Community

Recycling champion scoops Park’s Hero Award

Published

10 years ago

May 4, 2016

A HAVERFORDWEST mother who has raised hundreds of pounds for hospitals and charities by recycling items ranging from used biscuit wrappers, coffee lids and packaging to used postage stamps, clothes and bric-a-brac was presented with the Green Award at the 2016 Radio Pembrokeshire Local Hero Awards.

Amanda Absalom-Lowe was presented with the award, which was sponsored by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, in recognition of her efforts to reduce waste and raise money for charity.

She was inspired to raise money for good causes after her daughter Megan was born six weeks premature and underwent open heart surgery at the age of eight months in 2011.

Amanda wanted to say thank you to all the Special Care Baby Unit staff and hospitals that had cared for Megan and decided to join a recycling scheme after seeing another parent was raising money by recycling biscuit wrappers. She discovered nobody else in Pembrokeshire involved in the Terracycle programme.

Amanda said: “It’s been a very long hard battle trying to raise awareness locally that most things can be recycled and by doing so, you can raise money for charity at the same time! I can slowly see a difference and more people now want to get involved, especially when they can see that what I do goes back into the community and to local charities and the rubbish I collect is reducing landfill in our county.

“I was very shocked to hear that I had won, but also very pleased that my fundraising and all the hard work I have done over the last five years is starting to pay off! I also want to say thank to my husband Mark and everyone who has supported me to date and continues to do so. Without them, it would not be possible to continue to recycle for charity.”

To promote her recycling work she chose the name Pembrokeshire Care, Share & Give and designed a logo to help promote her work.

She also recycles other items that householders are unable to dispose of via weekly bag collections such as bottle trigger heads and cleaning product tops, Tassimo pods and the pouches used for yoghurt and baby food.

National Park Authority Vice Chairman, David Ellis said: “Amanda has shown that almost anything can be recycled, re-used or repurposed and this is a wonderful example of how an individual acting with energy and enterprise can make a change in their community.

“Not only is she reducing the waste going to landfill from her own home, she is making it easier for more people to do the same through being a local collection point.”

Community

Narbelles WI support Food Bank with festive donation

Published

18 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Group marks December meeting with charity collection and Christmas celebrations

NARBELLES WI rounded off the year with a festive December meeting featuring a bring-and-share buffet, party games and a Secret Santa gift exchange.

Members also used the occasion to support families in need across the county, collecting food items and presenting a £120 cheque to Ann Watling from Pembrokeshire Food Bank. The donation represents the proceeds of the group’s bucket collection during Narberth Civic Week 2024.

A spokesperson for the WI said the group was delighted to finish the year “with fun, friendship and a chance to give something back to the community.”

(Photo: Narbelles WI members presenting the cheque to Ann Watling, Pembrokeshire Food Bank.)

Community

Annual charity carol service raises funds for good causes

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service held its annual Charity Carol Service on Wednesday (Dec 10) at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel in Crymych.

The event brought together members of the local community alongside Fire Service staff for an evening of carols, readings and festive refreshments, marking the Christmas season in a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

This year’s service supported two important charities — the Fire Fighters Charity and Cancer Research Wales — with all proceeds going directly towards their ongoing work.

A total of £597 was raised on the night, which will be shared equally between the two charities.

The Service thanked the congregation at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel for hosting the event, as well as everyone who gave their time, support and generosity to make the evening such a success.

Community

3 Amigos toy bike run under way across Pembrokeshire

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Castle Inn fun runners back festive charity event

THE ANNUAL 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run is under way this afternoon (Saturday), with hundreds of motorcyclists setting off from Pembroke to raise funds for children’s services.

Riders gathered at The Commons car park in Pembroke from around midday before departing shortly after 1:00pm. The festive convoy is travelling along its traditional route, taking in Pembroke Dock and continuing through parts of the county including Neyland, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest.

The event is organised by the 3 Amigos and Dollies Motorcycle Group and has become a much-anticipated Christmas tradition in west Wales, with toys and donations collected for children receiving care within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

Also supporting the event are fun runners from the Castle Inn in Pembroke, who have been fundraising in aid of the 3 Amigos. The group are pictured alongside participants from today’s run.

The 3 Amigos have been raising funds for children’s wards and health charities for more than twenty-five years, with their Easter and Christmas events continuing to make a positive difference to young patients and their families.

Organisers have thanked the public for their support and asked road users to be mindful of the large convoy as it passes through towns and villages this afternoon.

Photo caption:
Festive fundraising: Fun runners from the Castle Inn, Pembroke, pictured supporting the 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run (Pic: Martin Cavaney/Herald)