The FOURTH Pembrokeshire Spotlight Awards celebrating children and young people who achieve exceptional things and make a real difference was held recently.

The Awards – a collaboration between Pembrokeshire Youth, The Children and Young People’s Rights Office and Children’s Services – took place on 22nd November at the Merlin Theatre, Pembrokeshire College and celebrated the achievements of Pembrokeshire’s young people.

A huge well done to the young people from Pembrokeshire Youth Bank, who were involved in the whole process, from conception, to planning, to being involved on the night of the awards.

This was truly an event ‘For Young People, By Young People.’

Sponsorship from BAM Nuttall and Pure West Radio enabled the awards to go ahead this year and helped make it a memorable evening. 

The event saw some amazing achievements noted and celebrated and the winners and runners up are as follows:

Achieving positive change: The Edge Quiet Hour (winner), Craig Thompson and Samantha Barton (runners up).

Arts Award: Lleucu-Haf Thomas (winner), FADDS Youth Theatre and Tomos Roberts (runners up).

Eco Champion Award: Senedd Gwyrdd at Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi (winner).

Education Award: Megan Thomas (winner), Carla Briskham (runner up).

Fundraising Award: Ellie Neville (winner), George Bromwich and Molly Venables (runners up).

Making a difference in the community: Eirlys Lloyd-Phillips (winner), Pembroke Family of Schools – Social Action Project, We Know… Our Journey Group, Neyland Youth Club Group (runners up).

Most inspiring story: Aaron Briskham (winner), Aimee Hawkings and Molly Evans (runners up).

Music Award: Carys Wood + Alice Thomas (winners), Amy Evans and Iestyn Barrellie (runners up).

Sport Award: Harley and Liam Franz (winners), Caiden Meacham and Ava Tyrie (runners up).

Voice Award: Tegan Skyrme (winner), Niamh Jones, Mya-Rose John (runners up).

Young Leader / Peer Mentoring Award: Daniella Loveridge / Chloe Harries (winners), Tomos Padel, Brogan Collins and The Point (runners up).

The final award of the night was the special ‘Spotlight Award’, given to a single young person for a particularly important contribution or achievement.  For 2024 this award was given to Freya Terry. 

Here’s Freya’s inspiring nomination:

Freya has struggled with her mental health since she was 11. She has had some great support from the Amethyst Project and then more recently adult mental health services. She has come out of that stronger and decided to do a voyage solo around the UK and Ireland to raise awareness of mental health in young people – attempting to inspire people to talk about their mental health so that they can get some support, rather than bottle it all up in fear and shame.

She has given talks to local Pembrokeshire youth groups, as well as talking to others as she makes her way around the country which have been really well received. She has gained so much confidence from this venture and has attracted many followers (www.she-sails.co.uk)

Boat problems left her lost at sea for many hours and then a freak wave that tossed her across the boat resulting in her getting concussion and having to call the coastguard. But this didn’t stop her, as soon as she recovered, she got going again and is making great progress.

Director of Education Steven Richards-Downes presented the overall Spotlight Award and said: “Everyone nominated in these Spotlight Awards are a real inspiration to their peers and the wider community. It was an honour to present the overall award for Freya, her story demonstrates a real resilience and commitment to give something back to society while overcoming her own struggles.”

Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman Cllr Steve Alderman said: “It is fantastic to see our young people being celebrated for the exceptional things they have achieved and the difference they make in their communities.” 

Cabinet Member for Social Care & Safeguarding Cllr Tessa Hodgson added: “Sometimes young people are not given the credit they deserve and it is fantastic that this event is dedicated to celebrating the wonderful things they can achieve.”

The award ceremony was followed by refreshments and entertainment including an inflatable assault course, circus skills, photo booth as well as candyfloss and popcorn in the foyer of the college.

Special thanks also go to those who attended the event to present the young people with the awards as well as to those who took the time to nominate a young person or group.

Sincere thanks also to Dylan Harwood who performed one of his original songs; Charlie Royal, Polly Thomas, Josh Roberts and the rest of the team at Pembrokeshire College for hosting this event; Nadine Farmer, Bethany Roberts, Nicky Edwards and Angie Moore for their assistance in organising this event and to the young people from Pembrokeshire Youth Bank for their hard work.

More pictures are available on the Children and Young People’s Rights Office Facebook page.

PEMBROKE’S Lantern Parade lit up the night on the Commons this evening, bringing the community together for a magical celebration of creativity and togetherness. Hosted by the Pembroke Town Team, the event showcased the vibrant spirit of the town, with lanterns crafted by locals under the expert guidance of Sand Palace Arts.

Leading the way was Brig Y Don, setting the tone for a parade filled with glowing woodland creatures and majestic swans, enchanting all who joined. Attendees were invited to the Tanyard Project to begin their illuminated journey around Pembroke, culminating at The Foundry House, where a spectacular fire display awaited.

Hot food, drinks, and festive music added to the warm atmosphere, as residents gathered to chase away the winter blues. The wishing tree, a highlight of the evening, offered a moment of reflection and hope, as attendees hung their Christmas wishes before heading home.

Thanks to funding from the MHPA Community Fund, UK Government, and Pembrokeshire Pride, the much-loved Lantern Parade was brought to life once more. This year’s event built on the success of previous parades, showcasing the continued dedication of the Pembroke Town Team, who also organised the popular Pembroke Festival earlier this year.

The team expressed gratitude to all contributors, sponsors, and volunteers who helped make the evening a success, ensuring the tradition continues to light up the hearts of Pembroke residents.

(Pics: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

PLANS for a new estate of 54 homes in a south Pembrokeshire seaside village are expected to get the go-ahead from National Park planners, with a condition restricting 13 properties to not being second homes.

The application for the mixtures of 27 houses and 27 flats/apartments – together with ancillary works – at agricultural land north of Whitlow, Saundersfoot, is made by Morgan Construction (Wales) Limited and Barcud Housing Association.

The application, which includes a mix of 19 affordable properties, meeting the Saundersfoot area requirement for 35 per cent of such properties – is recommended for conditional approval when it comes before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners at their September 6 development management committee.

No objection to the plans was received by local community council Saundersfoot, other than concerns regarding the possibility of properties being sold as second homes.

Several letters of objection were received, raising concerns including the potential for the new dwellings to become holiday lets, loss of privacy to neighbouring properties, loss of views, and the impact on existing property values.

A report for planners said that there was an assumption that just under 29 per cent of properties in Saundersfoot could be categorised as second homes or holiday lets, which could lead to 71 per cent of the apartments – the most likely to be viewed as suitable for second homes – having a sole or main residence condition on them.

This would mean 13 of the 19 open market apartments would have a ‘C3’ main use condition, separate from the affordable housing requirement.

Agent Evans Banks Planning Limited, in a supporting statement, said a pre-application enquiry to the national park had elicited a positive response, leading to the formal application.

“The proposals have undergone considerable pre-application negotiations and discussions with National Park Authority Officers. It has become apparent that the Authority expect the capacity of the allocation as shown in the LDP to be met in full.

“Such an expectation can present challenges if a site also has to be formed over undulating topography and accommodate surface water measures which met future adoption criteria of the Adoption Authority.

“The scheme has evolved from initial concepts where there was an emphasis on a lesser density to reflect the semi-urban/edge of village character of the site.

“To achieve a capacity of 54 units as quoted in the LDP, can only be achieved if residential apartments are introduced, as a significant proportion of the unit type mix. A total of 27 apartments have therefore been introduced in the development to ensure that the remaining 27 dwellinghouses are all afforded sufficient amenity and parking space.”

The application is recommended for approval, with a list of conditions including the ‘C3’ restriction.