Community organisations in Pembrokeshire encouraged to apply for new grants supporting skills and job access

LOCAL Senedd Members Samuel Kurtz and Paul Davies are urging charities and community groups across Pembrokeshire to apply for a new round of funding aimed at helping people gain skills and access employment.

The latest round of the National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) Community Matters Fund has opened, offering grants to grassroots organisations supporting people who are struggling to find work or return to employment.

Delivered in partnership with Localgiving, the spring funding round will distribute £250,000 to projects designed to build skills, confidence and experience in an evolving jobs market.

Funding can support initiatives such as CV workshops, interview coaching, work placements and training opportunities. Projects helping people develop practical skills in sectors including construction, engineering, digital industries and clean energy are also eligible.

The fund is targeted at those facing barriers to employment, including young people not in education, employment or training, individuals with health conditions or disabilities, armed forces veterans, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and those returning to work after time away due to caring responsibilities or illness.

Registered charities and non-profit companies limited by guarantee can apply for grants of up to £5,000. Constituted community groups without a charity number can apply for up to £2,000.

The funding is available to eligible organisations across the Midlands, South West England and South Wales.

Samuel Kurtz said: “This fund offers a valuable opportunity for local groups to secure support to help people gain confidence, training and work experience. I would encourage any eligible organisation in Pembrokeshire to consider applying.”

Paul Davies added: “Helping people into work and supporting them to develop new skills is vital for both individuals and our local economy. Pembrokeshire has many excellent community groups delivering this kind of support, and I hope they will take full advantage of this funding to expand their work.”

The application window opened on Monday (Mar 16) and closes at 5:00pm on Thursday (Apr 23). Successful applicants will be notified in May, with funding distributed later that month.

Further information is available via the National Grid Electricity Distribution Community Matters Fund website.

Discovery of Roman fort sparks fresh theory linking west Wales to Ireland’s patron saint

PEMBROKESHIRE could be at the centre of one of history’s greatest mysteries, following the discovery of a previously unknown Roman fort that is now fuelling new speculation about the origins of St Patrick.

The saint, who lived during the 5th century, famously wrote that he was taken as a teenager from a place called “Bannavem Taburniae” — a location that has never been identified.

Now, new evidence suggests west Wales may have been far more connected and strategically important in Roman times than previously believed.

A discovery that changes the picture

The recent discovery of a large Roman fort in Pembrokeshire has challenged long-held assumptions that the region was a quiet and lightly occupied corner of Roman Britain.

Instead, archaeologists now believe west Wales may have been home to organised military activity, supported by road networks and coastal links.

This emerging picture places Pembrokeshire firmly within the Roman world — not on its fringes.

The mystery of Bannavem Taburniae

St Patrick’s own writings provide the only clue to his origins.

He describes being captured by Irish raiders and taken across the sea from Bannavem Taburniae, believed to have been a coastal or near-coastal settlement in Roman Britain.

Its exact location remains unknown.

However, historians broadly agree it would have been:
a settlement within the Roman world, accessible from the sea, and located on the western side of Britain.

Pembrokeshire fits that description.

Geography strengthens the case

Few places in Britain are closer to Ireland than Pembrokeshire.

The crossing from the west Wales coast is relatively short and would have been well within the capabilities of Irish raiders during the 5th century.

Communities along this coastline were accessible, connected and exposed.

If raiders were targeting coastal settlements, west Wales would have been among the most likely places.

Earlier than St Davids—but part of the same world

St Davids itself had not yet been founded during St Patrick’s lifetime, but west Wales was already part of a growing network of early Christian communities along the Irish Sea.

The movement of people, goods and ideas between Wales and Ireland was well established.

The later emergence of St Davids as a major religious centre reinforces the importance of Pembrokeshire within that shared cultural and spiritual landscape.

Not proof—but a powerful possibility

There is no direct evidence linking the newly discovered Roman fort—or any site in Pembrokeshire—to Bannavem Taburniae.

No historian has yet identified the county as St Patrick’s birthplace.

However, the discovery changes the context.

It shows that west Wales was not isolated, but part of a structured and connected Roman landscape that closely matches the type of settlement described in St Patrick’s account.

A theory worth exploring

For centuries, historians have focused on northern England and Scotland when searching for Patrick’s origins.

But the combination of proximity to Ireland, new archaeological discoveries and strong maritime links is beginning to shift attention west.

Pembrokeshire may not yet provide the answer.

But it is now firmly in the frame.

A local link to a global story

Ireland will always be at the heart of St Patrick’s legacy.

But his story began somewhere else.

And there is a growing case that it may have begun on the Pembrokeshire coast.

Public urged to take care along the coast

PEMBROKESHIRE residents and visitors are being urged to take extra care when using the Coast Path and local beaches following a series of recent landslips.

Authorities say a wet winter, following last year’s prolonged dry spell, has increased the risk of further cliff falls and ground instability in the coming weeks.

People heading to the coast are being advised to keep well away from cliff edges and to avoid sitting directly beneath cliff faces while on beaches.

Cliffs along the Pembrokeshire coastline are naturally formed and are constantly changing due to erosion and weathering. Periods of heavy or sustained rainfall can seep into cracks in the rock, weakening the structure and making landslips more likely.

While these processes are a normal part of coastal evolution, they mean cliff faces can collapse suddenly and without warning.

The Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, Cllr Rhys Sinnett said: “We have seen a number of landslips and cliff falls around the county this winter and want people to ensure they are aware of their surroundings while out and about.

“If you are visiting the coast, please follow HM Coastguard guidance—stay well back from cliff edges and bases, observe warning signs, and keep to signposted coastal paths.”

James Parkin, Director of Nature and Tourism at the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, added: “After months of prolonged rainfall, we are seeing increased instability along several sections of the coast.

“We advise everyone to remain vigilant, be mindful of their surroundings, and take extra care when accessing the Coast Path and beaches.

“We are working with partner agencies to monitor conditions and will continue to issue advice through our website and social media channels where necessary.”