News
Pembrokeshire County Council staff make a difference through volunteering
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL staff have been making a difference through volunteering in our county.
More than 75 employees have volunteering in our communities so far this year, offering their time to voluntary organisations and charities running vital services across Pembrokeshire.
Pembrokeshire County Council encourages volunteering by supporting staff through the Employee Volunteering Scheme. This is part a wider drive to support Pembrokeshire communities to lead activity in their local area.
Staff have volunteered as teams or individuals for a whole range of organisations including Pembrokeshire People First, Scolton Manor, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Plant Dewi, Treginnis Farm, The Wildlife Trust, Haverhub, Local Scouts and Sea Cadet groups – and many more.
The incredible work undertaken, fits perfectly with Volunteers Week 2022, which is taking place between 1st and 7th June.
Will Bramble, Pembrokeshire County Council Chief Executive commended staff for their efforts in supporting local causes. He said: “It is brilliant to see so many of our staff using the Employee Volunteering Scheme to volunteer for worthy causes around Pembrokeshire.
“Volunteering is an integral part of any healthy community, and we are proud to be able to offer this initiative to our staff. We hope to see many more of our teams and individuals volunteering in the future.”
One example is Pembrokeshire County Council Team Leader Ceri Jones, who recently volunteered with the national parks to help with the PLANT project – a partnership project between the Local Authority, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Hywel Dda, planting a tree for every child born to a Pembrokeshire family.
Ceri said: “I enjoyed being out in the fresh air, in a new place and meeting friends and colleagues. Planting trees is also particularly satisfying when you see them grow over time and a field becomes a woodland.”
Rebecca Evans, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Volunteering Development Officer added: “Ceri joined a small group of National Park volunteers to help fit weed mats around newly planted trees at a site near Wolfscastle.
“Between all the volunteers we fitted approximately 600 tree mats. Volunteering is so important to the work that we do and it was great to have a staff member from PCC join us.”
In addition, members of the Commissioning team at Pembrokeshire County Council recently spent a day volunteering at Scolton Manor, helping to improve the accessibility of pathways.
David Guy, Participant Supervisor at Norman Industries was pleased to have a group of volunteers from the authority: “Through the Pembrokeshire County Council volunteering scheme we had a team of their staff to help us for a day. The work included preparation of the new pathway, marking out its route through the woodland, grinding down of roots and clearance of debris.
“Large amounts of hard core was moved using the site tractor and the team helped with laying the path.
“The new pathway and improvements to the existing ones has really made a huge difference to the site and the feedback received from the general public has been extremely positive.”
To volunteer at either Scolton Manor or with the PLANT project, please contact David or Rebecca.
Scolton Manor: [email protected]
The PLANT project: [email protected]
Business
Expansion for Ashmole & Co with acquisition of Jones Ward Accountants
CHARTERED, Certified Accountants, Ashmole & Co, are delighted to announce their expansion following the acquisition of JonesWard accountancy firm in Carmarthen.
Ashmole & Co Carmarthen has today taken over JonesWard who have closed their office in Lammas Street, Carmarthen. All JonesWard staff, including Ian Jones and James Ward, have transferred over to Ashmole & Co and will be based in the Old School, the Quay, Carmarthen.
JonesWard informed their clients that the administrative burden of running a practice had increased significantly over recent years due to the constant changing money laundering and tax regulations, software requirements and so on. Over the past 12 months it had become more challenging to maintain the level of service they had been used to providing.
Ian Jones said, “We feel Ashmole & Co share the same values as us and have the necessary expertise and resources to ensure we can continue to provide the personal touch and level of service clients have been accustomed to. Myself and James are not retiring but we will be supported by Ashmole & Co’s partners and staff from now on in their Carmarthen office.”
Ashmole & Co partners Sharon George, Carwyn Morgan and Vinal Patel will strive to ensure JonesWard clients will continue to receive the high quality of service they are used to.
Vinal Patel, Partner with Ashmole & Co said, “It is our priority to make the transition as smooth as possible with all employees of JonesWard having already transferred to Ashmole & Co and are now based in our office on the Quay in Carmarthen. We look forward to meeting our new clients and working closely with them to meet their needs in the future.”
Ashmole & Co Chartered and Certified Accountants have been established since 1897 and are one of the largest accountancies and auditing practices in south Wales, now operating from thirteen offices throughout south and west Wales including Swansea, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Ammanford.
Charity
Fundraiser to take on epic 87k steps challenge to raise funds for Withybush
SAM Faulkner is challenging himself to walk 87,000 steps in one day to raise funds for the Cardiac Care Unit at Withybush Hospital in memory of his father.
Sam will be walking along the Brecon and Monmouth Canal from Brecon to Rogerstone in Newport.
Sam said: “Since losing my Dad last year, I made a personal commitment to do something to raise money every year for the Cardiac Care Unit at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest who looked after my Dad so well in his final days.
“I will be challenging myself to complete 87,000 steps in a day on July 20th 2024 – 1,000 steps for every year of my Dad’s life. I’ll be walking around 40 miles in about 10 hours.
“Canal walks were always a firm favourite of mine and my Dad’s, with many days spent walking along the Grand Union in Northamptonshire when I was growing up.
“My family and I, and the unit at the hospital, would be beyond grateful for anything supporters could give. Thank you ever so much in advance.”
Katie Hancock, Pembrokeshire Fundraising Officer, said: “We’d like to say a huge good luck to Sam with his challenge. Thank you so much for dedicating your time to raise more funds for the Cardiac Care Unit.
“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.”
You can donate to Sam’s fundraiser here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/sam-faulkner-1712508280259?newPage=true&fbclid=IwAR2tyVVQVea0DLQelSsrp7Ie2CKjX0jXGnwndR_tBKL-Av2kv8f5nchEolw
For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk
Business
Dragon LNG explores integration of LNG and CO2 liquefaction processes
DRAGON LNG, based in Waterston, Milford Haven, recently announced a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions.
The company awarded a contract to Worley, global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources experts, to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study.
The study is focussing on exploring the potential benefits of integrating LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)
regasification and CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) liquefaction processes at Dragon LNG’s facilities. This integration holds promise for a more efficient operation, with the potential to reduce energy consumption, carbon intensity and the levelized cost of CO2 export not only at the Dragon site but also for Haven industry companies.
If feasible, the technology at Dragon would support wider collaboration with RWE Pembroke Net Zero Centre, whose CO2 would be transported to the Dragon facility for processing before being shipped via non-pipeline transport (NPT) to carbon sequestration sites.
Key aspects to be addressed in the feasibility study include:
- Technical Solutions: Worley will evaluate various technical approaches to seamlessly integrate LNG and
- CO2 liquefaction processes, ensuring optimal energy efficiency and effectiveness.
- Carbon Intensity Reduction: Dragon LNG is committed to sustainability, and the study will assess how the integration of processes can contribute to lowering the carbon intensity of operations, aligning with broader environmental goals.
- Economic Viability: Understanding the financial implications is crucial. The study will delve into the levelized cost of CO2 and other economic factors to determine the feasibility and financial benefits of the proposed integration.
Commenting on the partnership, a spokesperson for Dragon LNG stated, “We are excited to collaborate with Worley on this important initiative. As a responsible energy provider, Dragon LNG is continuously seeking innovative ways to enhance our operations while minimizing our environmental footprint. This feasibility study represents a significant step towards achieving those objectives.”
Worley’s expertise in engineering and consultancy services including in the CO2 and LNG sectors makes them an ideal partner for this endeavour. Their track record of delivering sustainability solutions aligns perfectly with the ambitious goals of Dragon LNG.
This collaboration underscores Dragon LNG’s commitment to driving sustainable practices within the energy sector. By exploring the integration of LNG regasification and CO2 liquefaction processes, the company aims to pave the way for a cleaner, more efficient energy future with their ambition of a net zero terminal by 2029.
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