Fundraiser to support Milford Youth Matters and celebrate community spirit

BLUESTONE’S Blue Lagoon Water Park will be opening its doors to the public for a special charity evening this May half-term – with every penny raised going to support a local youth charity.

The event, which takes place on Tuesday 27 May at 5:30pm, is part of the Bluestone Foundation’s popular community events programme. Up to 600 local residents will be welcomed to enjoy a fun-filled evening at the park, while raising funds for Milford Youth Matters – a third-sector organisation supporting young people in Pembrokeshire.

This will be the third Blue Lagoon charity event of the year. The two previous evenings raised a combined total of £7,854 for the Megan Starr Foundation in February and Fishguard and Goodwick’s POINT youth trust in April.

The Bluestone Foundation – the charitable arm of Bluestone National Park Resort – was created in 2010 to support environmental, economic and social initiatives across the county. Through its Community Events and Community Fund schemes, it has awarded more than £250,000 to local projects to date.

Milford Youth Matters works with young people aged 11 to 25, offering vocational training, volunteering, and work-based learning opportunities alongside social activities. The charity has already supported over 500 young people across the county.

Dayle Gibby, Co-ordinator at Milford Youth Matters, said:
“We’re all about investing in young people. The support from the Bluestone Foundation means we can evolve and try new activities, reach new audiences, and remove financial barriers that often stand in the way of young people’s development.

“In recent years, we’ve developed a strong relationship with Bluestone. Many of the young people we support now work there, which is a great example of how our work is helping young people gain the skills they need for employment – right here in Pembrokeshire.”

Mike Slack from the Bluestone Foundation added:
“We’re looking forward to hosting our third charity event of the year at the Blue Lagoon. These evenings are a great opportunity for local families to enjoy themselves while supporting brilliant causes. Milford Youth Matters is a fantastic organisation, and we’re proud to help them continue their vital work.”

More information about the Bluestone Foundation can be found at:
https://www.bluestonewales.com/about-us/bluestone-foundation

More than eleven hours at sea for volunteer RNLI team

ANGLE RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat crew were launched three times within a twelve-hour period this week, spending over eleven hours at sea as they responded to a string of incidents off the Pembrokeshire coast.

The first call came at 8:59am on Tuesday (May 14), after a 37ft yacht with a lone sailor on board reported difficulties in heavy seas some 17 miles south-southwest of St Ann’s Head.

The lifeboat launched swiftly and reached the vessel within 40 minutes. After assessing the situation, the crew rigged a tow line and brought the yacht safely back to Dale over a two-hour passage. The sailor was satisfied he could reach a safe anchorage under his own power, and the tow was released.

The crew returned to station and the boat was readied for service by 1:00pm.

Later that evening, at 8:12pm, the lifeboat launched again to assist a 21ft open boat with two people on board that had run out of fuel near the mid-channel pole at the entrance to Milford Haven Waterway. With a tanker inbound and no means of propulsion, there were serious concerns for the occupants’ safety.

After taking the boat under tow towards Neyland, the lifeboat was retasked en route to respond to a distress signal from a yacht 22 miles south-southeast of St Ann’s Head. The crew placed the fuel-stranded vessel on the nearest mooring and proceeded at best speed to the new position.

Tenby’s all-weather lifeboat and the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R187 were also dispatched. Around 45 minutes later, Angle crew picked up a radar contact before gaining visual confirmation of the yacht.

The skipper, found safe and well, had become disoriented and triggered his distress signal by mistake. The helicopter and Tenby lifeboat were stood down, and Angle RNLI took the vessel under tow back to Milford Marina.

The lifeboat returned to station and was made ready for service once more by 3:30am.

Photo caption:

Tireless volunteers: Angle RNLI crew undertook three rescues and over eleven hours at sea in a single day (Pic: File)

SHELTER CYMRU has today responded to the Welsh Government’s publication of the draft Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Bill.

The draft legislation is the culmination of several years of work, shaped by the recommendations of the Expert Review Panel on Ending Homelessness — a panel on which Shelter Cymru was proud to sit. Drawing on its experience supporting over 12,000 households each year affected by the housing emergency, the charity has long called for many of the changes proposed.

The Bill is expected to include key measures that:

• Strengthen the focus on preventing homelessness, moving away from a crisis-driven response;
• Introduce new duties on public bodies to take action against homelessness;
• Remove barriers to support for individuals and families at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness;
• Reform the way social housing is allocated, ensuring those in greatest need are prioritised.

Ruth Power, Chief Executive of Shelter Cymru, said: “The publication of the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Bill is a landmark moment with the potential to deliver real, transformative change in how we address homelessness in Wales.

“Shelter Cymru has long championed many of the proposals expected in the Bill — including a stronger emphasis on prevention and widening access to support. As Wales’ national housing and homelessness advice charity, we see first-hand the limitations of the current system. Too often, people are forced to reach crisis point before they can access the help they need. Opportunities to prevent homelessness are frequently missed.

“We look forward to scrutinising the full details of the legislation and working collaboratively with the Welsh Government and partners to ensure the final Bill includes all the changes desperately needed. It is essential that the ambitions in the Bill are matched by the resources required to make them a reality — including ensuring everyone can access the advice and support they need to realise their housing rights.

“With more than 11,000 people in Wales currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, we must seize the opportunity this Bill presents to deliver meaningful and lasting change.”