Current Projects
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 in the last winters, please refer to the following reports:
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 Pembrokeshire Community Hub – Hwb Cymunedol Sir Benfro 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.
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
Age Friendly and Dementia Supportive Activities
Currently people living in Pembrokeshire, their family members, and carers can access groups and Age Friendly and Dementia Supportive Activities every day of the week either face to face in the community or online.
A weekly Age Friendly and Dementia Supportive Activity ‘What’s On’ List is distributed each week via email to over 200 people, including family members and carers. The list is also shared on Facebook, circulated to professionals within health, statutory and 3rd sector so that they can share with their communities.
If you would like to receive the weekly list, please email angela.reid@pavs.org.uk
All the activities are registered on Infoengine, Dewis Cymru and on the Connect Pembrokeshire platform.
Age and Dementia Friendly Pembrokeshire
The Age and Dementia Friendly Pembrokeshire Project seeks to remove barriers, to make your service more accessible for older people and those with dementia.
A wide variety of businesses and organisations across the county are signed up to the project, including the Pembrokeshire Library Service.
The process of becoming dementia friendly is free and is designed to be clear and straightforward. The businesses and organisations will learn about what they can do in their situations and how implementing some small changes can have a significant impact for people affected by dementia.
If you would like to learn more about the process, please email angela.reid@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 launched at the County’s first Pembrokeshire Tackling Poverty Summit on 14th February 2024 at Pembrokeshire College.
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. Research consultants Karen Scott and Sarah Hughes engaged with people experiencing poverty, individuals who are economically inactive or unemployed and individuals experiencing in-work poverty.
The full report is available here in both English and Welsh:
Addressing Poverty Research Report (English)
Adroddiad Prosiect Ymchwil Mynd i’r Afael â Thlodi (Welsh)
Addressing Poverty Research in Pembrokeshire on Vimeo
Ymchwil ar Fynd i’r Afael â Thlodi yn Sir Benfro – Profiad Bywyd on Vimeo
For more information contact: Sophie Buckley sophie.buckley@pavs.org.uk
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 9am and 4pm 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 are open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am to 4.30pm on a Friday (except on Bank Holidays). Between 9am and 10am, and after 2pm, Monday to Thursday and all day Friday you may need to ring the bell (situated on the right hand side of the door). If you are just delivering mail, then please use the letter box on the front door.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Useful Links
