The Summer of ‘26

Wow what a summer that was!

Here at PAVS we used to say the summer months were a bit ‘quieter’ than the rest of the year, but that has not been the case this year, it has been a busy and positive couple of months for PAVS and the Pembrokeshire Community Hub.

Across July and August, we have been doing what we do best: connecting people, supporting community organisations, championing volunteering and making sure Pembrokeshire’s voluntary sector has a strong voice.

🏆 Celebrating and growing volunteering

A huge theme of the summer has been celebrating the people who give their time to help others.

PAVS Volunteering Team has been actively promoting volunteering opportunities across Pembrokeshire, encouraging people to discover what they could get involved with — whether they have a few hours a week, want to try something new, or are looking for a way to connect with their community.

Not to mention the promotion of the 2026 Pembrokeshire Volunteering Awards across the summer online and at events, celebrating previous finalists and encouraging nominations for this year.

🎪 Taking PAVS to the National Eisteddfod

The National Eisteddfod at Llantwd — Eisteddfod y Garreg Las — from 1–8 August was a wonderful opportunity for PAVS and its partners to showcase the voluntary and community sector.

We encouraged people to visit the Maes, meet the Team and find out more about the work taking place across Pembrokeshire and West Wales.

The presence at the Eisteddfod was about so much more than having a stand — it was about putting community organisations, volunteering and the work of the third sector in front of a huge and diverse audience.

🎡 Connecting with people at community events

August was a particularly busy month for events, fun days, carnivals and fairs.

PAVS and the Pembrokeshire Community Hub were at the Pembrokeshire County Show, in the Community Zone with so many of our members and partners. It was a great opportunity for people to meet voluntary and community organisations and find out about the support available locally. The event is a true celebration of Pembrokeshire’s voluntary and community sector.

The Team has been involved in so many wonderful community events, everything from Play Day in Scolton Manor to the Civic Week Market at Riverside Shopping Centre in Haverfordwest.

🤝 Strengthening the voluntary sector

Behind the events and celebrations, PAVS has continued its less visible but hugely important work of supporting voluntary and community organisations to become stronger and more sustainable.

That includes:

• helping groups explore appropriate fundraising and funding;
• providing advice and development support;
• promoting training;
• supporting good governance and safeguarding;
• connecting organisations with one another;
• and making sure the voluntary sector’s experience is represented in wider discussions about Pembrokeshire.

PAVS continues to manage and promote a range of community funding opportunities, including funds supporting wellbeing, tackling disadvantage and isolation, warm community spaces, unpaid carers and community resilience.

🛡️ Supporting safer, stronger organisations

The summer has also built on PAVS’ work around safeguarding and organisational development.

Following the inaugural Pembrokeshire Safeguarding Conference in June — which brought together more than 50 representatives from local organisations — PAVS has continued offering safeguarding training and support to voluntary and community groups.

This is an important part of PAVS’ role: helping local organisations develop the knowledge, confidence and systems they need to operate safely and effectively.

📣 Giving Pembrokeshire communities a voice

July also saw PAVS working with Building Communities Trust on a Communities Manifesto for Wales workshop.

Held at the Bloomfield Centre in Narberth, the event gave local people and organisations an opportunity to talk about what matters to their communities and what they want the Welsh Government to do to support them.

🔥 Helping people, the Pembrokeshire Community Hub and Community Connectors

The Community Hub brings together information, support and activities from across Pembrokeshire, including various campaigns linked to health and wellbeing. Which over the Summer included helping people keep cool in the unusually hot weather.  

The Hub and Connectors supported 458 people this summer; of which 143 people have been guided towards groups and activities, 107 people have been supported to live independently at home and over 100 people have accessed help with finances, benefits or emergency food support. More than half of our enquiries had a solution within 9 days.

And while it has been a busy Summer with some amazing events, the work never stops and we are here – for Pembrokeshire – all year-round.

This Autumn we are particularly looking forward to:

*A new programme of Training courses

*Social Enterprise Network Events

*The Funding Fair and AGM 12 November

*Volunteering Awards 19 November