordinator at Milford Youth Matters said: “Its fantastic that the Port of Milford Haven shares our vision in providing ongoing opportunities for young people in our community. By working together we are able to align our resources to ensure that young people are provided with experiences that will enhance their future potential, whether that be employability, volunteering or to become active members of our town. Our ongoing and enhanced partnership looks to ensure the maximum impact is achieved with long lasting benefits for our future generations.”

Lauren Williams, PR & Communications Officer added: “We’re lucky to have organisations like Milford Youth Matters on our doorstep, offering young people creative outlets and skills opportunities. Our partnership over the past 5 years has gone from strength to strength and we are delighted to be able to increase our support over the coming years.”

Community

Castle tearoom serves up new sensory-friendly sessions

Published

6 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

NEW sensory-friendly sessions at a popular castle tearoom will enable visitors with additional needs to enjoy a welcoming and accommodating environment tailored to their specific requirements.

As part of an initiative to boost engagement with a more diverse audience, Carew Castle, which is run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, will be running a new Quiet Hour and Power Hour at Nest Tearoom on the second Monday of each month.

The Quiet Hour, designed to provide a safe space for anyone who feels anxious or overwhelmed when out in public, will take place between 9am and 10am, before the Castle opens. Bright lighting and noise will be kept to a minimum and visitors will be able to enjoy quieter activities in a relaxing environment.

The Power Hour is scheduled for 4.30pm to 5.30pm and offers an energetic and engaging session, tailored to promote physical movement and social engagement. The aim is to create an opportunity for individuals who thrive in more active settings to connect with others, without concern for excessive noise or social interaction.

Manager of Carew Castle, Daisy Hughes, said: “We are thrilled to introduce these new sensory-friendly sessions at Carew Castle, as part of our ongoing commitment to accessibility and inclusivity.

“The Quiet Hour and Power Hour sessions aim to cater to the specific needs of our visitors, providing them with an environment where they can truly be themselves. As well as being able to use the café facilities, visitors will be able to explore the Castle garden. For those who wish to explore the Castle, entry is free with a Carers Card. Otherwise, normal entry fees apply.”

The Castle, which was named Pembrokeshire Visitor Attraction of the Year in last year’s Croeso Awards isn’t the only Park Authority-run site to adapt the visitor experience to accommodate more diverse audiences. A Sunday morning Quiet Hour was introduced at Castell Henllys Iron Age Village in 2019 to encourage people who would not otherwise have visited the site to come along and discover more about the lives of their ancient ancestors.

To learn more about the sensory-friendly sessions and to plan your visit, please contact Carew Castle directly on 01646 651782 or visit www.carewcastle.com. Further information about Castell Henllys’ Quiet Hour can be found at www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/castell-henllys/about-castell-henllys/accessibility-2/.

Community

Four-day community engagement at Haverfordwest Castle Square

Published

6 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THOMAS Baden Tudor, Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council and local councillor for Castle Ward, says he was delighted to participate in the opening of the “Sharing The Square” event. The four-day programme, running from April 24 to 27 at Haverfordwest Castle Square, invites the community to exchange memories and ideas for the future development of this historic area.

The initiative, in collaboration with local artists and Pembrokeshire County Council, aims to collect community input on potential improvements and address existing challenges in the square. The event also seeks to enhance the connectivity with the adjacent Haverfordwest Castle, focusing on pedestrian routes from the square to the castle.

A variety of public activities are scheduled to take place during the event. These include gardening, creative workshops, games, and musical performances, ensuring an engaging experience for all attendees. Among the highlights is an art workshop led by renowned artist Janetka Platun. Her session titled “What is Lost and What is Found?” offers participants of all ages and abilities the chance to develop model-making skills. Each attendee will create a small model housed in an acrylic box, using diverse and intriguing materials.

Local community groups have been invited to reserve a slot for this free workshop, which is available on the afternoons of 24th, 25th, and the morning and afternoon of 27th April. The project aims to provide a platform for residents to reflect on their personal connections to the square and envision its future.

Further details on the ongoing and future activities can be found on the project’s official website at www.sharingthesquare.org, and updates are regularly posted on their Instagram account @sharingthesquare.

The event has already attracted attention with various stakeholders, including Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner, Danielle Thomas-Turner, and Guy Norman from Spacetocreate, contributing to the discussions and activities.

Photos from today’s activities can be viewed at The Edge Youth Centre’s social media, highlighting the community’s enthusiastic participation in shaping the future of Haverfordwest Castle Square.