PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL have recently achieved the insport Partnerships Gold Standard, recognising their commitment and passion to providing inclusive opportunities for disabled people across the local authority area.

‘insport’ is a Disability Sport Wales programme delivered with the support the of Sport Wales, which aims to support the physical activity, sport, and leisure sectors delivering inclusively of disabled people. The purpose of the insport programmes is to support the development of inclusive thinking, planning, development and delivery by everyone within an organisation so that ultimately, they will deliver across the spectrum to disabled and non-disabled people, at whatever level they wish to participate or compete. The intent is to facilitate and deliver cultural change in attitude, approach, and provision of physical activity (including sport) and wider opportunities for disabled people.

Sport Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire Leisure have consistently developed their offers for disabled people locally, becoming the first local authority partner nationally to achieve the insport Partnerships Gold standard. Working with the natural, rural and coastal assets, the Sport Pembrokeshire & Pembrokeshire Leisure teams’ have done a fantastic job in navigating the opportunities and challenges to prioritise the inclusion of disabled people in leisure & community-based physical activity (including sport) opportunities. Ensuring that as many people as possible can be involved in sport and physical activity.

Achievement of the insport Partnerships Gold standard means that an inclusive approach to communities of disabled people is embedded within strategies, programmes, and thinking. This award is never the end of an organisation’s inclusion journey, and Disability Sport Wales will continue to support Pembrokeshire County Council as they continue to provide sector leading inclusive opportunities for disabled people.

Pembrokeshire have a number of excellent examples of collaborative work and partnerships supporting the delivery of strong inclusive programming across Pembrokeshire’s communities which add significant value to the area’s rich inclusive sporting heritage. These opportunities provide the initial steps on the pathway that many former and current Paralympic and Commonwealth Games Para athletes have taken from Pembrokeshire, including the Paris 2024 Paralympic Champion, Matt Bush; Paris 2024 Paralympic athlete, Jodie Grinham; 2022 Commonwealth Games medallist Lily Rice.

Tom Rogers (Governance & Partnership Director, Disability Sport Wales) said: “Pembrokeshire’s achievement of the insport Partnerships Gold standard is a remarkable milestone that highlights the unwavering commitment to inclusion in physical activity (including sport). This achievement recognises the efforts in creating opportunities that ensure everyone, regardless of ability, can participate and thrive in physical activity and sport at a level of their choosing.

Achieving the insport Partnerships Gold standard reflects the culture of inclusivity and recognises the excellent example for communities across Wales and beyond of an embedded culture of inclusion. Sport Pembrokeshire’s dedication to breaking down barriers and fostering an equitable and person centred approach to the delivery of physical activity is reflected across their programming. The commitment to inclusion exits across the Sport Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire Leisure teams’ and the achievement of this standard recognises the years of hard work by current and former team members, as well as excellent community led opportunities across the local authority area.

Congratulations on this significant achievement—your success paves the way for a brighter, more inclusive future in sport.”

Matt Freeman, Sport Pembrokeshire Manager said, “Pembrokeshire County Council is proud to achieve the prestigious insport Gold Standard, a recognition of our commitment to championing inclusive sport and physical activity across the county. This milestone, led by Sport Pembrokeshire – the Council’s sports development team – reflects the collaborative efforts of our partners to ensure opportunities for inclusive participation continue to grow. We remain dedicated to working with both new and existing partners to expand access and make inclusive provision a cornerstone of sport and physical activity in Pembrokeshire”.

THE CAPTAINS from Haverfordwest Golf Club joined forces with Werndale Hospital, part of Circle Health Group, throughout the year to support a lifesaving all Wales charity.

Men’s Captain Alex Jones, Ladies Captain Jacky Jones and Seniors Captain Lynn Davies banded together with their club to raise an incredible £3,322.29 for the Wales Air Ambulance. All donations raised at the club were then match funded by their sponsor partner, Werndale Hospital, part of Circle Health Group which supported bringing the fundraising total to a staggering £6,644.58.

Throughout the year, the local private hospital based in Bancyfelin, Carmarthenshire joined the captains at the club to hold numerous fundraising competitions that helped raise the substantial amount.

Captain Alex Jones held a variety of different events including a whisky trot, Captains Day and a chipping competition. The Ladies section captained by Jacky Jones raised money through fines, donations, tips, raffles, charity competitions and a Christmas Card Tree. The seniors, led by Lynn Davies, also fundraised through their competitions throughout the year. All proceeds raised at these lighthearted fundraising activities were sponsored by and match funded by Werndale Hospital, part of Circle Health Group.

Alongside match funding Haverfordwest Golf Club fundraising efforts, Werndale Hospital once again nominated Wales Air Ambulance as their Charity of the Year, and their final fundraising totals for the year will be confirmed in the spring.

Jacky Jones, Ladies Captain for Haverfordwest Golf Club and Executive Director of Werndale Hospital said “Supporting Wales Air Ambulance has been an incredibly rewarding experience for both the golf club and the hospital. Their work is vital for communities across Wales, and we are proud to have supported them to raise these much needed funds. Knowing that our fundraising efforts have raised enough to fund at least one lifesaving flight for Wales Air Ambulance is incredibly rewarding and it is a testament to what can be achieved when communities and organisations work together for a great cause.”

Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. For the patient, this can mean hours saved when compared to standard care and is proven to greatly improve survival and early recovery. 

This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident. 

As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care. 

Mike May, the Charity’s Regional Fundraising Manager for west Wales was recently invited to the club to receive the substantial amount, he said: “Thank you to the Captains and their fellow golfers at Haverfordwest Golf Club for raising an incredible amount for our Charity. They dedicated the year to fundraising and have raised an incredible amount for us, with the support of the Circle Health Group. We are extremely grateful for their support and all the hard work and effort that went into their fundraising events throughout the year.

“The Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £11.2 million every year to keep its helicopters in the air and its rapid response vehicles on the road, and without support from clubs like Haverfordwest Golf Club, we wouldn’t be able to help saves lives across Wales. Thank you to everyone who supported the captains in their fundraising.”

PEMBROKESHIRE’S annual Long Course Weekend triathlon event could be run on a different route in future, in an attempt to alleviate what is said to be some south county communities “at breaking point” from road closures.

Billed as ‘Europe’s largest multi-sport festival’, the event features swim, bike and run over a variety of distances, with the elite athletes completing all three disciplines at maximum distance to earn the coveted Long Course Weekend medal.

The Tenby-based multi-day triathlon events have been held in the summer since 2010 in the county, but concerns have been raised about loss of trade and inconvenience due to road closures associated with it, particularly the cycling events.

Local members Cllr Chris Williams and Cllr Alec Cormack had asked, at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s full council, that the council withdraw support for the annual Long Course Weekend.

That support takes the form of ‘in-kind’ support such as road closures and car parking rather than a direct financial input.

Their Notice of Motion says: “This multi-day triathlon event, typically taking place in June, has been a significant success in terms of showcasing our county and promoting physical activity. However, as the event has grown in scale, it has increasingly led to disruption for residents and businesses along the course, many of whom report inconvenience or loss of trade due to road closures spanning up to three days.”

It ended, proposing that “PCC withdraw all support for the Long Course Weekend moving forward, ensuring that council resources are directed towards services and initiatives that directly benefit the wider community”.

In a supporting statement, the two councillors said: “Our community is at breaking point; residents and businesses in Saundersfoot, Amroth, Wisemans Bridge and Coppet Hall are effectively cut-off for the majority of a Saturday each June/July by the Long Course Weekend two-lap bike race. Many other areas of South Pembs are similarly affected, some on both Saturday and Sunday if they are also on the run course too.”

Since their notice of motion was publicised, an alternative arrangement was mooted by the Long Course organisers on the eve of the council meeting.

Members at the December meeting were told the alternate routes could see the cycling element take place in a single loop, reaching further into the northern part of the county.

Cllr Williams asked, in light of the late proposals for alternative routes to alleviate the issue, his joint notice not be proceeded with, calling for the latest changes to be considered by council scrutiny committee ahead of any decision by Cabinet.

“The most important consideration is the Long Course route, matters in this notice of motion can therefore then be considered.”

Chief Executive Will Bramble said the alternate proposals which may minimise disruption and may not lead to road closures may alleviate much of the “negative feedback,” with the potential new route taking the cycling event out towards Angle and up towards Fishguard.

Members supported an officer report detailling the organisers’ proposals be sent to scrutiny committee in early 2025, ahead of any Cabinet decision early in the new year.