Community
People of Pembrokeshire encouraged to join jobs fair
THE PEOPLE of Pembrokeshire are being encouraged to join Working Wales’ latest careers and jobs fair.
The free digital careers and jobs fair, called Your Career, Your Future, will run from 10am to 12pm on Thursday 21 October where people in Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire will be able to listen to live presentations about the main job growth sectors in their area, jobs in demand, live vacancies, future developments and have the opportunities to speak with local and national employers.
The event is brought by Working Wales (delivered by Careers Wales), the Department for Work and Pensions, the South West Regional Skills Partnership and other organisations and employers.
The session will explore:
- Jobs
- Apprenticeships
- Education and training
- Employment support
- Volunteering
There will be a focus on certain sectors, including hospitality and tourism, transport and logistics, food and farming, construction, health and social care and more.
Wendy Williams, operational development manager in Haverfordwest, said: “This will be the third time that we’re running a digital careers and jobs fair, which is a vital service for job seekers in Pembrokeshire. Furlough was still available during our last series of events and now that the Job Retention Scheme has ended, even more people could be at risk of redundancy and we know job security remains a high priority for the people of Pembrokeshire.
“Not only is this event an opportunity to see what options are out there at the moment, but also understand the potential opportunities on the horizon and be informed of alternatives that may otherwise have not been considered.”
Speaking on behalf of the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership for South West Wales, manager Jane Lewis, said: “The pandemic has created a difficult landscape for both jobseekers and employers looking to recruit.
“The region is lucky to be home to a wide range of businesses operating across many different industries offering opportunities for all, therefore we would urge all individuals looking to pursue a different career path or those looking for employment to attend.”
Careers Wales centres are now back open for pre-booked face-to-face appointments and some centres are also offering drop-in sessions where appointments are not necessary. All centres operate safely and in compliance with COVID regulations, including social distancing, requirement of facemasks and regular sanitising stations.
Call 0800 028 4844 to book or visit Working Wales’ contact page for more ways to get in touch. A full list of centres can be found here.
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)
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.
Community
Restoration of a pond hopes to support biodiversity in Pembrokeshire
AN OLD millpond at the heart of the Wallis and Ambleston community, and a site of Special Scientific Interest, has now been improved to benefit water quality and increase biodiversity in an area of South Wales, thanks to funding from Nestlé Waters UK.
Wallis Pond was created in 1836 as part of the tributary of the Wester Cleddau River to supply water to a local mill. Back in 1978, it was restored and later re-opened by HRH King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales.
Over the years, the pond had become completely silted up, restricting the waters passage and the pond’s ability to retain water, resulting in a reduced diversity of habitat in and around the millpond.
Pembrokeshire County Council, Heavyside Landscapes and Nestlé Waters UK have come together to restore the millpond with regulatory guidance from Natural Resources Wales and support from the Ambleston Community Council.
The project saw the pond re-dug and de-silted, and the old sluice gate replaced to re-establish the millpond. With the pond now able to hold more water, it is hoped to help build resilience to the increased frequency and intensity of storm events, alleviating the risk of flooding in the local area.
Retention of flows in the pond for a longer time should help reduce silt build-up and prevent nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates from travelling downstream in the Cleddau catchment, helping to protect water quality, improve aquatic habitats, and encourage eels, otters, damselflies, and other wildlife species.
Restoration of Wallis Pond is one of the projects that Nestlé Waters is working on as part of its efforts to help regenerate local water cycles and create a positive water impact everywhere the company operates.
Matthew Faulkner, Factory Manager at the Nestlé Waters site in Princes Gate, said: “We are proud to be a part of the Wallis Pond restoration work, aimed at delivering long-lasting benefits in Pembrokeshire, where we bottle at source Princes Gate and Nestlé Pure Life waters. This beautiful landscape is not only our home, but also home to some incredible flora and fauna which are vital for keeping the area rich and thriving in biodiversity.
“We’re working hard to protect this land and the water beneath our feet. Water is a shared resource and a shared responsibility, and caring for it takes the whole community. That’s why we’re grateful to be working with partners on this project that will hopefully have a positive impact on the local ecosystem and community.”
Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services at the Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “We welcome this funding to enhance the biodiversity in Wallis Pond which can be enjoyed by the residents of Ambleston, the wider communities in Pembrokeshire and the visitors to our fantastic county.
“This is an excellent example of partnership working that has significant benefits for the environment and the wellbeing of generations to come.”
Eirian Forrest, Clerk at the Ambleston Community Council, said: “We are grateful to Nestlé Waters UK for the funding and wish to thank everyone who has been involved in this project, especially the Pembrokeshire County Council team, for pushing the project forwards.
“The Community Council are delighted that the work has finally been done and look forward to the positive impact it will have on biodiversity. We have already received many positive comments from members of the community. The improved pond encourages locals to take a walk around the area, as well as sit down to watch and enjoy the wildlife.”
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