Community

Welsh Dragon Boats announce charities

Published

9 years ago

April 18, 2016

WHEN Narberth and Whitland Rotary Club started the Welsh Dragon Boat Event two year ago with the hope of raising some funds for charity they have exceeded all expectations by raising £25K over the past two years.

Mary Adams the Marketing Officer and PR officer for the Club commented: “The main aim of holding the Welsh Dragon Boat Championships was to raise money for the people of Wales.

We always said Money raised in Wales would stay in Wales. We are very passionate about welsh charities and all the money raised will help people locally.”

The theme chosen for 2016 as beneficiary of the Welsh Dragon Boat Championships is “support for young people with the development of their Life Skills and Additional Learning”. We intend to address three stages of education and development.

Princes Trust Wales, with funding, aim “to help 13 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed or struggling at school to transform their lives.”

Secondary school aged pupils with funding for Life Skills and ALN (at two secondary schools)

Primary school aged children with funding for ALN (at 12 primary schools and two support groups)

We believe that these three mutually compatible areas are deserving of our efforts and the contributions of our sponsors, without whom our work would be significantly diminished.

The Prince’s Trust Cymru supports 13 – 30 year olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.

Many of the young people we help are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness or mental health problems, or have been in trouble with the law. PTC programmes give young people the practical and financial support needed to stabilise their lives.

The Princes Trust help young people develop skills, prepare for work and improve their confidence, improving motivation and attendance at school, work out whether selfemployment is right for them by helping them to test their ideas, write plans and start their own businesses, or achieve other goals in education, training, volunteering or work, overcome barriers and get their lives working with cash awards and mentor support for those leaving care or prison.

Also developing personal and social skills through residential schemes, group activities and tailored one to one support.

The Welsh Dragon Boat Funds will also raise funds for the two Additional Learning Departments of our two local Secondary schools Ysgol Dyfryn Taf in Whitland and Ysgol Preseli in Crymych. We will also hope to involve approximately 12 Primary Schools and two support groups in our immediate area with the same theme.

To give you an idea of how many young people require additional help at school or colleges. Approximately one in five learners in maintained schools in Wales has Additional Learning Needs (ALN). ALN refers to learning difficulties or disabilities which range from problems in thinking and understanding, to physical or sensory difficulties and/or difficulties with speech and language.

But they can also be social problems – how they relate to and behave with other people, or emotional and behavioural difficulties. The largest categories are “moderate learning difficulty” (24.2%), behaviour, emotional and social difficulties (22.7%) and speech, language and communications needs (16.3%). A much smaller proportion of pupils have physical disabilities (3.8%), visual or hearing impairments (3.4%), and autism spectrum disorders (8.1%).

Young people who need additional help in school have a huge battle and we feel that anything we can do to help them in their quest for success in a demanding job and skills market is worthwhile.

There is still a last minute opportunity to book your boat if you are p[passionate to help us raise these funds.

Community

Shire horses to visit Canolfan Bethlehem for heritage talk

Published

13 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

13 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.