The Haverfordwest County AFC Bluebirds Foundation is celebrating a £1,300 boost this month thanks to local insurance brokers Lloyd & Whyte Community Broking.

A recent fundraising day raised £653.64, which was fund matched by the insurance broker’s parent company, the Benefact Group, doubling the amount to over £1,300.

Lloyd & Whyte Community Broking St Clears are sponsors of Haverfordwest County AFC
which includes supporting the charitable arm of the club, Bluebirds Foundation. The Foundation focuses on the prevention of poverty and strengthens the bond between the
football club and local people, including launching junior supporter clubs and community
brunch clubs.
Harry Thomas, aTrustee at Bluebirds Foundation said:
“We are extremely grateful to Lloyd & Whyte for further enhancing the funds raised at
our Foundation Fundraiser, held at the Ogi Bridge Meadow in collaboration with
Haverfordwest County AFC and we look forward to working closely with Lloyd & White again at future events.”
Leyla Phillips stated:
“Events like this show what community is all about. I think it’s great what the
Bluebirds foundation are doing locally for Pembrokeshire, and it was a pleasure to be
a part of it. Being part of Lloyd & Whyte Community Broking and the Benefact Group
made it even more special as we are proud to match all funds that were raised on the day which I’m sure will be a nice addition for the foundation, to enable them to carry
on doing great initiatives within our community.’’
The funday event saw bouncy castles, cake stands, a raffle, shirt swap stand, kick-up
competitions, and inflatable goal, alongside the normal match day activities, all providing
hours of fun for spectators and supporters.

And to top it all, Haverfordwest County AFC won 6-0 on the day against Llanelli Town AFC.

Ceredigion Preseli ranked second in Wales for the share of household income donated to charity

PEOPLE in Wales donated an estimated £530 million to charity last year, down from £645 million in 2024, according to new research.

But the Charities Aid Foundation report also contains a striking west Wales finding, with Ceredigion Preseli ranked as the second most generous constituency in the country.

Residents in Ceredigion Preseli donated an average of 1.21 per cent of household income to charity, behind only Cardiff North, which topped the Welsh list at 1.32 per cent.

The constituency ranked ahead of Gower, Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Ynys Môn, Cardiff West, Monmouthshire and Caerfyrddin.

Across Wales, however, the wider picture shows a fall in charitable giving. CAF said 54 per cent of people in Wales donated to charity last year, down from 61 per cent in 2024.

The charity said household financial pressures were a major factor, with one in five people across the UK saying they do not donate because they cannot afford it.

CAF’s Local Giving Report looked at charitable giving, community engagement and local pride across every UK constituency.

It found that 35 per cent of people in Wales already engage in their local community, while 18 per cent would like more opportunities to get involved.

More than half of people in Wales, 56 per cent, said they had a sense of local pride. In Monmouthshire, that figure rose to 70 per cent.

The report suggests that people who feel more connected to their local communities are more likely to support charities and good causes.

Mark Greer, Managing Director of the Charities Aid Foundation, said: “Charities are at the core of our communities. Through their work up and down the country, they strengthen local areas and support those in need.

“When we are facing a sustained trend of declining donations, part of the solution to unlocking greater giving lies in understanding the power of place and community.

“It might seem obvious, but places matter to people. This report shows that when people are engaged in a local area, they tend to give more.”

Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Wales, said: “This report confirms again the generosity of people in Wales in backing the causes that are important to them.

“Wales has a strong history of giving and philanthropy. We see reminders of it all around us in how donors and philanthropists have shaped our communities, from the miners building community halls to the people today who support our most vulnerable people.

“At a time when community groups and charities are needed more than ever, this support continues to be critically important.”

COUNCILLOR Michele Wiggins and Councillor Roy Thomas, both respective outgoing Mayors for Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest, are proud to announce that they have had a truly successful year of raising funds and awareness for the Paul Sartori Foundation.

Councillor Michele Wiggins dedicated a great deal of her time supporting and championing her chosen charities, The Paul Sartori Foundation and Forever 11 throughout her mayoral term and raised £1,700 for each charity. 

With equal dedication and spirit, Councillor Roy Thomas, supported by Mayoress Shirley Thomas, raised £2,172.50 for the Foundation, as well as raising money for charity Sandy Bear.

Throughout the year, both mayors have hosted afternoon teas, coffee mornings, sponsored walks, bingo evenings, and much more, in what has been a really special year of community spirit. 

The Paul Sartori Foundation’s Community Relationship Officer, Rosie-Faye Hart said: “As respected and prominent figures in the community, the support of the town mayors has had a significant impact on community awareness and participation, as well as ensuring that the safe continuation of these vital services are maintained through important community fundraising partnerships.”

These partnerships are not just about raising funds, but also raising the profile of the charity, spreading the word about the hospice at home services, and telling people about the fact that the services are free at the point of use. 

Without this kind of community support and spirit, the Foundation would not be able to help so many of those in need across Pembrokeshire.

Being chosen as Charity of the Year means that Paul Sartori can make a significant impact in a truly collaborative way, with communities as the focus. 

If you would like to choose Paul Sartori as your Charity of the Year in the future, they would be delighted to hear from you and support you in any way they can. Email Rosie-Faye on [email protected] or call Head Office on 01437 763 223.