Current Projects
Preseli Cares
Community-led care: solutions to social care issues
Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund, Preseli Cares is a project enabling communities to have voice and control over their care, a project on which PAVS is working in partnership with Cwmpas.
Preseli Cares is a `test and learn` project and over the next two years we aim to show that community-led care provides an affordable, viable solution to social care issues.
By building activities and services identified by the local communities themselves in north east Pembrokeshire, Preseli Cares represents an exciting shift away from the traditional model of care.
Preseli Cares is a project that aims to co-produce solutions to social care issues at a community level, which includes local people, community groups, town and community councils, statutory partners, and private sector businesses.
Preseli Cares is working across NE Pembrokeshire, initially we are engaging with and supporting people living in two areas, although anyone working, volunteering or providing care and support in NE Pembrokeshire is welcome to join us in Newport and its surrounding communities, and Crymych and its surrounding Communities
Preseli Cares will be working with these two communities to facilitate community led care, and solutions to social care issues. This includes people in receipt of social care, carers, paid and unpaid, local businesses, community groups and volunteers providing support and services. We welcome your input, and everyone is encouraged to be involved.
For more information, click here https://connectpembrokeshire.org.uk/preseli-cares or contact joanne.hobson@pavs.org.uk
Pembrokeshire Dementia Supportive Communities
Social Care Wales Accolade Winners 2022
The Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services for its “Dementia Supportive Communities” project won the Social Care Wales Accolade 2022 for supporting people who live with dementia. The project aims to improve the lives of people living with dementia, their families and carers. The project has created a network of dementia support groups to help people living with dementia achieve the best quality of life possible, to feel part of their community and feel confident, understood and respected, and to continue to enjoy their hobbies and interest.
New Young Onset Dementia service
The Living with Dementia Forum is a very successful aspect of the Dementia Supportive Communities Project providing people living with dementia and their carers to have a voice. Many issues have been raised which included the lack of services for people living with Young Onset Dementia (YOD). The forum arranged an event to raise awareness of YOD. A virtual event via zoom was held with over 50 people attending. The outcome of the event was that a steering group was formed and now Pembrokeshire has a day service specifically for people living with young onset dementia (diagnosed under the age of 65).
The development of this new service is a direct result of the project, providing the opportunity for people living with dementia to have a voice. This new service is example of successful partnership working; people with the lived experience; Hywel Dda University Health Board; Pembrokeshire County Council; 3rd Sector and local businesses.
For further information regarding the service please email enquiries@tyhapus.org.uk
Dementia Supportive Activities – WHAT’S ON
Currently people living with dementia in Pembrokeshire, their family and carers can access groups and activities every day of the week either face to face in the community or digitally. There is a wide selection of activities. A weekly Dementia Supportive Activity List is distributed via email to over 200 people living with dementia including family members and carers; on Facebook; Twitter; Padlet and by post if required. The list is also circulated to professionals within health, statutory and 3rd sector so that they can share with their dementia clients.
If you would like to receive the weekly list, please email cherry.evans@pavs.org.
Information regarding all the activities can be found on the following
https://www.facebook.com/cherrylynne.pavs.5
https://twitter.com/CCPembsDementia?s=07
https://padlet.com/cherryevans/x2pxykx6rrojzapo
All the activities are registered on Infoengine, Dewis Cymru and on the Connect Pembrokeshire platform.
Dementia Friendly Pembrokeshire
Dementia Friendly Pembrokeshire is about ensuring that people living with dementia feel valued, respected and able to live their lives as they wish in their own community, contribute to their community, safe in the knowledge that their community is understanding and supportive of their needs. A wide variety of business and organisations are signed up to scheme including the Pembrokeshire Library Service.
The process of becoming dementia friendly is free and is designed to be clear and straightforward, in order for the businesses / organisations to learn about what they can do in their situations and simply implement some small changes which are intended to have a significant impact for people affected by dementia.
If businesses/ organisations in would like to learn more about the process, please email Cherry.Evans@pavs.org.uk
Carers Support West Wales
Calling all unpaid carers in West Wales!
If you regularly care for a relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without your help and you don’t get paid for it then you are a Carer. You are still an unpaid carer if you receive Carers’ Allowance.
Unpaid carers of all ages in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire will soon have access to a new regional website to help support them in their caring role. The website’s official launch will coincide with Carer’s Rights Day, Thursday 24th November 2022.
Acting on behalf of the West Wales Carers Development Group, Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS) was awarded funding from the Welsh Government’s Integrated Care Fund to develop a bilingual regional carers online platform. The website will support the provision and accessibility of consistent information, assistance and advice for unpaid carers in the three counties, which unpaid carers told us was important to them in a survey to develop the West Wales Carers Strategy in 2020.
Judith Hardisty, Hywel Dda University Health Board Vice Chair and Carers Champion who is also Chair of the Regional Partnership Board said:
“I am delighted that the Carers Support West Wales website will provide a bilingual ‘one stop shop’ for unpaid Carers helping them to easily find information to support them in their caring role. The website will include details of local groups and activities, as well as relevant and timely help and support on benefits and financial entitlements. We know that people don’t always recognise themselves as unpaid carers, so won’t be aware of the help and support which is available to support them in their caring role, therefore this new website will be a valuable resource for everyone. The Regional Partnership Board are grateful for the contribution of all our unpaid carers who care for family and friends in their own communities and are committed to ensuring that the needs of unpaid carers are addressed.”
The website, Carers Support West Wales (CSWW), is a one stop shop for carer specific information and has been co-produced with unpaid carers in the region.
“I think it’s amazing what you are doing! I have done generic searches for unpaid carer information and there is very little specific information so a website would be invaluable!!” (Anon)
CSWW has been developed to complement existing websites and provisions. The website offers a quick and easy way to find carer specific information for the three counties.
Carers Support West Wales is divided into three distinct sections, allowing carers to easily navigate the platform and explore information locally and regionally.
On the ‘My Community’ section, carers will find local offers, promotions and discounts that can support them in their caring role in their community. An interactive map provides a quick visualisation of any activities close by as well as the relevant contact details.
The ‘Support’ section provides support that is felt could benefit them as a carer such as how to register as an unpaid carer with your GP and how to register for a Carers Recognition Card. Using a filter system to navigate this, carers will be able to search a number of local and national organisations to find the information they need.
The ’News’ section shares essential information that is timely and relevant, from a list of support with cost of living crisis to Carers magazines providing local and national information that may be useful to carers and professionals.
The website design, branding and content has been developed through coproduction and engagement with unpaid carers and providers throughout the region.
For more information, please visit https://carerssupportwestwales.org or contact info@carerssupportwestwales.org
@carerssupportww
#caringforcarers
#gofaluamofalwyr
Addressing Poverty Research
In 2022, Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS) was awarded funding from the UK Community Renewal Fund to commission a narrative-based research project to capture people’s lived experiences of financial hardship/poverty and their ideas for making things better in future. The findings of the research are intended to be used as the basis for a co-produced plan for tackling poverty in Pembrokeshire, contributing to the development of a Tackling Poverty Strategy for the County.
The research brief was to aim to understand the barriers experienced by workless and low-income households to securing employment and/or increasing their income; what they can contribute, and what help would make a real difference. The research consultants engaged with young people and families experiencing poverty, individuals who are economically inactive or unemployed and individuals experiencing in-work poverty.
The report is currently being finalised.
For more information contact Sophie Buckley sophie.buckley@pavs.org.uk
Keep Warm, Keep Well in Pembrokeshire
Keep Warm Keep Well in Pembrokeshire is a new campaign to support people across Pembrokeshire during the cost of living crisis.
The campaign is being led by the Pembrokeshire Community Hub in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS) and a variety of agencies including Hywel Dda Health Board, Emergency Services and the Voluntary Sector.
The cost of living crisis affects everyone and it is a worrying and uncertain time for so many people. Therefore, work is taking place to connect people to local information, support and services throughout the year.
Across Pembrokeshire we are already seeing communities and organisations doing a fantastic job at responding to the crisis offering a range of local solutions including Warm Welcome Community Spaces, hot meals, community activities, plus energy, money and debt advice.
To find out more about what the project achieved last winter, please click here.
For a Welsh translation of the report, click here.
Anyone experiencing financial hardship or who would like information about what support is available in their area, can contact the Pembrokeshire Community Hub on 01437 723660 or email enquiries@pembrokeshirecommunityhub.org
The Pembrokeshire Community Hub has also created an online one-stop-shop on the Connect Pembrokeshire website https://connectpembrokeshire.org.uk/ which has lots of useful information and an interactive map of Warm Welcome Community Spaces across the county.
Warm Welcome Community Spaces offer welcoming places where people can meet with others in their local community and take part in a range of activities. There may also be information and advice on offer from a range of community organisations. Have a look on the map for your nearest warm room or give the Hub a call.
How to contact us
See our list of staff contact details and make direct contact with the person you need.
Alternatively our office phone line is open between 10am and 2pm each day on 01437 769422
Our generic email is enquiries@pavs.org.uk
Registered Office: 36/38 High Street
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA61 2DA
Office Hours
Our staff are now working in a hybrid way which means they may not be in the office, but working from other venues or home working. Due to changes in the way we now work, we are not holding meetings or running training events in person from our premises. However, if you wish to meet with a member of staff then please email them directly or call their business mobile number. The staff contact list is kept up to date with the most recent information.
If you do need to call at our premises, we have an intercom system at our front entrance, so just ring the bell and wait to be answered by one of the team. From 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am to 4.30pm on a Friday (except on Bank Holidays) there will be someone there who is able to answer you. If you are just delivering mail, then please use the letter box on the front door.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Useful Links
