GOODWICK Sea Scout Group has praised its young members, leaders and volunteers after they helped brighten up the area outside the group’s headquarters.

The team rolled up their sleeves ahead of the town’s recent Wales in Bloom judging, clearing overgrown vegetation and transforming an old boat into an eye-catching flower bed filled with colourful plants.

The group said the work had made a real difference to the front of the hall and thanked everyone who gave their time to help.

A spokesperson said: “Our Scout group worked hard to tidy up the front of our hall in time for the town’s Wales in Bloom judging.

“Well done to all the young people, leaders and volunteers who helped.”

The group is now hoping to build on the improvements and would like to hear from anyone with gardening experience who could volunteer to help care for the land surrounding the hall.

Anyone interested in lending a hand is encouraged to contact Goodwick Sea Scout Group directly.

New bursary schemes will support up to 19 qualified planners, with a particular focus on tackling workforce shortages in mid and west Wales

COMMUNITIES across Wales are set to benefit from stronger local planning services following the announcement of almost £450,000 to train and retain the next generation of planners.

The Welsh Government has confirmed £447,400 for two bursary programmes which could support up to 19 people to gain professional planning qualifications.

The existing Pathways to Planning bursary scheme will receive £126,000, enabling up to seven junior planners to complete fully funded postgraduate study.

A further £321,400 will be invested over three years in a new Mid and West Wales Rural Planners bursary scheme, designed to address recruitment and retention difficulties in rural authorities.

The programme will support up to 12 graduates and existing local authority staff to study for Royal Town Planning Institute-accredited postgraduate qualifications while continuing to live and work in their local communities.

It will operate across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Eryri National Park.

The scheme will also place a strong emphasis on supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and developing locally based professionals with an understanding of the communities they serve.

Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning Siân Gwenllian said effective planning departments were vital to the future of communities across Wales.

She said: “Good planning services are the backbone of thriving communities. They shape where homes are built, where businesses grow and how we protect our natural environment, but too many rural areas in Wales are struggling to recruit and retain the planners they need.

“That is why I joined a roundtable at the Royal Welsh Show this week with rural council leaders, including the leaders of Ceredigion and Powys, to hear directly about the pressures they face.

“These bursary schemes are a direct response to what we heard, investing in local talent, supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and growing the planning workforce from within the communities it serves.”

Ceredigion County Council will lead the delivery of the rural programme in partnership with the other participating authorities.

Council leader Cllr Bryan Davies said the initiative demonstrated what rural authorities could achieve by working together to tackle shared workforce challenges.

He said: “Ceredigion has been proud to lead the development of this regional initiative, working with our partners to create new opportunities for local people to build professional careers in planning while remaining in rural Wales.

“By investing in home-grown talent, supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and strengthening the skills we need for the future, we are helping to ensure that mid and west Wales has the capacity, expertise and local knowledge required to shape thriving, sustainable communities for generations to come.

“We thank the Welsh Government for the opportunity to develop this ‘grow your own’ planners approach.”

A GRIEVING mother is preparing to leap from an aircraft at 15,000 feet in memory of her much-loved son, while raising money for two Pembrokeshire organisations close to her heart.

Tina has booked a tandem parachute jump to honour her son, Luke Foster, who died suddenly on March 12, 2024, aged just 37.

Luke would have celebrated his 40th birthday on August 23 this year, and Tina hopes to complete the jump on that date alongside her boss, Sam Warden, who has volunteered to take part with her.

Money raised through the challenge will be divided between Get The Boys A Lift and Windswept Watersports, two not-for-profit community interest companies working to support people in Pembrokeshire.

Tina said: “In honour of my beloved son Luke, who very sadly passed away suddenly, I have booked a tandem parachute jump at a height of 15,000 feet.

“Luke should have been celebrating his 40th birthday on August 23, so I’m hoping it will be possible to jump on the day of his birthday alongside my amazing boss Sam Warden, who has kindly agreed to support me and jump with me.”

Support following Luke’s death

Get The Boys A Lift was established by a group of friends in 2016 and uses income from its Haverfordwest coffee shop, clothing sales and fundraising activities to provide free and easily accessible mental health support.

Tina said the organisation had supported her through an extremely difficult period following the loss of her son.

She said: “After walking into their café in Haverfordwest, then breaking down into floods of tears as soon as I tried to speak, the Get The Boys A Lift staff comforted me with compassion, much-needed hugs and a long chat.

“That then led to them providing me with weeks of counselling.

“If I could raise some funds for them to carry on doing just that for others, I would be so grateful. I know my Luke would have readily approved, as he had suffered badly with his own mental health for many years.”

Accessible watersports facilities

The second beneficiary, Windswept Watersports, works to provide affordable and inclusive watersports activities for people of all ages and backgrounds, with a particular focus on disabled and disadvantaged groups.

Tina has seen the organisation’s work through her employer, Value Independence CIC, whose disabled clients have taken part in activities including paddleboarding and supported sessions in the sea.

Funds raised through the parachute jump will help Windswept Watersports develop a changing area with accessible facilities.

The planned space would provide wheelchair users with a safe and dignified place to change and would include specialist hoisting equipment.

Tina added: “I would be so grateful if people could donate, no matter how big or small, as anything would be greatly appreciated.

“If you are unable to donate, you could still help by sharing the fundraiser far and wide.”

Donations can be made through Tina’s JustGiving page: HERE.