Community

Great turnout for PATH’s Stakeholder Engagement Event

Published

9 months ago

March 20, 2024

PEMBROKESHIRE ACTION FOR THE HOMELESS (PATH) said they were were delighted that nearly 40 attendees joined them on Tuesday (March 19) at The County Hotel in Haverfordwest for their Stakeholder Engagement Event.

The aim of the event, The Herald has been told, was primarily to provide an update on the progress of our UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF) projects – being delivered by Pathway Counselling and our Numeracy team – but it was also a chance for us to update our partners on other areas of the organisation as well.

The UK SPF projects are being funded by the UK Government’s Multiply initiative, through Pembrokeshire County Council.

***Michael Hooper, Managing Director, opened the event with an update on the direction of PATH over the next year***

Michael Hooper, Managing Director of PATH, opened the event with a summary of the changes which have impacted the organisation since PATH were successful in our bid for nearly £1m of funding from the UK SPF.

This extra funding, which has resulted in rapid growth of the organisation, has allowed us to help more people than ever with over 2,500 people now contacting us every year for help.

However, a growing homelessness problem, the shortage of housing, and uncertain funding for other areas of the organisation due pose challenges for the future.

The future is positive though, as he outlined our plans to be more sustainable, expand strategic partnerships to amplify our impact, empower teams to develop a future focused business plan, and ultimately help more people and prevent homelessness whenever possible.

***Dean Flood, Senior Tutor of the Numeracy Project***

***Sally Berry, Tutor from the Numeracy Project***

Dean Flood, Senior Tutor on the Numeracy Project, was joined by Sally Berry, Tutor on the Numeracy Project, to outline how this innovative new service has started months ahead of schedule.

The project is available to anyone aged 19+ and living in Pembrokeshire, with guidelines recently changing to allow even those with a level 2 qualification in maths to participate.

Originally teaching was meant to start in April 2024, however PATH started in January 2024 with two pilot groups at The VC Gallery in Pembroke Dock and The Mount Community Centre in Milford Haven.

So far PATH has engaged 797 PATH clients, with 68 hours of teaching delivered, with 18 venues identified as suitable locations across Pembrokeshire.

***Jonathan Clarke, Senior Pathway Lettings Coordinator***

Jonathan Clarke, Senior Coordinator at Pathway Lettings, then updated our partners about the big changes at our social lettings agency in recent months.

Using powerful new software – Alto – PATH says it can now place people into accommodation quicker than ever, and a digital hub where tenants can view their documents and files makes managing a tenancy much simpler.

Pathway Lettings is operating in a difficult market, with inflation and the rising cost of living making it harder than ever to provide affordable housing options. However, PATH are working, they say, with landlords to keep rent as low as possible.

Jonathan also outlined our plans to find more landlords and add new properties to our portfolio, so that PAT can continue to provide affordable options across Pembrokeshire.

Currently, Pathway Lettings manages more than 170 properties.

**Julie Ashley-Jones, Mental Health Manager at Pathway Counselling**

***Helen Hillary, Counsellor at Pathway Counselling***

Julie Ashley-Jones and Helen Hillary provided an update on the huge amount of support that Pathway Counselling has provided with the addition of their UK SPF funding.

The team has seen a huge demand for our free counselling services – available to anyone aged 16+ in Pembrokeshire – and has now grown to 30 counsellors. This comprises of 15 qualified counsellors and 15 trainee counsellors.

At the team’s permanent base at 19 Market St in Haverfordwest, drop-in sessions are now taking place on Monday and Thursday every week (12pm – 3pm) and wellbeing workshops are also being held there.

Since September, over 300 referrals for counselling have been received by the team from 30 different sources (crisis teams, social media, partner organisations, etc) with an estimated 1500 hours of counselling delivered.

Several members of the audience were quick to voice their experiences of referring to Pathway Counselling and their positive experiences of rapid support being provided to their clients.

John Harris, one of our trustees, closed the event before everyone tucked into the buffet by thanking everyone for their attendance and reiterated the point that PATH are looking for future funding options to ensure the long term viability of these projects and our future plans.

Community

Neyland Community Christmas Lunch a festive success

Published

20 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

NEYLAND TOWN COUNCIL rolled up their sleeves to support this year’s Community Christmas Lunch, spreading festive cheer and warm hospitality to attendees on Christmas Day at the Alumchine.

Councillors Steve Campodonic, David Devauden, Steve Thomas, and Brian Rothero began their efforts as early as 7:30am, working tirelessly to ensure the event ran smoothly.

The dedicated organisers, including Trish Campodonic, Pam, and Lloyd Hamilton, along with other volunteers, created a welcoming space filled with festive spirit and a delicious meal with all the trimmings.

The event brought together members of the community who might otherwise have spent the day alone, highlighting the warmth and generosity that Neyland is known for.

A heartfelt ‘Well done’ to everyone involved for making this Christmas lunch a resounding success and spreading joy to so many.

Community

Milford Haven’s heartwarming ‘Christmas Together’ event another success

Published

20 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN came together once again on Christmas Day for the annual ‘Christmas Together’ event, a cherished tradition that has been running since December 2012.

Organised by Mayor Cllr William Elliott and his consort Lloyd Jones, alongside Cllr Colin Sharp and the dedicated Christmas Together Committee, the event provided warmth, community spirit, and festive cheer to those who might otherwise spend the day alone.

Volunteers played an essential role, with special thanks extended to Claire and her kitchen team, who prepared and served a delicious Christmas meal for all attendees. Milford Haven Town Band added a festive soundtrack to the day, while support from Milford Haven Fire Station and numerous volunteers ensured everything ran smoothly.

The event, which aims to combat loneliness during what can be a difficult time of year for many, was described as a resounding success. The organisers expressed heartfelt gratitude to all those who donated money, items, and their time to make the day special.

A spokesperson for the event said: “As another year closes, we would like to thank all those that made Christmas Together 2024 so amazing. Great day, great company, and so good to see the community working together.”

Special recognition was also given to Marble Hall Mini Market for their kind donation of a festive hamper.

The Christmas Together raffle added an extra layer of excitement to the day, with generous donations from supporters.

A special thank you was extended to Mariam Dalziel and the team from South Hook for kindly donating an Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet as one of the raffle prizes. Other prizes included a hamper of wine, a tower of temptation (chocolates and Prosecco), chocolate tub hampers, and many more.

Preparations for the event began well in advance, with invitations being posted on Saturday, 26th October 2024. The dedicated team behind this effort included Leanne from Milford Haven Post Office, Mayor Cllr William Elliott, Cllr Guy Woodham (Founder and Chair of Christmas Together), and Cllr Colin Sharp (Committee Member and Chair of the Pill Social Centre).

The event once again highlighted the strong sense of community spirit in Milford Haven, with attendees leaving with full hearts and warm smiles.

Merry Christmas to all from the Christmas Together team!

Community

Heartfelt Christmas message from Tenby’s Mayor

Published

20 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE MAYOR of Tenby, Councillor Dai Morgan, has delivered a warm and heartfelt Christmas message to the community.

Cllr Morgan praised the town’s ‘resilient and united’ spirit, reflecting on the ‘kindness and generosity’ that have defined Tenby throughout the year. He expressed deep gratitude for the unwavering community support that continues to make the town ‘a truly special place to call home.’

Acknowledging the challenges many families face this year, including the ongoing cost-of-living pressures and rising energy costs, Cllr Morgan encouraged residents to embrace the core values of the festive season: peace, compassion, and hope.

“Christmas is a time to come together, to reflect on what truly matters, and to share moments of joy and hope for a brighter tomorrow,” he said.

The mayor extended his heartfelt thanks to those who work tirelessly to keep the community safe and supported over the festive season. This included the police, RNLI, health services, fire crews, HM Coastguard, carers, and all frontline workers.

He also highlighted the vital contributions of Tenby’s voluntary organisations, who continue to bring comfort and joy to those who may feel isolated or face hardship during the holidays.

“Without the dedication and compassion of our voluntary groups, our town would lose so much of its heart. Their efforts make a real difference, and they deserve our gratitude and support every single day,” Cllr Morgan added.

Reflecting on the year gone by, he shared how humbled he felt meeting so many inspiring individuals who contribute to the town’s rich tapestry of community life. Looking ahead to 2025, he expressed optimism and a renewed sense of gratitude for his family, friends, and colleagues.

Cllr Morgan concluded his message with warm wishes for the season:

“May this Christmas bring you moments of happiness, peace, and togetherness. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful Christmas and a hopeful New Year.”