Families invited to reflect, remember and find comfort at Hywel Dda event

THE ANNUAL Hywel Dda Loved and Lost Baby Remembrance Service will take place in Carmarthen on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

Organised by staff at Hywel Dda University Health Board and led by its Spiritual Care (Chaplaincy) team, the service has long offered comfort to bereaved parents and families, providing a space to reflect and come together in remembrance.

The service will be held at Bethel Chapel, Hill House, Picton Terrace, Carmarthen (SA31 3BT) at 12:00pm. The chapel is located behind the Welsh Government offices and the Army Reserve Centre, with ample parking available nearby.

Euryl Howells, Senior Chaplain at the health board, said the service recognises the many forms loss can take.

He said: “We know that the journey of grief can be slow and painful, and that the experience of loss can be wide — from early miscarriage to the death of a baby or a child.

“Our remembrance service is for anyone who has experienced loss, no matter when it happened or where you were living at the time.

“We offer a space for quiet reflection, as well as the chance to come together with others who have experienced similar loss. Being surrounded by support and love can provide comfort at a difficult time.”

This year’s service will include readings, poems and reflective music, including performances by a staff choir, alongside quotations from Winnie the Pooh.

Parents are invited to bring a photograph, a named item, or a keepsake such as a blanket or toy to place on a memory table during the service.

Refreshments will be provided thanks to the support of Pastor Tim and members of Bethel Church.

Donation bags aim to ease pressure as foodbank demand remains high

WELSH families struggling to afford food during the school holidays are being offered extra support this Easter through a nationwide initiative launched by Tesco.

Customers visiting Tesco stores across Wales can buy pre-packed donation bags, priced between £2 and £5, to help families facing financial hardship during the Easter break. The scheme will run from Sunday (Mar 30) until April 12.

The bags contain essential long-life food items and will be distributed to charities including FareShare, The Felix Project and Trussell, helping provide vital supplies to those most in need.

Holiday periods can place added pressure on families who rely on free school meals during term time. Without that support, many parents struggle to ensure their children have access to regular, nutritious food.

Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco said: “Holiday periods can be really tough for families who miss out on free school meals, making it harder to ensure children get healthy food.

“These donation bags are a simple way for customers to make a real difference, helping provide vital support to families over the school holidays.”

Figures from Trussell show foodbank demand remains significantly higher than before the pandemic, with usage 45% above 2019 levels. In 2025 alone, the network distributed the equivalent of one food parcel every 12 seconds, with families accounting for nearly two-thirds of support.

FareShare and The Felix Project, which have recently merged to form the UK’s largest food redistribution charity, now support more than 8,000 community groups—83% of which work with families and children.

Tesco says it will continue its year-round efforts to tackle food poverty through schemes such as its Community Food Connection programme, which redistributes unsold food from stores, and its Fruit and Veg for Schools initiative, which supports healthier eating in schools with high levels of free school meals.

Matthew van Duyvenbode, Co-CEO at Trussell said: “No one should face hunger. These donations make a real difference, especially during the school holidays when families face increased costs.”

Charlotte Hill, CEO at FareShare & The Felix Project, added: “The school holidays can be especially difficult for parents already struggling. Initiatives like this help ensure more families can access the food they need.”

Tesco customers can also donate additional long-life items in store, including tinned meat and fish, pasta, rice, cereals, soups, and long-life milk.

Critics argue the scheme places the burden on customers at a time when supermarkets are reporting strong profits, while supporters say it provides vital, immediate help to struggling families.

A £1,500 grant from Tesco Stronger Starts has helped deliver a surf therapy programme for young people facing mental health challenges in Pembrokeshire.

Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said the funding enabled Tonic Surf to run a ten-week course aimed at improving wellbeing among those aged 14 to 25.

The programme combined surfing with beach-based activities, using the natural coastal environment as a therapeutic setting. Sessions were delivered in partnership with Walkin’ on Water Surf School and supported by clinicians from the Health Board’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Participants received guidance from qualified surf coaches alongside mental health professionals, creating a structured and supportive environment designed to build confidence and resilience.

Organisers said the project helped young people develop coping strategies, strengthen social connections, and support their recovery through positive outdoor experiences.

Claire Rumble, Fundraising Officer, said: “Thank you to Tesco Stronger Starts for supporting this local project.

“The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda, and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

Hywel Dda Health Charities said the initiative highlights the value of community funding in providing additional support services beyond core NHS provision.

Photo caption: Community support: Corinda Pengilly, Tesco Charity Champion, with Katie Hancock, Fundraising Officer (Pic: Supplied).