Charity

Rough Sleeper Support Scheme to extend help for rough sleepers throughout county

Published

2 years ago

November 24, 2022

PEMBROKESHIRE CARE SOCIETY in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council, has recently launched the Rough Sleeper Support Scheme to extend the support provided to rough sleepers throughout the county.

The organisation has already been assisting rough sleepers with essential items like sleeping bags and food vouchers, but this new initiative allows them to take the support even further.

Since September, Pembrokeshire Care Society has been able to work out of business hours, including late night visits, as well as on weekends to provide around-the-clock assistance to those in need.

Working in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council, Dyfed-Powys Police, Hywel Dda Health Board, Youth Services and The Third Place, the project has already seen hugely positive results.

The goal is to provide long-term support to rough sleepers and to help them regain independence.

This is achieved though the Rough Sleeper Support Plan, which has four main pillars:

Health and wellbeing: Rough sleeping can have serious negative health consequences, so first and foremost Pembrokeshire Care Society always wants to look out for their wellbeing.
From registering them with a local GP and supplying them with vitamins, to collecting prescriptions and making sure they have access to Covid vaccinations, their medical needs are always a top priority.

Personal and community safety: This requires Pembrokeshire Care Society to have regular communication with the rough sleeper to ensure they know where they are at any given time. With this information, they can keep any family members informed of their current situation, and it also helps them know where they can provide vital items to them. Because most rough sleepers don’t have access to electricity, part of their service is making sure their phone is always charged so they have the means to contact Pembrokeshire Care Society, family, or both.

Independence and control: It’s important that rough sleepers take control back of their life and contribute to their plan. Pembrokeshire Care Society’s aim is to provide the assistance they need to take positive steps and always be there for guidance.
Whether it’s helping them with appointments at the job centre or other vital meetings, they work alongside them to keep them on the right track for progress.

Economic progress and financial control: Regaining control of personal finances is one of the biggest challenges for a rough sleeper.
From assistance in claiming benefits, getting to job interviews, or even arranging for lost or stolen cards to be replaced, financial independence is always something they try to assist with as soon as possible.

Community engagement is hugely important in Pembrokeshire Care Society’s mission, and anyone can help them get vital assistance to rough sleepers.
If you know or see a rough sleeper, get in touch with Pembrokeshire Care Society with the basic details of where you saw them and a short description. If it’s out of hours, leave them a voicemail or send them an email – all reports are seriously looked in to as a matter of urgency.

You can call Pembrokeshire Care Society on 01437 765335 or email them at [email protected]

If you know any family members of rough sleepers you can also tell them about Pembrokeshire Care Society’s services so they can contact them directly.

Alternatively, you can use Street Link (www.streetlink.org.uk), a national organisation that will pass on any reports of rough sleepers to Pembrokeshire Care Society and Pembrokeshire County Council. You will receive a follow-up to your report to know what action has been taken to help the person in question.

Charity

St John’s mark Falls Awareness Week by announcing new rapid response service

Published

4 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SAINT John Ambulance Cymru has secured a contract to provide a new Welfare and Falls Rapid Response service in the Pembrokeshire area, which will see staff responding to incidents to assess and assist people, reducing demand on Emergency Medical Services.

The Haverfordwest-based scheme will be run in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB) and will initially run from October 1^st 2024 until March 31^st 2025.

The scheme will follow on from the Falls Response scheme which has been operated by St John Ambulance Cymru in partnership with HDUHB and Wales Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WASUT) in the same area since January 2023.

The announcement comes as St John Ambulance Cymru marks Falls Awareness Week from 16-20 September alongside fellow members of the National Falls Prevention Taskforce Wales.

The Falls Taskforce is an alliance focused on falls prevention for older people in across the country and includes Age Cymru, Age Connects Wales, Care & Repair Cymru, St John Ambulance Cymru, representatives from all seven health boards, as well as national and local government, public, private and other third sector organisations.

St John Ambulance Cymru’s Head of Ambulance Operations, Helen Coulthard said: “This new contract is a testament to the great service our staff have provided to people in this area of West Wales as part of the current scheme. To date the scheme has attended to over 1,000 people and saved an ambulance from attending on more than 500 occasions.

“St John Ambulance Cymru continues to build on its record of providing high quality help to patients all over the country and we look forward to continuing that work with this new scheme.”

St John Ambulance Cymru operates Falls Response schemes in communities across Wales, working in partnership with WASUT, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and the Vale of Glamorgan Council. In 2023 these schemes, together with the current Pembrokeshire scheme, helped a total of 12,815 patients.

Falls Response is just one of the services provided by the charity’s Ambulance Operations team, with more than 24,000 patients helped in 2023, including patient transport and other schemes such as the Taith Dda Mental Health Response Service.

For more information on the healthcare services provided by St John Ambulance Cymru, visit www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/page/healthcare-services.

Charity

FRAME is looking for passionate leaders to join its Board of Directors

Published

4 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

FRAME, one of Pembrokeshire’s leading charities, is excited to announce the recruitment of new directors to join its Board. As FRAME continues to grow and expand its impact on the community, we are seeking passionate individuals who want to help steer our charity toward an even brighter future.

Since 1994, Pembrokeshire FRAME has been at the heart of the community, providing life-changing support for individuals with additional needs, while also promoting environmental sustainability by reducing waste through the reuse of furniture and household items. Our social enterprises, such as furniture upcycling and gardening projects, have provided invaluable work experience for adults with learning difficulties, mental health issues, and disabilities. To sustain and enhance our impact, we need strong, dedicated leaders on our board.

What They’re Looking For:

FRAME are seeking individuals who are passionate about charity work, social enterprise, and environmental sustainability. We’re particularly interested in those with experience in the following areas:

Finance (accountancy, financial management)
Legal (charity law, governance)
Retail
Fundraising
Marketing & Communications (digital marketing, PR)
Social Enterprise Development
Human Resources & Leadership
Environmental & Sustainability Expertise
Lived Experience (experience with disability, mental health, or social exclusion)

Why Join Our Board?

By joining our Board of Directors, you will play a critical role in shaping the future of our charity. You’ll help us continue making a real difference in people’s lives by providing opportunities for learning, employment, and community engagement while also supporting

If you are interested in applying, please visit www.pembrokeshire-frame.org.uk/vacancies for more information.

Charity

Tenby musical extravaganza raises over £1700 for Lifeboats

Published

21 hours ago

September 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

TENBY was alive with the sound of music and community spirit this past weekend, as the Hay Shantymen delivered an unforgettable performance, raising approximately £1,700 for the Tenby lifeboat station.

Despite inclement weather, the event, held at the Tenby Brewing Co., saw a full house, with every ticket sold contributing directly to the lifeboat fund. The venue, known for its commitment to local causes and excellent beer, played host to an evening filled with lively shanties and heartfelt camaraderie.

John, a crew member from the Tenby Lifeboats RNLI, provided an “inspirational and mildly terrifying” tour of the lifeboat earlier in the day, further solidifying the community’s appreciation for the brave work of the RNLI volunteers. Mags, another lifeboat team member, was noted for her cheerful demeanour as she navigated the crowd with a donations card reader, ensuring everyone had a chance to contribute.

The Shantymen expressed profound gratitude to their audience and supporters on social media, stating, “Thanks so much to everybody who came to our gigs on Saturday. It was such a brilliant weekend, despite the weather’s best efforts.”

Unfortunately, the Shantymen had to cancel their planned busking in town on Sunday due to a combination of the bad weather and some very sore throats, much to the disappointment of both the band and their fans.

Feedback from the community was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees sharing their joy on social media. Karen Gill, a local attendee, remarked, “Thought you were brilliant, really enjoyed listening to and watching you all, thank you!”

The event not only showcased the tight-knit community of Tenby but also highlighted the critical role that fundraising plays in supporting vital services like the RNLI. The Tenby Brewing Co. echoed this sentiment, expressing their delight at hosting the event and looking forward to more such gatherings in the future.