Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Charity

Mental Health support project in running for Lottery’s ‘Project of the Year’

Published

on

A HAVERFORDWEST project which aims to improve the mental health of the people of West Wales by providing free support, is appealing for votes to be crowned National Lottery Project of the Year.

Get The Boys a Lift beat off stiff competition from 3,780 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards, which celebrates the inspirational projects and people who do extraordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding.

There are 17 shortlisted finalists from across the UK, all of which will compete in a four-week public vote from 11th September to 9th October to be named the National Lottery Project of the Year. Winners will receive a £5,000 cash prize for their project and an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy.

Get The Boys A Lift (GTBAL) is a not-for-profit organisation launched by a group of friends which provides free mental health support to the people of Pembrokeshire while promoting open discussions about mental wellbeing. The project has gone from strength to strength since 2016, now offering a mix of in-person and online counselling services to anyone over 17.

The team run a clothing and coffee shop in Haverfordwest called ‘Our Place’, offering a unique café experience where visitors can chat to counsellors and make new friends. The project’s drop-in service has provided around 500 people with free and easy support, without the challenge of extensive waiting lists. The project’s online counselling service, which launched during the pandemic, also gives clients the option to have sessions remotely.

With support from The National Lottery, the project was able to buy a coffee van in 2022, allowing representatives to travel further afield, not only raising funds to maintain the organisation’s services, but promoting its core message about the importance of openness around mental health.

GTBAL runs regular events across the region, including outreach in schools and workplaces as well as community events. Its ‘Break the Stigma’ coffee van has been stationed at Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire across the summer, giving the team a chance to spread the GTBAL message to a wider audience, not only to local people, but the region’s many visitors. Profits from the project’s bespoke clothing range, which includes everything from hoodies to beach towels, go back into the team’s crucial work.

Greg Walters, Director at GTBAL, said: “It is a real honour to be nominated and to be part of this process. It feels really special to be recognised for the work we do at Get the Boys a Lift. Thanks the to support of our community we’ve been able to save a lot of lives. We hope that people will vote for us and we can continue to spread the word about the help we provide!”

Jonathan Tuchner, from The National Lottery, added: “We’re so pleased to have received so many nominations highlighting the excellent work that National Lottery-funded projects are doing up and down the UK. It’s no secret that times are tough, so it’s great to see so many people and projects dedicating so much time and energy into giving something back to their communities.

“It’s thanks to National Lottery players, who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes, that the work of these amazing projects is made possible.

“Get The Boys A Lift are making an incredible impact in their local community and they thoroughly deserve to be in the finals of the National Lottery Awards Project of the Year 2023. With your support, they could be a winner.”

To vote for Get The Boys A Lift, please go to lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards. Or simply use their specific hashtag on X (formerly known as Twitter) #NLAGTBAL . Voting runs from 9am on 11th September until 12pm on 9th October.

For further information please contact The National Lottery Awards: Oswyn Hughes on 07976 324 179 or email [email protected]

Continue Reading

Charity

Therapy dogs delight Bryan Adams and crew at Utilita Arena

Published

on

HAVERFORDWEST-based charity, Cariad Pet Therapy, received VIP treatment during a special visit to Bryan Adams and his crew at the Utilita Arena on the May 19. The visit, which took place in the late afternoon, featured four therapy dogs along with dedicated volunteers from the organisation.

Bryan Adams, currently on a major tour, took a personal interest in the visit, sharing videos of his own dogs with the volunteers. He spent quality time with the therapy dogs – Rylie, a Border Collie; Ruby, a Fox Red Labrador; Max, a Golden Retriever; and Kali, a Black Labrador. Adams, known for his love of dogs, clearly enjoyed the interaction.

The volunteers from Cariad Pet Therapy were not only given the star treatment but were also provided with tickets to the evening’s concert. Meanwhile, the therapy dogs returned home after their heartwarming visit.

This event follows similar visits by the charity to concerts by Pete Tong and Jason Derulo in recent months, with more events planned for the future. Additionally, the volunteers attended the National Lottery Big Bash as special guests last Christmas, enjoying front-row seats for a performance headlined by Take That.

For more information on Cariad Pet Therapy and their work, visit www.cariadpettherapy.co.uk.

Continue Reading

Charity

Charitable donations fund ambulatory heart monitors for Withybush Hospital

Published

on

THANKS to generous donations, Hywel Dda Health Charities – the official charity of Hywel Dda Health Board – has funded 10 ambulatory heart monitors worth over £13,000 for Withybush Hospital’s Cardio-Respiratory Department.

The monitors are compact devices which are used to assess a patient’s heart rate and rhythm for a sustained amount of time.

The state-of-the-art monitors will help the Cardio-Respiratory Department provide the best possible service, with accurate, efficient and timely arrhythmia recognition provided on site or at home.

Rhys Bowen, Advanced Cardiac Physiologist, said: “We are so grateful that charitable donations from the local community have enabled us to buy the new monitors.

“The monitors are more adaptable to each patient’s presenting symptoms which will enhance the quality of the data gathered.

“They are more patient-friendly and easier to wear for the duration of the test, so there will be less need for repeat monitoring. They will also support quicker in-patient discharge due to an increase in the number of available monitors and the fact they can be worn by the patient at home and provide remote monitoring.”

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, visit here.

Continue Reading

Charity

St Davids RNLI teams up with Solva Rowing for joint exercise

Published

on

THE RNLI St Davids lifeboat crew joined forces with Solva Rowing and Watersports Club for a unique joint training exercise on Saturday, May 11, 2024. The session focused on practising medical evacuation and tow techniques using a Celtic longboat, providing an opportunity for both lifeboat and rowing crews to enhance their rescue skills.

The training aimed to prepare volunteers for a variety of maritime emergency scenarios, ensuring that they are well-equipped to handle situations that may arise at sea. The use of the traditional Celtic longboat added an extra layer of challenge and realism to the exercise, simulating conditions that could occur during actual rescue operations.

The collaboration between the two groups was not only a chance for skill enhancement but also a way to strengthen community ties and mutual understanding among the local sea-going organisations. The exercise was documented in photographs by Lyn Jenkins and Cathy Morton, capturing the intense yet constructive nature of the training.

This proactive approach by both the RNLI and Solva Rowing and Watersports Club underscores the commitment of local maritime groups to safety and preparedness, ultimately aiming to ensure that their volunteers are ready and able to save lives at sea effectively.

Continue Reading

News13 hours ago

Lifeboat crew plucks woman in difficulty from the water

ANGLE All-Weather Lifeboat was requested to launch at 10pm on Sunday night (May 19). The Coastguard had received a call...

News19 hours ago

Two men arrested following death of Milford Haven woman

POLICE in Milford Haven are investigating after a woman died in the early hours of Friday morning, after the Welsh...

News21 hours ago

Milford Haven tops list of UK’s most polluted ports

NEW analysis by Transport & Environment UK (T&E UK) has revealed alarming levels of air pollution from ships at UK...

Charity21 hours ago

Therapy dogs delight Bryan Adams and crew at Utilita Arena

HAVERFORDWEST-based charity, Cariad Pet Therapy, received VIP treatment during a special visit to Bryan Adams and his crew at the...

News3 days ago

Anticipation builds for more Northern Lights as solar activity peaks

IN the wake of a mesmerising display of the aurora borealis last weekend, experts predict further celestial spectacles are imminent...

Crime4 days ago

Arrest made following report of sexual assault in Haverfordwest

DETECTIVES in Haverfordwest are appealing for witnesses following a report of a sexual assault which occurred at approximately 10:00pm-11:30pm on...

Entertainment4 days ago

Dolly Parton ‘tickled pink’ by curiosity about her Welsh roots

DOLLY Parton has expressed her delight over the interest in her Welsh heritage, saying she is “tickled pink” about the...

News5 days ago

Welsh Government ministers ‘economical with truth’ over Withyhedge

THE FIRST MINISTER couldn’t have been clearer. There was no room for misinterpreting his words. Andrew RT Davies, the leader...

Business5 days ago

Ascona Group announces rebranding of two west Wales sites

PEMBROKESHIRE-BASED Ascona Group has announced the rebranding of two of its Pembrokeshire service stations to the Valero brand. The rebranding...

News6 days ago

Puffin protection laws at centre of post Brexit row

The puffin, a beloved seabird and symbol of Pembrokeshire, is caught in a heated dispute over the UK’s post-Brexit fishing...

Popular This Week