News
Positive impact of young volunteers
IN THE LEAD UP to Volunteers’ Week (June 1 to 7), the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) reveals the breadth of social impact young people contribute to their communities in Wales through the Volunteering section of their DofE programme and the long-lasting positive effect the experience has on the individual.
In the research sample of over 6,500 DofE participants in Wales aged 14 to 24, popular activities included helping children, such as at afterschool clubs (13%), sports leadership, including basketball scoring and hockey mentoring (11%), volunteering in a charity shop (10%) and helping people in need such as the elderly or homeless (4%). As well as the traditional volunteering roles, the survey also identified more unusual opportunities young people have pursued in Wales, such as going on an archaeological excavation, assisting ballet lessons, tutoring maths and coaching golf and tennis. Through volunteering, young people can gain valuable skills that have a lasting impact on both their work and personal lives. These include communication, team-working and commitment, in addition to the emotional intelligence and social awareness volunteering fosters. The DofE works with other charities to support young people in their volunteering choices, including the British Heart Foundation, Oxfam, NSPCC and PDSA which provide a variety of opportunities. For their DofE, young people commit to three months to a year of volunteering, depending on their award level, and often continue after they’ve achieved their Bronze, Silver or Gold Award. As well as volunteering, other sections of the DofE include: physical, improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness; skills, developing practical and social skills and personal interests; expedition, planning and undertaking an adventurous journey; and Residential, only for Gold Award participants, staying and working away from home doing a shared activity. Stephanie Price, DofE Director, Wales, said: “Young people doing their DofE across the UK and our volunteers put an estimated £41m back into society in volunteering hours per year. This is a phenomenal figure showing the huge benefit of the DofE to local communities and individuals alike. Through their volunteering activities, our young people show themselves to be active, considerate citizens, shining examples of their generation.” There are currently over 300,000 young people taking part in a DofE programme across the UK through a variety of centres including both state and independent schools, special schools, businesses, prisons, Young Offender Institutions and youth groups.
Crime
Police investigating attempted burglary at Haverfordwest shop
POLICE in Pembrokeshire are investigating an attempted burglary at No.37 Food and Wine shop on High Street, Haverfordwest, at about 3am on Wednesday, April 3.
A window was smashed and the door handle broken.
Police said: “If you have any information that could help enquiries, please get in touch with PC 195 Tayler, either by: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.
“Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.”
News
Don’t forget to vote on Thursday, May 2
THURSDAY, May 2 is your chance to vote for the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner.
Don’t forget to use your vote and head to your local polling station between 7am and 10pm.
They are elected by the public to hold Chief Constables and the police force to account on their behalf.
A Police and Crime Commissioner’s job is to set the police budget and make sure it is spent effectively, appoint the local police forces Chief Constables, set police and crime plans in collaboration with residents and work closely with the local council and other organisations on these plans.
This is the first election in Wales where you will need photographic ID to vote.
Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport or drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.
Or you may have applied for a Voter Authority Certificate which is also accepted.
If you plan on taking your Postal Vote to a polling station or County Hall main reception remember to fill in a vote return form. Without the completed form those postal vote(s) will be rejected.
You can only hand in your own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people.
You can find out more about the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections online (opens in new window).
Crime
Banned for sleeping in car whilst over the drink drive limit
A MOTORIST caught sleeping in a BMW in MIiford Haven town centre has appeared before magistrates for being in charge of a motor vehicle when he was over the legal alcohol limit.
Police officers discovered John Steele, 30, soon after 5.30pm on March 9 when he was asleep in his red BMW which was parked in a car park at Hamilton Terrace.
“The engine was running and the lights were on,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told District Judge Mark Layton who was sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court this week.
“Officers smelt alcohol, he was intoxicated and he was slurring his words.”
Officers were unable to carry out a roadside breath test as a result of them not being in possession of a breathalyser at the scene of the incident. Steele was conveyed to a police custody suite where two samples of breath were subsequently taken, the lowest giving a reading of 44 mcg.
Steele, who is employed as a machine technician in Selby, pleaded guilty to the charge of being in charge of a motor vehicle while he was above the alcohol limit.
He was fined £400 and ordered to pay a £160 court surcharge and £85 costs. His licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.
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