News
Play project delights Pembrokeshire young carers
A PILOT project aimed at helping young carers aged 8-14 gain a clearer understanding of the fundamentals of play has proved a huge success with children and young people from Action for Children’s Pembrokeshire Young Carers service.
A project evaluation report found that nearly 80% knew more about play and its benefits as a result of the session and 100% wanted more sessions on the subject with more than 50% saying they were now more likely to go out and play with friends or family.
The project was coordinated at Pembroke Dock Youth Centre by Action for Children, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Play Sufficiency Officer, Damion Golding and Groundwork Wales’ Sustainable Play Team with the aim of helping the young carers appreciate the value of play and how it can benefit their own, as well as their siblings’, physical and mental health, well-being and social and emotional development, thereby increasing their quality of life.
The activities comprised of hula hoop making, den making, messy play – which included preparing their own ‘gloo’ and ‘play dough’ mix, preparing and cooking their own healthy pizza, fruit and soup and team games.
Charlotte Phillips, Action for Children’s service coordinator for Pembrokeshire Young Carers said: ‘Young carers carry a burden of responsibility that cannot be overestimated in caring for their families. It’s vital that they don’t lose the ability to play and just be children.
‘This project encouraged our young carers to appreciate that play can bring families closer together and strengthen parent-child / lead young carer – sibling relationships. It also helped them increase their independent mobility which improves opportunities to explore the world around them. I’m thrilled our carers reacted so positively to the project and we shall explore how we can involve more of our young carers across Pembrokeshire in this important work.’
Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.
Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.
The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.
Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.
Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.
(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.
The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.
The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.
A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”
Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.
Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.
From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.
Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Community
Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend
ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.
In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”
Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.
Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.
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