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Charity

RNLI to hold festival at Pembroke Castle to mark charity’s 200th anniversary

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THIS Father’s Day, a day of free family fun at Pembroke Castle will mark 200 years of saving lives at sea for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

On Sunday 16 June, Pembroke Castle will host a Lifeboat Festival in honour of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary.

The medieval venue is set to open its gates for the public to meet local lifesavers and have fun while learning how to stay safe in the water with the RNLI Water Safety team.

From 1pm to 8pm, revellers will be able to listen to live music from local choirs, shanty bands and other local musicians as well as browse the RNLI pop-up shop stocked with exclusive RNLI 200 merchandise.

Entry is free to enter, but donations to help the RNLI’s volunteers save lives at sea are welcomed. Food and drink will be provided by local suppliers, and no alcohol is permitted on site.

The RNLI has been saving lives at sea for more than 200 years, in which time its volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved 146,452 lives – this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years.

The charity was founded in a London tavern on 4 March 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and witnessed many shipwrecks, the RNLI has continued saving lives at sea throughout the tests of its history, including tragic disasters, funding challenges and two World Wars.

Two centuries have seen vast developments in the lifeboats and kit used by the charity’s lifesavers – from the early oar-powered vessels to today’s technology-packed boats, which are now built in-house by the charity; and from the rudimentary cork lifejackets of the 1850s to the full protective kit each crew member is now issued with.

The RNLI’s lifesaving reach and remit has also developed over the course of 200 years. Today, it operates 238 lifeboat stations, including four on the River Thames, and has seasonal lifeguards on over 240 lifeguarded beaches around the UK and Ireland. It designs and builds its own lifeboats and runs domestic and international water safety programmes.

While much has changed in 200 years, two things have remained the same – the charity’s dependence on volunteers, who give their time and commitment to save others, and the voluntary contributions from the public which have funded the service for the past two centuries.

To donate to the RNLI, visit: Donate to the RNLI and help save lives at sea

Charity

Tesco branches in Pembrokeshire help raise £40,000 funds for Air Ambulance

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SUPERMARKET staff and their customers have raised an incredible £40,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity in tribute to the team reaching 50,000 missions earlier this year.

Twenty-five Tesco Extra and twenty-three Express stores have taken part in a fundraiser which spanned from Milford Haven, up to Aberystwyth across to Caerphilly.

Regional store managers Nicola McGuiness and Vanessa Martin worked with their teams to “create something special” after learning the lifesaving service had supported many of its staff members’ family and friends.

Martin, who runs an Express store in Swansea, said: “A colleague’s father, had a health emergency and needed the air ambulance, so we all felt it was a really important cause to get behind.”

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.

It is delivered via a unique Third Sector and Public Sector partnership. The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the charity’s vehicles.

The service is pan-Wales, and Matt Bourne who runs a Tesco Extra in Bridgend said it was important to reflect that by trying to get as many stores as possible across the country involved.

He said: “It has been fantastic working together across the Tesco family. We have been able to bring together all our colleagues from the Extra stores, like Bridgend where I work to the express stores like Martin’s in Sketty.”

Matt is a keen runner who oftens takes on big challenges like marathons and ultra marathons. He said: “Given my record, when I first reached out to colleagues, they were quire apprehensive.

“But once they knew we were organising a slightly smaller do-able walk, they were delighted.”

Around forty staff took part in a 12-mile hike along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path from Freshwater East to Broadhaven South on 15 September 2024. Local landlord Nigel Land, from Jack’s at the Longhouse provided shelter, hot drinks, and cooked food for the team.

Matt said: “It was great to catch up with so many people who we’ve worked with in the past who have moved to other stores, and I hadn’t seen for years.

“It was a positive experience, not only because we’re helping a great local charity, but just to catch up and take some time out in the beautiful Welsh country.

“We were super grateful that Nigel at Jack’s at the Longhouse – stepped in and saved the day too – he really looked after us all.”

Each store has organised their own fundraisers from second-hand book sales, cake bakes too sponsored fitness challenges.

Matt continued: “There were running and cycling events in store, with gym machines brought in.

“The ones fortunate enough to have close links with their local air ambulance base managed to get pop up banners, which looked great.”

He added: “We’ve felt the love from customers running groups, cycling groups, motorbike groups, people that have had lots of experience with the Welsh air ambulance.

“This has been such an easy thing to raise money for because people are so enthusiastic about the charity, which encouraged us to keep going.”

Larger stores were set a £1,500 target, whilst the smaller ones were tasked with raising £250.

Matt said: “There’s been a playful sense of competition between a few of the large stores, including Haverfordwest and Carmarthen who raised £2,300 between them.

“I think once we get the final figure, everyone will feel a real sense of pride.”

He added: “It was a bigger hill for the smaller stores to climb too, so it’s great that the larger ones did so well. They’ve done a brilliant job.”

Martin who lives near the air ambulance’s base in Dafen near Llanelli, says he often sees it taken off from the back garden of his home.

He said: “It’s one of those things that you fundraise for, but you never want to have to use because you know it’s only coming to you if you are seriously unwell or injured.”

The whole team have been over-whelmed by the kindness shown to them. Local suppliers like Braces Bread donated £500 and a signed Swans shirt appeared on Martin’s desk.

He said: “I only mentioned on our store Facebook page what we were doing and a female customer messaged saying she’d get the team to sign this season’s shirt.”

Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £11.2 million every year to keep its helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.

Martin said: “It costs such a huge amount of money each year to run and what we have raised in comparison is a real drop in the ocean.

“But over these past few months, everyone we’ve spoken with and told what we were doing have been very positive about supporting the cause.”

He added: “I think most people don’t realise how much these clinicians do at the scene. It has educated us about the work the air ambulance does.

“It is one of those things that you want to help fundraise for but never want to have to use because you know they are only coming to you if you are seriously unwell or injured.”

The Tesco team recently visited Wales Air Ambulance’s airbase in Dafen, to hand over a cheque for £40,000. Martin said: “It’s so fascinating to actually come and see the base. When you do the fundraising and your challenges, you don’t think about the area where the helicopter comes from, or the people involved.

“But just coming here and seeing the facilities and the clinicians, it has been incredible to see everything up close and in action. We were here when the team were called out and watched it take off and then return.

“It’s just an eye opener to watch behind the scenes what actually goes on, we are just so happy to have been able to raise as much money as we have for such a great cause.”

Mike May, Regional Fundraising Manager for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity said: “We were hugely proud to complete 50,000 missions earlier this year, but we could not have done it without fundraisers like this.

“The team at Tesco have been incredible, they really pulled out all the stops to make this happen and it has been wonderful for my colleagues Abi Pearce and Christian Sullivan and I, to support them along the way.

“To raise just over £40,000 is an incredible feat! It has been inspiring to see how everyone has pulled together. We are hugely grateful to all the staff and customers who made this possible.

“Each mission costs around £2,900, one hour of aftercare with our patient liaison team costs £31- so this large donation will really make a huge difference to so many people and help save lives across Wales.”

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Saundersfoot Runners host Food Bank Run in support of James Criddle Foundation

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Community event set for Sunday, February 23

SAUNDERSFOOT Runners are set to host a charity run/jog/walk in aid of the James Criddle Foundation. The event will take place on Sunday, February 23, starting at 10:00am from Wiseman’s Bridge Inn.

The route is traffic-free, making it safe for participants of all ages, including those bringing dogs—although owners are asked to keep their pets on a lead. The event will last no longer than an hour, and hot drinks will be available for purchase at the Inn afterwards.

The initiative was originally launched by Sarah Don at her running club in Fareham, Hampshire, as a way to collect donations for the local food bank. Inspired by the impact of the event, Sarah and her club planned to make it an annual tradition. However, the onset of COVID-19 and personal challenges delayed its expansion. In 2023, Sarah took the initiative to create a Facebook page, encouraging running groups across the UK and beyond to support their local food banks, turning the event into a national and international movement.

Saundersfoot Runners answered the call in 2023 and have since been organising their own Food Bank Run in support of the James Criddle Foundation. The Foundation operates a food bank from Tenby AFC clubhouse in the Clickets, Tenby.

Supporting local communities

“The Food Bank Run has been a huge support to the Foundation,” said Rachael Criddle, one of the founders. “We are grateful to everyone who takes part, to Saundersfoot Runners for organising such a positive and uplifting event, and to Wiseman’s Bridge Inn for generously allowing us to use their premises.”

The event is free to enter, but participants are encouraged to bring a bag of food donations. Items in high demand include dried food such as pasta and rice, tinned goods including beans, soup, meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables, as well as tinned pies, sausages, and jars or packets of cook-in sauces. Toiletries such as toothpaste, shampoo, and shower gel are also welcomed. A full list of needed items can be found on the Saundersfoot Runners Events page.

Organisers are hoping for a strong turnout to support this vital cause.

Useful links:
Food Bank Run Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/foodbankrun
Further information: https://runr.co.uk/pages/foodbankrun
James Criddle Foundation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086158195382
Saundersfoot Runners Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/saundersfootrunners

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RNLI on the lookout for new beach lifesavers in Pembrokeshire

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LOCALLY, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is seeking budding lifeguards to launch their lifesaving careers on some of Wales’ most popular beaches.

The RNLI are recruiting beach lifesavers ahead of the 2025 season. Recruitment for this season’s lifeguard team has started nationally in preparation for providing local authorities and landowners with the service they request to keep beachgoers safe this summer. Recruitment is still open for positions in North Pembrokeshire.

The charity’s lifeguards not only rescue those in difficulty in the water, they also provide vital beach first-aid and safety advice to ensure visitors can return home safely. In 2023, RNLI lifeguards in West Wales provided patrols and responded to more than 753 incidents, helping more than 1,148 people in need, saving seven lives.

Last summer, lifeguards rescued stricken swimmers from powerful rip currents, saved children being blown offshore in inflatables, came to the aid of paddleboarders and gave lifesaving CPR on beaches among the thousands of incidents they attended.

Successful applicants will receive world-class lifesaving training, enjoy good rates of pay, the possibility of flexible working patterns and develop valuable skills for a future career.

Stuart Penfold Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for North Pembrokeshire said:

‘Being a beach lifeguard is great. Although the job can be very challenging at times, you get the chance to work alongside some incredible people, receive great training, be outdoors and most importantly, make a real difference to people’s lives.

‘The role is well suited to outgoing individuals, confident swimmers and those who are passionate about helping people. This year our lifeguard team will be patrolling Poppit Sands, Newport Sands, Whitesands, Newgale, Nolton Haven and Broad Haven.’

‘To apply to join North Pembrokeshire’s Lifeguard Team visit: Lifeguards: Haverfordwest North – Poppit Sands to Broadhaven

Lee Fisher, Lifeguard Experience Manager said: ‘Beach lifeguarding is a great opportunity and a very rewarding role that changes lives – including your own – all whilst enjoying the beach as your office.

‘Our lifeguards range from teenagers all the way up to lifesavers in their 70s, as long as you meet the fitness requirements and you are over 16 years old, there could be a role for you.

‘The job also has great paths for progression – we have lifeguards who have been working for the RNLI for years, both on the beach and as part of our support teams, and the skills you gain can make an ideal first step towards many careers. It’s a great opportunity whether you want a rewarding summer job or to pursue a career in lifesaving.’

To find lifeguard vacancies in your area visit: Find a job (rnli.org)

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