Issue 44 February 2009 Rhif 44 Chwefror 2009

PAVS Trustee Board welcomes new members Contents:

The PAVS Annual General Meeting took place on 10th December 2008 Foreword 2 and proved to be an extremely successful event, enjoyed by all members Partnership Working 3 and staff who attended. Funding 5 Voluntary Sector News 11 The event was sponsored by Unity Trust Bank, one of the UK’s leading Training 13 Charity Banks, and Jon Field (Regional Manager) was on hand to give Volunteering 19 information and advice on the wide range of products the Bank offers, News from Groups 25 specifically designed to meet the needs of the third sector. In addition to Consultations 28 PAVS information stands, several member organisations also took advantage of the opportunity to promote their services ­ so there was plenty to see during the “networking” session at the start of the evening! PEMBROKESHIRE ASSOCIATION In his report to members, Nigel Owen (Chair of Trustees) paid tribute to OF VOLUNTARY SERVICES colleagues on the Trustee Board and to staff members at PAVS for their hard work and commitment throughout the year. He also thanked funding CYMDEITHAS bodies for their ongoing support for the Association. GWASANAETHAU Five new Trustees were elected to the Board at the AGM ­ Bernie GWIRFODDOL SIR BENFRO Scourfield (Lamphey Village Hall); Bernard Coldicott (Arthritis Care); Rod Bowen (PACTO); Simon Preddy (Keep Wales Tidy) and David Kerrison 36­38 High Street (Pembrokeshire Citizens Advice Bureau). Chris Blakemore was also re­ Haverfordwest elected to the Board, having stepped down by rotation in line with PAVS’ Pembrokeshire Constitution. This brings the total number of Trustees on the Board to 11 SA61 2DA full members, with Councillor Sian James, the Pembrokeshire County Tel: 01437 769422 Council nominated PAVS representative, attending as an Advisor. Cllr Fax: 01437 769431 James is also the Cabinet member with the voluntary/community sector portfolio, so her attendance at future Board meetings is very welcome. 36­38 Y Stryd Fawr Following the business of the AGM, Peter Davies (Sustainable Hwlffordd Development Commissioner for Wales) gave an informative and thought Sir Benfro provoking keynote speech on the theme of “Business and the Third Sector”. SA61 2DA This was then followed by a “Question Time” session with panel members Tel: 01437 769422 responding to a range of challenging questions presented by the audience. Ffacs: 01437 769431 Copies of the Annual Report can be downloaded from the PAVS website, or hard copies can be sent out on request.

Deadline for copy for the next issue is: Friday 17 April 2009 email to: [email protected] ‐ 1 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk Foreword Happy New Year! After a welcome Christmas break, For more information about the work of CYPP and PAVS is now right back in the swing of things and, if other strategic and planning partnerships in January is anything to go by, 2009 is shaping up to be Pembrokeshire, please visit our new on­line resource an extremely busy and challenging year, both for the at www.pembs­networking.org.uk. Association and our partners. This website brings together the work of the As Chief Officer of PAVS, I have been invited to join Representation and Joint Working team at PAVS, and the NHS Transition Board for the new Hywel Dda provides information about planning and consultation Local Health Board (which covers the former Dyfed processes, including feedback from meetings and region of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and links to partner sites. It is designed to provide general Ceredigion). This Board is charged with steering information to groups, but has an additional specific through the process of establishing a single health function to support third sector representatives in what organisation for the region ­ and having everything in can sometimes be a difficult and challenging role. place by October 2009! The Convergence Programme continues to roll out WAG has launched a second phase consultation into slowly but surely ­ see below for details of the new the re­organisation of the NHS in Wales ­ the deadline Engagement Gateway project which has just been for receipt of responses is 25th February 2009. One launched. of the key challenges is to ensure the design and delivery of locality based services within the new What is now coming through is a plethora of “regional” LHB. Please take the opportunity to procurement opportunities, as successful project contribute your views ­ contact Michelle Copeman at sponsors start the process of commissioning service PAVS for more information. delivery organisations. If you are interested in delivering services, then please ensure you are January has also seen a round of meetings of the registered with Sell2Wales so that you receive Executive and Core Aim Groups associated with the automatic alerts of invitations to tender. You may also Children and Young People’s Partnership (CYPP). wish to register your interest with the Pembrokeshire Progress has also been made on developing a shared County Council Spatial European Team (SET) ­ workforce development strategy for CYPP members, contact Amy Gilbert on 01437 776176 or e­mail taking the “one sector, one workforce” approach [email protected] . already adopted in the area of social care. Enjoy the read! Sue Leonard ­ Chief Officer

STOP PRESS: LAUNCH OF ENGAGEMENT GATEWAY SCHEME PAVS is pleased to announce the recent launch of the Engagement Gateway scheme, which offers opportunities to fund volunteer initiatives that provide targeted support to help people into employment. The Gateway Scheme is managed by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and is funded under the European Union’s Convergence Programme. The aim of the scheme is to reduce economic inactivity in Wales and improve the employability of disadvantaged people furthest from the labour market. The Gateway will invest in organisations that work with people who may be out of touch with mainstream services, or at high risk of long term benefit dependency. These groups will include people facing specific disadvantage including people with a work limiting health condition or disability; mental health service users; people over 50 years of age and young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs). The Gateway offers contracts for up to two years, and any organisation will be able to tender for contracts through a procurement process. There are three levels of contracts:

• Level 1: up to £25,000 (no match funding required) • Level 2: £25,000 ­ £75,000 (match funding required) • Level 3: £75,000 ­ £150,000 (match funding required) PAVS is currently working with WCVA to organise a workshop on the tender process for organisations who may be interested in bidding and further details will be published shortly. In the meantime, please register your interest in attending with Caroline Graham at PAVS. www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 2 ‐ Partnership Working The third sector meets Ministers for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills Representatives of third sector organisations had three items on the agenda to discuss with Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (CELLS), and John Griffiths AM, Deputy Minister for Skills, at their autumn 2008 meeting – the future planning and funding of non­formal learning, the opportunities offered by Olympics 2012 for increasing physical activity in Wales, and the 2009­10 budget. The third sector presented a paper on non­formal learning outlining the contribution of third sector organisations to this field and expressing concern about the emphasis put on skills, rather than learning, in the new proposals for Adult and Community Learning (ACL). The Deputy Minister stressed that in the current economic climate budgetary constraints would place limits on Assembly Government spending. The new ACL strategy aimed to produce a more rational policy framework by identifying duplication and creating added value. He stressed that the voluntary sector was an important partner in achieving these aims and said that WAG would make a detailed response to the points raised in the paper. Third sector representatives then presented a paper on how the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics can be used to encourage an increase in physical activity, particularly in educational and young people’s organisations. The Minister agreed that these provided an excellent opportunity and explained that her department was already looking at this. She suggested that the third sector representatives liaise with her officials. Finally, the Minister was asked to introduce her priorities for 2009­10, the budget, and its implications for third sector organisations. She said that the budget would be tight and given the current economic context, the Chancellor’s Pre­Budget Statement would impact on the Assembly Government’s spending. The Minister’s main priority was the Foundation Phase and extra funding had been secured from the reserves to support it. All Ministers were examining their policy priorities but the DCELLS budget had increased by 5.5% while other Departments had seen a 3.4% increase. Money for disabled children was another Ministerial priority and additional funds had been allocated to disabled children programmes. The Minister also highlighted the innovative work that was taking place within DCELLS to identify children’s budgets, across all WAG departments. Third sector representatives asked that the Minister should also look at how budget allocations took account of the consequences of spending in one area on that of another area; what might be called ‘lateral budgeting’ e.g. tackling child poverty by providing parents with adult learning opportunities. You can find copies of the all papers and minutes of ministerial meetings at www.wcva.org.uk/policy

Third sector meets Minister for Social Justice

The second 2008 meeting between the third sector and the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, Dr Brian Gibbons AM, took place on 5 November 2008 at the old Assembly building in Cardiff Bay, with the Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Leighton Andrews AM, also in attendance. The third sector introduced key issues included in the very well reasoned and evidenced paper concerning violence against women, which goes beyond domestic abuse to include female genital mutilation and honour killings. It was acknowledged that some women are particularly vulnerable to violence, such as those with disabilities, with mental health problems, from black and ethnic minority communities and refugee and immigrant women. Specialised support in order to deal with issues such as forced marriage and trafficking are in place. For example, there is the three year ‘Forced Marriage and Honour Based Crime Action Plan’. However, the third sector argued strongly in favour of further support to tackle all forms of violence against women. (Continued on page 4)

‐ 3 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk Partnership Working

(Continued from page 3) The lack of public funds available to women in abusive relationships which would enable them to leave their home was highlighted, in addition to a lack of clear guidance on how to deal with such situations. Although the third sector welcomed the investment already made in sexual assault referral centres, additional funding and facilities such as rape crisis centres were required to assist rape survivors. It was also recognised that a strategy was required to prevent men from re­offending.

The Minister noted that violence against women was a much broader issue than domestic abuse and agreed that further work was required to tackle all of the issues. Aside from looking at law and order, the Minister suggested that personal attitudes should be addressed, partly by raising awareness of the problem in society. Welsh Assembly Government officials confirmed that a strategic action plan was currently under development as part of enhancing the delivery of the Domestic Abuse Strategy. The action plan will take account of comments received following on from the Communities and Culture Committee scrutiny of this topic and would be ready for launch during March 2009. The third sector stressed the importance of also taking account of the points raised at this ministerial meeting.

The third sector went on to introduce its paper about Communities First. One concern expressed was that there seemed to have been no feedback to those who responded to the consultation about the future of Communities First. There was a real need to let people know how their responses had influenced the decisions about the future of the scheme. This was not just a matter of publishing consultation responses on the Welsh Assembly Government’s website ­ people needed to know how their views had influenced the final plans. This is an issue in relation to all Welsh Assembly Government consultations, but it is highly relevant to Communities First. The Deputy Minister then offered to give an interview to the Communities First magazine explaining how people’s views influenced the decisions reached.

Following on from the spring Ministerial meeting, the third sector asked for information on how the engagement of the sector in the Welsh Assembly Government ‘policy gateway’ processes was progressing. The Welsh Assembly Government agreed to provide a report to the spring 2009 meeting which will say which third sector organisations have engaged in the ‘policy gateway’ and their impact on policies.

The Welsh Assembly Government raised the topic of new Welsh law concerning local government. The Local Government (Wales) Measure is partly designed to bring together the improvement system in Wales, currently known as the Wales Programme for Improvement, with community planning and community strategies. Overall, the meeting welcomed this aim and WCVA’s response to the consultation on this proposed Measure may be found on its website ­ www.wcva.org.uk.

The Minister concluded by discussing the forthcoming Social Enterprise Action Plan and the Welsh Assembly Government clarified that, whilst the plan was nearing completion, a final publication date has yet to be confirmed. The Minister stated that, once delivered, the action plan would make a difference in the world of social enterprise. Funding

PAVS Funding Advice Service Have you got a project which is in need of some funding? A range of information, guidance and practical help for voluntary and community groups with funding related issues is available through the PAVS Development Team. For more information about the support available please contact the Team on (01437) 769 422 or e­mail [email protected] www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 4 ‐ Funding Events

Lloyds TSB Surgeries – Spring 2009

PAVS is co­ordinating Lloyds TSB Foundation If you are unsure about eligibility, then refer to the funding surgeries for spring 2009. In these sessions checklist on the web­site which takes you through a groups have the opportunity to meet with the Lloyds series of eligibility questions. TSB Grants Manager for advice on eligibility and http://www.lloydstsbfoundations.org.uk/HowtoApply guidance on applications. Get in touch with us now if you would like to attend and a date will be finalised To register an interest in these surgeries contact once we have a list of groups. Prior to registering Lindsay Morgan at PAVS on (01437) 769 422 or an interest, please ensure that you are eligible for e­mail [email protected] and a date will support. be finalised in the coming weeks.

You must be:­ • A registered charity whose core work helps disadvantaged people to play a fuller role in Funding & Development communities in Wales Outreach – coming soon… • A local or regional charity with an income of £1 million or less At the beginning of July we will be going out on the road again in Pembrokeshire to meet with as many Lloyds TSB Foundation is particularly interested in groups as possible. We will visit 4 or 5 different work that achieves this through: venues around the County and if you think that • improved social and community involvement groups in your area would benefit, then this is your chance to ask us to come out to you. Please get in • improved life choices and chances touch and we will see if we can accommodate you! • helping people to be heard If you are interested, then please call the office or The scheme will consider applications for running e­mail [email protected] costs, including salaries, to ensure that charities can maintain and develop their core work/services.

PAVS’ Grants & Local Funding

Pembrokeshire Impact Fund

Two rounds of applications have now been assessed and we are pleased to have awarded funding of £53,505.40 to 23 successful applicants. We still have around £35,000 for distribution to groups in the current financial year so make sure that you get your applications in for the next deadline on the 20 th February.

The 2009/ 2010 deadlines are 29 th May 2009, 4 th September 2009, 20 th November 2009 and 15 th February 2010. All applications must be received in the PAVS offices by 5pm on the relevant deadline date. The scheme can support voluntary and community groups applying for up to £3,000 towards capital costs for a project. The scheme is not able to fund the running costs of an organisation so, for example, would be unable to support applications for general office equipment. Projects need to show how they address the key themes of community involvement, sustainability and equal opportunities.

Examples of projects funded in the recent round include:­ • Equipment for community halls • Refurbishment of community facilities • Equipment for a play area...and much more…

The next deadline date is 20 th February 2009 and do remember that PAVS staff are here to help ­ if you would like to discuss a possible project idea or request support from one of our officers to complete an application form, then just get in touch! ‐ 5 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk PAVS Grants & Local Funding Pembrokeshire County Council Social Care and Housing Small Grants 2009/10

Grants of up to £5,000 are now available for voluntary and community groups in Pembrokeshire. This scheme funds small, one­off projects and will also consider support to ongoing activities which meet the themes and can demonstrate their impact on Pembrokeshire residents.

In previous years the Local Health Board has also contributed to the scheme. The availability of this additional funding will be discussed at their Board meeting at the end of January, and if this is forthcoming, then it will also form part of this scheme.

Applications for funding need to deliver against all or some of the themes of: • Supporting hospital discharge • Supporting prevention of admission to hospital • Supporting carers • Supporting people to be independent • Supporting people to live in their own homes • Supporting people to be responsible for their own health

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 2 nd March 2009. Completed applications must be returned to Pembrokeshire County Council.

If you would like to receive an application pack, then please contact Nicola Tinsley at Pembrokeshire County Council on (01437) 775 346 or PAVS on (01437) 769 422. If you would like any support with the application form, then please contact PAVS Development Team. Funding News Big Thinking – Have Your Say On Future Lottery Funding

As the current Lottery programmes are drawing to a organisations. This question asks whether the BLF close, the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) has just launched a should maintain its commitment to awarding between consultation, inviting the public’s views on how 60 and 70 per cent of funding to the voluntary sector funding should be allocated through its grant or whether "funding should go to the organisation in programmes over the coming years. the best position to deliver the project outcomes, whichever sector they are from". They are expecting to distribute over £2 billion between 2009 and 2015, and this consultation seeks If you prefer to just feed in general comments, then the opinions of the general public, so they can help PAVS will be making a response to the consultation. shape future funding policies. The survey contains Please contact Lorna Unwin to discuss on an initial section on UK wide priorities, then has a [email protected] or (01437) 769 422. Wales country­specific section. They are also asking for views on four specific areas for future funding in The consultation can be accessed on­line, and hard Wales. The areas are: older people; climate change; copies are provided on request. The consultation will transfer of community assets and citizen’s voice. be open until 27th February 2009, and the results will be published next summer. Visit the website for Some of the questions, such as question 4 in the UK more details and to complete the consultation questions section, will have a direct impact on the document at: www.big­thinking.org.uk availability of future funding for Third Sector www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 6 ‐ Funding News Institute re-issues Fundraising Funding in an economic Codes of Practice downturn

The Institute of Fundraising has re­issued four of its There are a lot of articles around concerning the Codes of Fundraising Practice to bring them in line effect of the economic situation on the voluntary and with changes in legislation. community sector, so here are a few snippets:­ ­ Senior Charitable Foundation figures have said The following Codes of Practice have been updated that the economic downturn is unlikely to affect by the legal review team:­ levels of grant funding for the next two or three • Data Protection years. However this could change in the longer • The Management of Static Collection Boxes term, leading to changes in grant­making policy • Telephone Fundraising to meet the changing needs of society in challenging times. The message is that they are • Raffles and Lotteries in it for the long term. The biggest changes were made to the Raffles and ­ At a time when charities face difficulties, Lotteries Code, which was revised after the communicating with funders is of the utmost introduction of the Gambling Act 2005, effective from importance. 1 st September 2007. ­ According to a report published by Philanthropy UK, major donors will remain committed to Amendments reflect the Government's lifting of the supporting charitable causes with some likely to maximum ticket price for lotteries and the fact that donate more during the recession. The report special licenses must be obtained in order to carry claims that donors are remaining faithful but are out lotteries over the telephone or on the Internet. being more cautious. Some may change the way they give rather than the amount and are likely to There will be further reviews to ensure that the Codes be more focused on the impact made by are all consistent with new legislation such as the organisations and how efficiently they operate. Charities Act 2006 and the Gambling Act 2005. ­ Donors will be looking for greater accountability and transparency. The up­dated Codes of Practice are all available on ­ There is a real need for clarity of mission and the Institute of Fundraising’s web­site ­ focus on organisational development and http://www.institute­of­fundraising.org.uk governance while reducing unnecessary costs and diversifying funding sources. ­ In a recession long­term planning is even more Birmingham University to lead important. new Third Sector Research Centre HMRC amends Gift Aid Birmingham University will lead a new Third Sector declaration forms Research Centre dedicated to analysing the impact of the sector's activities. They will work in partnership HMRC has amended its proforma Gift Aid with the University of Southampton and will aim to declarations to take into account the reduction in bring about a step change in the quality and quantity basic­rate tax to 20p in the pound and transitional of hard evidence available to support the work of third relief. Charities must use the updated forms in order sector organisations. to claim Gift Aid on new donations. Wrongly phrased Gift Aid declarations can be declared as invalid by The Centre will: HMRC and as a result you could be required to repay • lead research and analysis into the effectiveness your Gift Aid claims to HMRC. Existing regular and impact of third sector organisations; donors will not need to replace their Gift Aid • strengthen the evidence base on the entire declarations with new ones. sector; Only donations not already covered by an existing • enhance our understanding of the sector's size valid Gift Aid declaration will need to use the updated and dynamics. pro­formas. http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news Further details are available on the HMRC web­site: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/forms.htm ‐ 7 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk Charitable Trusts

Co-operative Foundation Working With Nature Community Support Programme The “Working with Nature” fund has now launched Suspended with £1.3million available. The Co­operative Foundation has announced it is to suspend its Community Support Programme while it Applications are invited for projects aimed at creating, implements major changes. The Community Support conserving or enhancing the biodiversity of England Programme closes in January 2009. The final and Wales. All grants will be between £150,000 and deadline for applications for grants under its current £300,000 and be within 10 miles of ANY licensed guidelines was 5 th December 2008. landfill site.

Visit the website for more information: The funding criteria is available on their web­site ­ www.co­operative.coop/ourcampaigns/ http://www.grantscape.org.uk modernco­operation/thecooperativefoundation Applications can be submitted at any time before the closing deadline of noon on Monday 6th April 2009. All applications will be assessed and reviewed by an Low Carbon Buildings independent, specialist biodiversity advisory group. Programme (Phase 2) The successful projects will be selected by Scheme Closing GrantScape’s Trustees and will be announced in late July 2009. It has been announced that Phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme will close to If you are interested in applying then click on the link applications at the end of June 2009. The at the bottom of this web­page ­ Programme provides grants for the installation of http://www.grantscape.org.uk/grantshome/ micro generation technologies to public sector grants­available/workingwithnature1.htm buildings, including schools, hospitals, housing associations and local authorities, and charitable bodies. Foundation for Sport and the Arts For more details visit ­ to close in 2012 http://www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk

The Foundation for Sport and the Arts is to close at the end of March 2012, and will stop accepting Heart Research UK applications for funding at the end of March 2009.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available to community Following a review of the current level of reserves groups, voluntary organisations and researchers who and because their only source of income is now the are spreading the healthy heart message. interest generated by those reserves, the Trustees have decided to cease the activities of the Applications are only accepted during January and Foundation at the end of March 2012. This will February for the May round of grants and July and enable them to continue to make awards at the August for grants awarded in November each year. current annual levels, and to bring operations to a Applications received at any other time of year will be close in the same year as the London Olympics. returned. To assist a smooth closure program, no new For more information please visit ­ applications for funding will be considered after the http://www.heartresearch.org.uk end of March 2009.

For more details visit ­ www.thefsa.net www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 8 ‐ Charitable Trusts

Anchor Foundation The Batty Charitable Trust

Grants are available to UK­registered Christian The Trust makes grants of between £1,000 and charities for projects that encourage social inclusion £10,000 to smaller charities throughout the UK, through ministries of healing and the Arts. especially those working at grass roots and local Grants of between £500 and £10,000 for capital and level. Grants are one­off. The Trustees have wide revenue costs will be considered. Applicants may be interests, with the main stipulation being that grants required to provide the remainder of any costs from should make a significant difference to your capacity alternative sources. Registered Christian charities in to do work. Application should be by letter including the United Kingdom are eligible to apply. all the obvious details about what you want, how much and why. You need to underline why the grant Applications are considered at twice­yearly meetings will make a significant difference to your work. A held in April and November and must be received by st st project budget should be supplied, and you need to 31 January and 31 July each year. Application send a signed copy of your latest accounts. forms are available from: PO Box 21107, Alloa, FK12 5WA There are no application deadlines, but you need to E­mail: [email protected] allow up to four months for a decision to be made. http://www.theanchorfoundation.org.uk, You should apply six months before you need the money. Application to: The Charity Correspondent, The Batty Charitable Trust, Rugby Chambers, 2 Opportunities through Sport - Rugby Street, London WC1N 3QU. Tel 020 7405 0225 Paul Harrison Foundation E­mail [email protected].

The Foundation provides funding for registered charities in the UK that encourage disadvantaged people to fulfil their potential through sport. SITA Trust This Programme supports sporting activities or projects that provide opportunities for people who are Funding is provided for community projects in disabled or disadvantaged to fulfil their potential and qualifying areas of Pembrokeshire, within 10 miles of to develop other personal and life skills. an active SITA­owned landfill site. Grants will often be one­off grants for capital projects, Possible projects supported include improvements to however revenue funding for a new project or funding community amenities such as village halls, public for the continuing success or survival of an parks and sports facilities, and improvements to established project will also be considered. historic buildings and structures. The following types of project proposals are welcome: Two funding levels are available – Small grants of up to £10,000 and larger grants up to £50,000. • Projects that provide a focus for skills development and confidence building through Voluntary groups, charities, community/environmental the medium of sport; groups, local authorities and parish councils may • Projects that have a strong training and/or apply. educational theme within the sporting activity; • Projects that provide sporting equipment or Deadlines Small Grants 2009: 5 th February, 9 th April, 15 th June, facilities for disabled or disadvantaged people; th th • Projects with a high degree of community 12 August, 14 October 2009. involvement; Large Grants 2009: 31st March, 31 st July 2009. • Projects that help to engage children or young people at risk of crime, truancy or addiction. Tel: (01454) 262910 or visit their website: http://www.sitatrust.org.uk; or For more information visit ­ http://www.sitatrust.org.uk/apply/community for the http://www.peterharrisonfoundation.org/index.htm guidelines.

‐ 9 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk Charitable Trusts and National Funding

Tesco Charity Trust Welsh Assembly Government’s Community Facilities and Funding is available to local community projects which support the welfare of children and children's Activities Programme (CFAP) education projects, including special needs schools Review or for projects related to elderly people and people with disabilities. CFAP has benefited a huge number of groups across the whole of Wales. This scheme is currently being The scheme operates in areas where Tesco has reviewed with the aim of ensuring the best possible stores. use of the resources available alongside continued support of the numerous community and voluntary Grants range from between £1,000 and £4,000 and organisations in Wales that have such a significant applicants are expected to show what other sources impact on the communities represented. of funding have been sought. The Deputy Minister for Regeneration has decided to The deadlines are on an annual rolling basis as delay finalising the review, in order to take into shown below. account the ongoing discussions that are taking place regarding the detailed criteria for the new Community For children's welfare and education projects: Asset Transfer Fund – to ensure complementarity of 31 st January and 30 th June each year. these Funds. It is therefore proposed that an announcement be made regarding both of them once Applications for elderly and disability projects: the criteria are finalised. 31 st March and 30 th September each year As a result of this, the next bidding round for CFAP The application form is available on the web­site ­ which closes on 9th April 2009, will go ahead using http://www.tescoplc.com the current criteria and application forms.

Further information can be obtained by telephoning the CFAP Team on 01685 729316 or by e­mailing [email protected] Lottery Funding People and Places, the Big Lottery demand­led programme, was due to close for initial outline proposal forms at the end of 2008 and final awards to be made in November 2009. This would have resulted in no large programme open for new applications until the new portfolio of programmes post 2009. However, the Wales Committee recently considered this situation and felt strongly there should be a continuation of funding and, more importantly, that BIG should have a demand­led programme open at all times for applicants, especially those within the third sector. This is in line with the requests made during the last consultation, primarily by the third sector, for BIG to deliver a demand­led programme across Wales. As a result the decision has been made to extend People and Places for a further 12 months; thereby ensuring outline proposal forms will be available until October 2009. By this time the make­up of the future funding portfolio will be clearer and the responses from the current BIG Thinking consultation will have been collated. As there are no additional funds to commit during this period, there will be an impact on the amount available for awards during each Committee meeting, which will now distribute circa £2.3million per meeting. This will increase the competition for the programme during this period. For further details on the People and Places programme please visit the Big Lottery Fund web­site ­ http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 10 ‐ Voluntary Sector News Pembrokeshire Community Risk assessment for charity Workers Network shops

Pembrokeshire Community Workers Network recently The Health & Safety Executive has recently added a organised a countywide event for paid and unpaid risk assessment for a charity shop to its online case community workers in Pembrokeshire. The event, studies. It is a useful tool for shops who want to entitled Barriers to Participation, was held in undertake a risk assessment of their premises, in St. Teilo’s Church Hall and was well attended, with order to control the risks to customers, staff and over 20 development workers coming along. volunteers, and for those involved in its maintenance and upkeep. There are already ones for village halls The day identified what were the barriers to and business offices on the website. Click on to participation, and what methods could be adopted to www.hse.gov.uk/risk/casestudies/charityshop.htm overcome them; as well as providing an opportunity for networking and information sharing. If there are fewer than five people working in your If you would like further information or would like to organisation, there is no legal requirement to record join the Network, please contact Vanessa John at the findings of a risk assessment. However it is PAVS. The next event is planned to take place during considered good practice to do so. PAVS has an the summer. information sheet on Risk Assessments which can be downloaded from the website ­ www.pavs.org.uk.

New for 2009 - Pembrokeshire PAVS also has sample templates for risk Trustee Network assessments, please contact the Development Team. Are you a trustee/committee member of a voluntary organisation in Pembrokeshire? A Word of Warning – when using • Do you want to keep up to date with any legal changes that may affect your group? This could a Letter of Intent include changes to Charity & Company Law; the introduction of the new Independent Often charities seek to clarify the terms under which Safeguarding Authority for organisations who they are going to undertake work or commission a work with children and vulnerable adults or service using documents which may be headed changes to Health & Safety Law “letters of intent”, “heads of terms” or “memorandum of understanding”. • Do you want to be made aware of any opportunities for your committee including It is generally intended that these would be treated as conferences, training & events non­binding agreements which will only become • Do you want to be able to network and share binding when a formal contract is signed. This is not information with fellow trustees? always the case. While a Court will take some notice Yes? Then sign up as a member of the new of what you call a document, what they actually look Pembrokeshire Trustee Network! at is whether there is an intention to create a legally binding relationship, whether the key terms of a PAVS is setting up the Pembrokeshire Trustee contract exist, and for acceptance in some form of Network to help voluntary sector organisations within payment or consideration. the County to keep up­to­date with any trustee and governance issues that may affect them. A regular In a recent case, it was confirmed that a letter of electronic briefing will be circulated to all members. intent which laid out an organisation’s intention to enter into a contract was enough to create a binding Join this e­mail network by contacting Vanessa John contract for that organisation. on (01437) 769 422 or E­mail [email protected] Such uncertainty means that you should take advice before using this sort of document. Feel free to add more than one representative from any organisation ­ there is no limit!

‐ 11 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk Voluntary Sector News

Do you know your true worth?

Voluntary groups by nature often underestimate their true worth or alternatively are asked to demonstrate their ‘value’. But what exactly is meant by full value? The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) describes it as a way of thinking about and appreciating the impact that your organisation has on the world.

The full value of your organisation includes: • the benefits that you bring about for your users or cause (your primary outcomes) • the effects you have on other people or things, such as trustees, staff, volunteers, funders, local residents, the environment or the economy (secondary outcomes) • the satisfaction you bring to your users, such as the enjoyment someone gets from using a service because the staff are friendly or sympathetic (primary satisfaction) • the satisfaction you bring to others, e.g. how content your trustees are in their role (secondary satisfaction) NCVO’s publication ‘True Colours: Uncovering the full value of your organisation’ introduces the full value approach. It offers practical exercises to help you identify your organisation's own full value and gives tips on how best to communicate your value to different audiences. It also compares the concepts of ‘full value’ and ‘added value’, and considers how third sector organisations can best play a role in public service delivery. The book costs £12 and is available from the NCVO website.

Charity Commission News Charity Commission to reduce red tape for 23,000 charities

Organisations with an annual income under £25,000 also applies to the external examination of accounts. will no longer have to submit annual accounts and a However all registered charities, regardless of size, trustees' annual report to the Charity Commission will still obliged to produce annual accounts and a from April 2009. The threshold for submission of trustee’s report. Read more about changes to these two documents is to be raised from an annual financial thresholds and reporting requirements for income of £10,000 to £25,000. The new threshold charities on the Charity Commission website.

New Register – names and shames charities

From October last year, charities that do not file their accounts and annual returns on time will be publicly shamed by a red border in a new version of the Charity Commission’s on line register. Each charity’s entry on the register will include a ‘due documents received’ box, which will be edged in green if the documents have been received and in red if they have not. It is hoped that this will encourage greater transparency and accountability in the sector, drive up standards in charity reporting and encourage charities to file accounts on time.

The Commission has spent £225,000 on developing the register, which takes its information directly from the annual returns. The financial information from charities with an income of more than £500,000 will be converted into a series of charts and graphs breaking down income, spending, assets and liabilities, and numbers of staff and volunteers.

Each charity’s entry will also include a statement on activities and area of operation, instead of just the objects from its constitution; show if trustees are on the Board of any other charity, as well as their compliance history. Organisations that file their returns electronically will see their information appear on the register overnight. www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 12 ‐ Charity Commission News Charity Commission Publications

Recently the Charity Commission has published a number of reports which will be of interest to the sector. They are available to download from the Commission website.

Charities going Green New research published by the Commission in December ‘Going Green: Charities and Environmental Responsibility’ reveals that its not just the environmental charities that are taking responsibility for the environment.

This report reflects the experience of charities taking environmental responsibility, from the most basic level to changes in the way they deliver their services. The Commission hopes the report will inspire trustees who have not yet thought about this issue to start to do so.

Charities – don’t go off the rails The Commission has published ‘Charities Back on Track’ a report which brings together themes and lessons from the compliance work it has carried out over the last year.

The report provides charities with a casebook of real­life examples of problems in charities, explaining how the Commission dealt with them and providing guidance on how to prevent similar situations. The examples include good governance, fighting fraud, fundraising, vulnerable beneficiaries, tacking the threat of terrorism and disputes.

The report also identifies key themes and emerging trends, and in particular identifies poor basic accounting and reporting practices as a common problem.

Public Benefit – example reports The requirement for all charities to specifically report on public benefit in their annual report from April 2008 has led to the Commission publishing the first of its online fictional examples of Trustees Annual Reports (TARs) which illustrate how charities of different sizes might report on public benefit. The examples show how a small charity can report appropriately on its public benefit without having to go into complex levels of detail. There are plans for a range of online examples to be available by the end of 2009. The reports are available from the Commission’s website under ‘Public benefit guidance’.

Training Congratulations! More Learning Champion Awards

A number of Learning Champions attended the PAVS AGM to receive their “Valued Learning Champion” Certificates. Learning Champions are people who are active in their local community or group, enjoy learning in all its forms, and understand the benefits of learning. They encourage people to take part in learning and point people in the right direction to find the training they need. Those who received certificates have been active in Pembrokeshire in promoting learning and have been attending Learning Champions events. Karen Butler received a "Star Learning Champion" award given to Learning Champions demonstrating an extra commitment to learning in its widest sense. Cliff Richmond (PACTO) Karen Butler receiving her "Star Learning and Gill Tanner (Carer) received certificates of Champion" award from Sue Leonard commendation (see photograph on front cover).

‐ 13 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk Training

Renew your PAVS membership* in April, or become a PAVS member*, and receive a FREE Training Needs Analysis for your organisation

What is a Training Needs Analysis (TNA)?

TNA is the collection of data to find out where there are gaps in the existing skills and knowledge of trustees, volunteers or employees. A successful TNA can result in people being more productive and happier in their roles. The TNA process will also help identify skills that already exist within an organisation. You never know – you might have a volunteer or member of staff who can help a colleague learn something new! A TNA can often help to identify where there might be significant gaps in the knowledge or skills of the organisation as a whole. For example, new developments in information technology or a change in legislation may mean that the whole organisation needs training in a topic that might not previously have been necessary.

Why is needs analysis important?

Careful analysis of learning needs is important because: • Without the right balance of skills and knowledge being present within an organisation, it may struggle to implement strategies and achieve targets • Providing learning opportunities to volunteers/Trustees and paid staff enables them to develop and achieve personal and career goals, as well as meeting organisational objectives • Well­planned training is an effective way of keeping volunteers and staff ­ if people feel valued and know that they have an opportunity to improve their skills, they are more likely to stay with an organisation • A carefully planned TNA and the resulting training can be cost effective. Knowing who is interested in learning what means that courses can be targeted to those who really need the training, rather than taking a “blanket” approach • Once you know what people need, it is easier to plan and evaluate the training, particularly if there is a requirement for volunteers/staff to attain an accredited professional qualification

How can PAVS help? A Development Officer will visit your organisation at a time convenient to the group. The Officer will facilitate a “Build on Your Skills” workshop which will determine the needs of the group and any skills gaps. The workshop lasts about 2­3 hours depending on numbers and is very participatory. The workshop can be done with trustees, paid staff and volunteers at the same time or at different times, although we do ask for a minimum of 10 people to attend the workshop. From the information coming out of the workshop, a learning plan for your organisation will produced which you can use to plan future training. You will receive your learning plan on a USB memory stick so you can keep it electronically for future reference. Alternatively you can choose to receive a Build on your Skills toolkit, and use the tools to carry out your own TNA ­ just let us know the results so that we can help organise the training!

How do you get a free TNA? If you are already a PAVS member just phone Louise at PAVS to discuss your needs, and make sure you renew your membership in April – you will be sent details closer to the time. If you are not a PAVS member (you can check by phoning PAVS on 01437 769422) you can get a membership form from the PAVS offices or visit the PAVS website http://www.pavs.org.uk/about/join.htm There are a number of benefits to becoming a member of PAVS ­ this is just one of them! * This offer applies to full members only www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 14 ‐ Training Community and Skills Hub - Developing the Rural Skills Resource

As part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s bid to help close the jobs gap in rural areas, PLANED in partnership with Pembrokeshire College and other agencies will be delivering a range of short training courses, starting in January 2009. These have been identified by local communities as being essential to meet local skills gaps and for the sustainability of the community.

There is considerable evidence that lack of easy access to training is one of the biggest barriers to people returning to work/learning new skills. Consequently, wherever possible, the courses will be delivered in local outreach centres. Successful students can choose to either move on to accredited study with the college, full time employment/self employment or volunteer in the community.

Courses on offer include: Building Conservation, Plumbing in the Home, Carpentry, Tiling, Painting & Decorating, Basic Welding, Garden Maintenance, Garden Machinery Maintenance & Repair, Fencing, Gate Making, Hedging, Ditching, Tree Planting, Coppicing, Wetland Management, Soil Management, Introduction to Green & Sustainable Building Options, Babysitting, Caring for the Young, Caring for the Infirm, Caring for the Elderly, Personal Confidence, Basic Nutrition, Train the Trainer, Food Hygiene, Window Dressing, Using IT. to Promote Business; and Customer Service Workshop. All are welcome.

For further information, please contact Sarah Diment at PLANED on 01834 862107 Email [email protected] or Liz Thomas on 01834 862113 Email: [email protected]

Learning Promotion Grant for Inspire - Adult Learners' Week 2009 Adult Learner Awards

The fund is intended to stimulate an interesting and Does someone you know deserve special varied programme of learning events across Wales. recognition? Funds are available to support promotional or marketing activities or to deliver short bite size taster NIACE is looking for people whose learning sessions. Funds will be targeted at organisations that achievements will inspire others to return to learning, are working with communities who are not currently who have improved their lives and/or the lives of accessing learning opportunities. others, and gained a positive or life­changing experience from returning to learning. A limited number of grants of up to £1,000 are available. If you are successful, your grant will be Through the award scheme NIACE is looking to paid in two parts ­ 50% in advance and 50% upon promote the benefits of adults learning and working completion of a final report. together towards a collective goal or common purpose. They also want to recognise the potential of Funding is provided for activities which are different, families to learn together, including all forms of possibly located at unusual venues, able to reach informal and formal learning that involves more than new audiences, and have the potential to gain media one generation. interest. Who can make a nomination? Where possible, your activity should link to either the Anyone can nominate an individual, family or group key themes or the sub themes, which are being for an Inspire Award. All nominees must be aware promoted under the banner of the relevant campaign. that they are being nominated and be willing to talk to Projects which focus on attracting more and different the media about their learning experiences and how learners are also prioritised. they feel they have benefited. All nominees will receive a Certificate of Achievement. The deadline for Learning Promotion Grants for the Deadline: Friday 13 February 2009 Adult Learners Week Campaign is Friday 27th February 2009. For further details and a nomination form phone Steve Johnson on 02920 370900 or visit Application forms are available from PAVS or from http://www.learnersweek.org.uk . Nomination forms the website http://niace.rcthosting.com are also available from PAVS. ‐ 15 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk Training Spring Training Programme 2009

There are a number of new courses being delivered from January to March in Pembrokeshire, so don’t miss out. Book your place(s) today! Courses include:

Course name Date Time Giving and public fundraising 12 February 10.00am­1.00pm Look after your organisation 27 February 10.00am­1.00pm Skills for negotiation and influencing others 5 March 10.00am­4.00pm Organising your work 11 March 10.00am­4.00pm Working with the media 18 March 9.30am­12.30pm Reaching out using accessible formats 18 March 1.30pm­4.30pm Running a community building 24 March 10.00am­4.00pm From Planning to Delivery – Working with the Statutory Sector 26 March 10.00am­4.00pm

Most sessions are being run in the Pembrokeshire Centre for Voluntary Action (PAVS) in Haverfordwest. Half day courses for (full) PAVS members start at just £7.50, and full day courses (including lunch) are just £15.

For more details please visit the PAVS website http://www.pavs.org.uk/training/ or phone PAVS for a brochure (01437 769422).

Other courses being delivered in our region include: Course name Date Grants ­ fit for funding 24 February Preparing a sustainable fundraising strategy 31 March

These courses are being run by CAVO in Ceredigion, for more details phone 01570 423232.

For information about all courses from the third sector national training framework being delivered across Wales visit www.coursesforcommunitiescymru.org.uk

Open Evening College facilities include: • Merlin Theatre Pembrokeshire College would like to invite all • Academy Restaurant voluntary and community organisations to view the • Lecture Theatre College facilities at a Community and Voluntary • Classrooms – all with interactive whiteboards Sector Open Evening. The open evening will be • IT Suites held at the College in late March / early April (date • Meeting Rooms – Board Room & Breakout rooms to be confirmed). • Training Kitchens • Hair & Beauty Salons These facilities can be made available for use by • Art Workshops & Exhibition Areas community groups free of charge. • Learning Resource Centre For further information please visit the website • Nursery www.pembs.ac.uk/community • Fitness Suite or ring Janet Davies on 01437 753 246 • Hot Desk in the Community Office – Broadband access and printing facilities www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 16 ‐ Training

Developing management and leadership skills for the voluntary sector

An Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) endorsed course Dates: Days 1 & 2 4 & 5 March 2009 Days 3 & 4 22 & 23 April 2009 Days 5 & 6 20 & 21 May 2009 Days 7 & 8 17 & 18 June 2009 Location: Cardiff Cost: A ­ £845 B ­ £965 C ­ £1095 Fee includes ILM registration and assessment

This 8­day ILM endorsed course is for new and current managers who have responsibility for leading the direction of the organisation whilst managing and overseeing the day­to­day implementation of projects and work programmes.

Learning objectives: by the end of the course, participants will:

• Understand the role of management and leadership • Have explored their own beliefs, values and attitudes, strengths and weaknesses • Understand the main components in planning and leading change • Be able to plan individual and team development • Understand performance management and links to quality • Understand how to deal with conflict in the organisation • Have more confidence in making presentations • Have identified and planned for their own development needs

An Introduction to Equality and Diversity Date: 20 March 2009 Location: Cardiff Cost: A £125 B £155 C £185

This course is for those who wish to gain a better understanding of equality and diversity and will help individuals encourage equality and diversity in the workplace

Learning objectives: by the end of the course participants will be able to:

• Explain what we mean by equality and diversity • Give examples as to why equality and diversity are important • Identify different types of discrimination • Recognise some of their own prejudices and stereotypes • Produce an action plan to encourage and promote equality and diversity in their place of work

‐ 17 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk Training

Grants ­ Fit for Funding Date: 24 March 2009 ­ Location: Neath Date: 25 March 2009 – Location Neath Cost: £10 for voluntary and community organisations operating in Wales.

Have you ever had an application for funding rejected or ever considered what makes a winning bid? Many funding applications fail due to the lack of sufficient preparation or simply do not fit with a funders’ criteria. This course will examine all aspects of preparing a funding application and will provide a practical insight into identifying the most appropriate sources of funding for your organisation. The course will also provide an overview of the current funding climate in Wales and assist you in understanding what influences funders. The course is suitable for those new to fundraising or those wishing to gain a further insight into fundraising processes

Skills for Handling Conflict Date: 24 & 25 March 2009 Location: Newport Cost: A £200 B £250 C £300

When people are involved in organisations because of strong beliefs and commitment, differences of approach and style can quickly become issues. This course is for those who find they need to handle difficult situations and conversations in their groups. It is designed to generate understanding of skills needed and techniques to use to get the best from conflict situations. The course provides models of the techniques and intensive scenarios to understand and use them. Alongside this, participants will develop new skills for managing anger and addressing prejudice

Facilitation skills and tools Date: 30 & 31 March 2009 Location: Swansea Cost: A £200 B £250 C £300

This two­day course considers various events and settings where facilitation is necessary and the different approaches that are required. The course will allow participants to understand the role of the facilitator in a group and experience a range of facilitation theory, skills and techniques. Participants will learn how to plan and run effective facilitated events.

Price bands (All prices are excluding VAT) A WCVA members B Voluntary and community organisations C Public and private sector bodies

For more information email [email protected] or telephone the WCVA helpdesk on 0800 2888 329

www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 18 ‐ Volunteering Value Independence ‘Learn, enjoy and take away new skills’

The Company was founded in February 2008 to Because individual needs vary so much, there is no develop specialised provision for vulnerable people standard charge. Written quotations are provided to meet their personal development, social and before each package is agreed. recreational needs. Club Nights are held on the third Saturday of each There are three areas of month at The Hive from 7­30pm to 10pm. The Club work: Nights are highly popular and there is no need to register. Just turn up and enjoy the art workshops, The Pathways Scheme games, music, pool/snooker, badminton, basketball The Daytime Respite and, most importantly, meet new people and have Club Nights fun while finding out what else is going on in Pembrokeshire. Each session is £3 and carers are The Pathways Scheme is a unique service for free. young people and adults who are disengaged or isolated from society as a result of either learning All the activities offered by Value Independence are disability or other long term problems. risk assessed and covered by insurance. All staff have enhanced Criminal Record Bureau checks. For There are five pathways: more information call 01646 698169 / 07792693822 • Self Discovery or email [email protected] • Literacy and Numeracy • Healthy Living • Life Skills • Natural Environment Each ‘Pathway’ involves activities and study but also enjoyment. Wherever appropriate, environment issues are emphasised as they relate to the different pathways. Support is given to set individual goals such as college courses, voluntary work and placements when the time is right. The Activity Centre is located in a rural setting which offers plenty of scope for working outdoors. The basic charge for ‘Pathway’ sessions is £10 per hour. Daytime Respite aims to be as interesting and good fun as Pathways and taps into the resources of the Activity Centre. Each respite package its tailored to each individual’s circumstances. LATEST VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

THE BLUE CROSS Children’s Education Speaker

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL – YOUTH SERVICES Youth Work Volunteer

HAVERFORDWEST AND PEMBROKESHIRE SAMARITANS Shop Manager

WALES AIR AMBULANCE Volunteer see page 24 for more opportunities

‐ 19 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk Volunteering Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru Driving support for patients

Volunteers are getting behind the He added “I have been volunteering wheel in Mid and West Wales to help for the Welsh Ambulance Service for provide care for their communities. over 10 years now and am enjoying it as much as ever.” Welsh Ambulance Service volunteer ambulance car drivers are helping The Welsh Ambulance Service is on mobile patients get the treatment they the look out for more people to join need, right from their own doorstep to Teifion in driving forward the hospital and back again. volunteer ambulance car service forward in Mid and West Wales. When volunteer drivers step in to transport patients, they are helping Ambulance Car Service Manager Patient Care Services look after Arwyn Thomas said: “The ambulance patients who need the assistance of car service is the most cost effective, ambulance transport. comfortable, and, punctual method of transporting patients to routine Teifion Morris, of Cardigan, has been appointments, and, with this in mind, giving a helping hand to West Wales we are looking to recruit volunteer car patients as a volunteer driver for the last 10 years. drivers from communities across Mid & West Wales.

His role includes taking patients to and from Regional Director Mike Collins added: “Our volunteer appointment at the main hospitals in the region and drivers play a vital role in providing services to also out­of­county work to Pembrokeshire and even patients in the region. Their dedication and Swansea. commitment is fully appreciated both by the Welsh Ambulance Service and the patients they transport Teifion, 65, explains: “I found out about the daily.” Ambulance Car Service when I had to travel down to Southampton Hospital for my triple heart by­pass The Welsh Ambulance Service is constantly looking surgery and for subsequent checkups in Cardiff.“ for people who are able to help and want to be part Before I had my heart attack I had been working as a of this fulfilling and satisfying work. bus driver, but I had to retire early. I didn’t like being idle and wanted to do something. I remembered If you are interested or for further information please talking to the volunteer driver at the time and thought contact Arwyn on 01267 225792 or 07971 313554. it would be a good opportunity for me to help others and give something back to the community.”

UNA Exchange Do you work for an environmental or community project in Wales? Would you like a group of enthusiastic volunteers to help you complete a particular project? Perhaps you could consider a group of international volunteers. UNA Exchange is a charity based in Cardiff that recruits international volunteers for community based projects around Wales, and sends volunteers from around the UK to volunteer on projects abroad. We also run trainings and work on special projects promoting cultural exchange. Our aims are to foster greater international co­operation and understanding whilst doing work valuable to local communities. We work across Wales and send volunteers to many different projects, anything from building roundhouses and working in organic gardens to helping on summer play schemes or organising community events. www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 20 ‐ (Continued on page 21) Volunteering

(Continued from page 20) How can you get involved? We are currently looking for new project partners across Wales for our weekend and summer projects. We can provide volunteers for a weekend project any time between February and May, or a longer summer project, generally running between ten days and three weeks. Each project would involve a small international group of between 4 and 12 volunteers. Host projects would be expected to find food and accommodation for the volunteers (accommodation can be basic as long as it is warm and dry, volunteers are often accommodated in community halls for example), whilst volunteers fund their own travel and UNA Exchange takes care of recruitment, trains a leader for the project and provides project support.

Interested? If you’re interested please get in touch. We’re always happy to give more information or arrange a meeting at a place convenient for you. Contact: Katy Chadwick – [email protected] / 02920 223088 Address: UNA Exchange, Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3AP www.unaexchange.org

Could you be the one to fit the chair?

Cancer Research UK is looking for people in the areas of Haverfordwest, Milford Haven and Fishguard to get together and lead a new and exciting fundraising opportunity that the charity is offering – Relay For Life.

Relay For Life is a 24­hour community led event, celebrating the lives of people touched by cancer and remembering those who have been lost. Cancer Research UK is planning a recruitment drive in a bid to find volunteers to stage the community­run event, this started in the Picton Community Centre in Haverfordwest on Tuesday 23rd September. Area Volunteer Manager for West Wales, Carrie Barlow, said: "Relay for Life is an inspirational community event designed to celebrate the lives of cancer survivors and recognise all those who have been touched by cancer, also to raise money for the vital work of Cancer Research UK.

"We need dedicated, motivated people to help form a committee to organise the event. They will each have a specific role to play within the group, such as team recruitment or accounting, there is a role for everyone. We will need a chairperson to organise the committee, teams to take part in the relay and volunteers to help the event run smoothly." The event sees teams, who fund­raise throughout the year, coming together to take part in an overnight relay on a track or playing field. Each team tries to keep at least one member on the track at all times. There is a chance for the community to honour their cancer survivors, with the Survivors' Lap of Honour, and a tribute to those lost in a Candle of Hope ceremony. Cancer Research UK Area Every Relay for Life lasts 12 to 24 hours and always Volunteer Manager Carrie runs overnight. Relays are held all over the world. The Barlow is looking for a event is inspirational, emotional and one that, once member of the local seen, is never forgotten. community to Chair a Relay For Life committee Carrie added: "People with a passion for the cause For media enquiries please should get in touch ­ it's not easy but it is rewarding. I contact: Carrie Barlow on think this area of West Wales would be a great place to 07770281965 or email stage an event like this. The area has a strong [email protected] community feeling and the ability to pull together for a worthy cause."

‐ 21 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk Volunteering Employer Supported Volunteering Scheme

Are you an employer who would like to support the Benefits to the Community community? Employer Supported Volunteering ▪ Access to more volunteers with a variety of skills schemes provide opportunities for employees to ▪ Build important links between all the sectors and participate in community projects with their the local community employer’s support, encouraging a mutually ▪ Develop and encourage diversity in the beneficial relationship between employers, local community voluntary organisations and employees (volunteers). Employer Supported Volunteering can either be PAVS Volunteering Pembrokeshire can help an individual employees carrying out volunteering or employer develop an Employer Support Volunteering groups of employees carrying out team building scheme by: volunteering. ▪ Developing an Employer Supported Volunteering Benefits to the Employer Policy ▪ Enhance your organisation’s / company’s reputation ▪ Promoting volunteering to employees, ▪ Demonstrate your support to the local highlighting the benefits to themselves and their community community ▪ Improve staff motivation and morale ▪ Offering a menu of volunteering opportunities for ▪ Expand the skills, knowledge and performance individuals to carry out volunteering in work time of staff and in their own time (pure volunteering) • Increase training opportunities and personal • Providing links to projects and organisations in development for staff the voluntary sector for team building days

Benefits to the Employee If you would like to find out more about developing ▪ Gain work experience in a different environment an Employer Supported Volunteering Scheme, ▪ Develop new professional and personal skills please call Caroline Graham at PAVS on 01437 ▪ Meet new and diverse people to exchange 769422. knowledge and skills ▪ Feel good by ‘giving something back’ to the community Pembrokeshire Advocacy Volunteering with

Pembrokeshire Advocacy is a charitable organisation Pembrokeshire Advocacy that provides an independent advocacy service for people who have learning disabilities in We are always interested in hearing from people Pembrokeshire. It is a free and confidential service who would be interested in volunteering with us. which is available to individuals who contact us direct Pembrokeshire Advocacy currently has three citizen or through referral from statutory agencies. advocates who work in a befriending role with some of our clients. One of our citizen advocates is a Essentially, advocacy is a process which helps to mentor for an individual who is undergoing training empower clients who are at risk of becoming with All Wales People First on their Learning for marginalised or are vulnerable. We work on a one­ Leadership Course. to­one basis with clients who are experiencing difficulties or who are going through transitions. Pembrokeshire Advocacy is run by a Management Committee of volunteers who have a special interest Pembrokeshire Advocacy also facilitates self in advocacy and social inclusion. If you are advocacy groups through Pembrokeshire People interested in volunteering in any capacity with us First. These groups work on developing people’s please contact Pamela Evans on 01437 769135 or capacity to express themselves and provide a social [email protected] network for some of our clients. www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 22 ‐ Volunteering

Green Links Community Interest Company was established in July 2006 as a non­profit making organisation working for the benefit of young people. The main aim of this social enterprise is to provide vocational skills training for young people from Pembrokeshire. This aim is achieved through the delivery of a range of activities and courses designed to improve the skills and employability of those involved. Most of the courses are accredited through the Open College Network and BTEC. Target groups include: young people who opt for vocational subjects as part of their school’s curriculum, those with learning difficulties and young people at risk of exclusion. The training programme for 2008–2009 includes Construction, Carpentry, Countryside and the Environment, Hairdressing, Beauty and Wellbeing, Gardening, Woodland Skills and Wood Based Crafts. In addition to the training, Green Links CIC also provides woodland/park services to public and private sector organisations. Services include fencing, path building, tree works, timber milling and the provision of seating areas, garden benches, planters etc. Income raised from these services helps to enhance the vocational skills training programme and bring substantial benefits to the young people on this innovative scheme.

The contact for these services is Adam Cumine 07966 065854 One of the company’s aims for 2009 is to increase the number of volunteers (both young and not so young), particularly on the Woodland and Environment projects. It is planned to hold training events for young people during the half terms and on several Saturday mornings throughout the year. Sessions will involve opening up access to woodland areas, erecting fences, creating a wetland area, making and using a pole lathe, restoring a walled garden, making bird /bat boxes etc. If anyone is interested in joining the team of Green Links Volunteers, please contact Shirley Wilczynski­ 01646 623301 or Kim Henderson 01646 686804 The Directors of Green Links Community Interest Company would like to thank all those who have supported their projects, particularly Pembroke School, Cycoed (Forestry Commission), Environment Wales, Communities First, Chevron, WCVA, PAVS, PBI, Dyfed Powys Police, and Pembrokeshire’sCommunity Safety Partnership. The Green Links Centre, Pembroke School, Bush, Pembroke, SA71 4RL Company Registration Number 5877169 Tel: 01646 686804 Web: www.greenlinks.org.uk Email: [email protected] Bake for Bobath 1st March to 8th March 2009

Have a Welsh cake and make a difference! Make a difference to children in Wales with cerebral palsy by taking part in our Bake for Bobath week. Get your school baking and get everyone involved. Why not have a cake sale at school or a coffee morning involving friends and family and raise much needed funds for Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales. The event can be held anytime during Bake for Bobath week from 1st March to 8th March 2009. The event is supported by Celebrity chef, food writer and broadcaster Angela Gray who is producing a special recipe booklet for all participants and also by Patron Bryn Terfel. Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales provides specialist therapy to children throughout Wales who have cerebral palsy.

To register for your Bake for Bobath fundraising pack Phone: 029 20522600 E­mail: [email protected]

‐ 23 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk Volunteering Volunteering for ACP

Age Concern Pembrokeshire’s mission statement:­ ‘We promote the well­being of all older people, work to reduce isolation and provide services to enable choice and Independent Living’

Volunteering for ACP falls into two main categories – Community work and Office work.

Our Community Volunteers support the older people of Pembrokeshire in many ways – most are prepared to take on any appropriate work within their area – much as a family member, friend or neighbour might do. Some Volunteers undergo specialist training in order to help clients complete Welfare Benefit forms or to demonstrate and maintain Bath Lifts which are available to clients for purchase or hire.

Our Office Volunteers work in the office assisting staff with telephone work, databases and general administration duties.

Age Concern Pembrokeshire has recently been accredited with the Investing in Volunteers Standard Quality Mark for volunteer management ­ demonstrating that the organisation is supporting Volunteers in all aspects of volunteering. Age Concern Pembrokeshire is the first charity in Pembrokeshire and the first Age Concern in Wales to receive the IiV award.

If you are interested in volunteering for Age Concern Pembrokeshire, please contact Sally, the Volunteering Co­ordinator, on 01437 769207, email [email protected] or call in to 37 Merlins Hill, Haverfordwest SA61 1PE

MORE VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES!

PEMBROKE 21C COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Woodland Work / Millponds Warden volunteer

SCOPE CYMRU Bridging the Gap Project Volunteer

PEMBROKESHIRE SPECIAL NEEDS GYMNASTIC CLUB Volunteer

www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 24 ‐ News from Groups

The Darwin Centre

The Darwin Centre completed a programme of work demonstrate the current in 2008 to broaden inclusion to its growing menu of generation of electricity field and workshop activities. Funding from the globally. Examples of Sustainable Pembrokeshire Small Grants Scheme renewable technologies allowed Darwin to offer a field trip and workshop on and potential new renewable energy to groups that Darwin have found technologies were difficult to reach. Herbrandston Mothers Union, introduced. The groups Neyland Women's Institute, Esteam, St. Oswalds even made Summer Club and the Priory Gypsy Education Unit. electromagnets to help them understand some of the techniques used in Each group visited the Pembrokeshire Coast power generation. The funding administered by National Park's Carew PAVS and matched by the Darwin Centre and Tidal Mill to see at first Dragon LNG, Waterston, allowed the whole project hand the historic use of to be offered to the groups for free. The Darwin natural resources. The Centre would like to thank all of the participants for a fantastic mill and its well great project. If there are other groups that would maintained engineering like to be involved in similar projects contact the allowed the groups to see Darwin Centre on 01437 753193, the centre is how the earths natural always looking for opportunities to apply for funding power has been to deliver projects of this kind. harnessed in the past. The history of the mill and its importance as the last remaining tidal mill in Wales intrigued the groups further. The follow up work shop used dynamos, motors and a steam engine to

H.O.P.E. Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre

Vacancy: Deputy Centre Manager

We are a local Charity based at Unit 57 Honeyborough Business Park, Neyland providing services for people in Pembrokeshire with M.S. We are open for four days a week (Monday – Thursday) 09:00 to 17:00.

We are looking for a Deputy Centre Manager to provide Holiday/Sickness cover for the incumbent Manager. The job entails working a varied hour week dependant on requirements. You will need excellent communication and inter­ personal skills and to be able to project yourself clearly and in a polite manner. You must also be IT literate with experience in using Microsoft Office products.

Experience in office management and man management skills would be an advantage. Remuneration is negotiable.

Apply in the first instance to: Mr Rick Stanton, Centre Manager, H.O.P.E. M.S Therapy Centre, Unit 57 Honeyborough Business Park, Neyland. Milford Haven. SA73 1SE Tel: 01646 600384

‐ 25 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk News from Groups Unsung heroines share top honours

There was a first for Sarah, who works for Health Pembrokeshire YFC when one of Challenge Pembrokeshire, has its most prestigious trophies was held every official post in jointly awarded to a pair of unsung Llawhaden YFC and has just heroines. started her second year as club chairman. The hard work put in to all aspects of YFC life in Pembrokeshire by Her citation read: “She is a Sarah Edwards, of Llawhaden dedicated, committed member of YFC, and Anne Evans, of Keyston the movement and, while never YFC, saw them emerge as joint seeking the limelight, works winners of the Wayne Mathias tirelessly behind the scenes.” Memorial award. Pembrokeshire YFC president Gill Anne is the current chairman of Lawrence presents the ‘unsung Keyston YFC and recently helped In jointly awarding the prize, hero’ award to Anne Evans and the club raise more than £1,300 by Pembrokeshire YFC president Gill Sarah Edwards. motivating members to think of Lawrence said: “I just couldn’t split new ways of fundraising. them, they both do so much for county and work so hard for their clubs.” Her nomination read: “Anne is very inspiring to Keyston and has influenced and encouraged fellow The award is given to members for their outstanding members within all aspects of YFC.” contribution and ‘behind the scenes’ work for their clubs and the county federation. Anne and Sarah were presented with their award at the county AGM. London calling thanks to grant The young members of Houses of Parliament in London The trip was made possible Pembrokeshire YFC have for an educational visit. thanks to a grant of £1,597 from broadened their horizons and the lottery­funded grants learnt more about Britain’s rich The youngsters met Preseli programme Make It Happen. history. Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb for a tour of the historic For further information on Make it Almost 50 members of the Palace of Westminster and learnt Happen, or to obtain an County’s Youth Forum – which is more about the workings of application pack, call open to all young farmers aged government. 01686611740 or visit the website 18 and under – travelled to the at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk.

Pictured with Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Historic visit: The Youth Forum members in Westminster Hall. Crabb are Pembrokeshire YFC youth forum leader Claire Thomas, of Llawhaden YFC and sidekick Kim Brickell, from South Pembs YFC. www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 26 ‐ News from Groups

TENP Progress

The Environmental Network for Pembrokeshire , (TENP), has made significant progress as a result of CCW funding which enabled us to appoint a part­time Coordinator , Marc Mordey.

Our recent activities include; • Responses to a number of consultation papers; PCC’s Section 106 agreement and Sustainable Appraisal consultations, and WAGs ‘ Land Use Planning and Carbon Reduction’, and ‘One Wales One World’ SD Scheme consultations. (These are available on our web site: www.tenp.org.uk). • A recent TENP event on ‘Food Security’ resulted in professional support being offered to tenants of Pembrokeshire Housing Association who wish to develop kitchen gardens. • Discussions are ongoing with Swansea University to promote a programme of taster courses in environmental studies. • TENP became the first organisation in Wales to ‘sign up’ to the WCVA’s Climate Change declaration. • TENP was invited to contribute to the Local Service Board’s initial discussions on the key environmental issues facing the County. • TENP held its first AGM on 28 th January. After the business meeting, 3 prominent figures addressed a public meeting on ‘Building Bridges between the Voluntary and Public sectors’ ­ Mick Bates AM Chairman of WAG’s Sustainability Committee, Angela Burns AM for South Pembrokeshire and West Carmarthenshire , and Neil Ingham, Chief :Policy Officer of Cynnal Cymru/Sustain Wales.

Finally, TENP , in conjunction with the West Wales Eco centre, is investigating the feasibility of hosting an international workshop in Spring 2009 on the subject of ‘Feed­in­Tarrifs’ and their implications’. Support has already been expressed by the Minster for Sustainable Development, and the UKSDC.

For further information contact and a membership form contact: [email protected]

The Phoenix Well Being Society Coppicewood College

The Phoenix Well Being Society meet the 2nd Coppicewood College Thursday of every month at Haverfordwest Cricket Woodland Skills Short Courses 2009 Club for Lunch (12.30 for 1pm Lunch), a chat and a There are a number of courses available this year speaker. We also go on Coach Trips, Lunch Trips including: and even a Short Holiday. Those of us who, for various reasons, cannot travel on a coach go by car, Introduction to Coppicing (January / October) meeting up and travelling together. Hedge laying (February) Our aim is to meet socially, enjoy each others Green woodworking (March) company and, most of all, meet friends new and old. We have no age limit. The only criteria is to enjoy ­ For more information visit the website so why not come and give us a try? http://www.coppicewoodcollege.co.uk/woodland­ If you want to chat to someone before coming, then skills­short­courses.html ring me, Sue Stanley, on 01646 600772 or phone (01239) 881 394

‐ 27 ‐ www.pavs.org.uk Consultations

Pembrokeshire Local Development Plan: Consultation

On the 8th December 2008, 36 people, from all sectors, gathered at County Hall to discuss a number of planning options; for the amount of development, and the location of that development within the County, over the period 2011­2021.

Planning officers facilitated 4 discussion groups that each considered; the ‘Vision’, the 24 objectives, the 12 strategic policies of the LDP, and then 3 growth options; Low= 3400 houses, Medium = 4700 houses, and High = 7000 houses, and 3 Spatial allocation options; ranging from; Option 1: 70% Urban­30% Rural, Option2: 60% Urban­40% Rural, and Option 3: 50% Urban – 50% Rural.

The outcome of the discussions and feedback received thereafter was that the County Council has decided to develop a ‘hybrid’ option to be consulted on in 2009. This will be based on; between Medium to High growth, the Wales Spatial Plan framework of a hierarchy of settlements, and 50% of development in urban areas and 50% in rural areas.

This preferred option will identify the scale and location of growth within County (excluding the National Park) for the 10 years from 2011 to 2021.

Obviously development can be contentious but affordable home are needed for the significant number of local people in ‘housing need’ and the County Council believes that an influx of people can bring wealth into the County which will support the local economy and help maintain local services.

A number of questions arise, including;

• What balance of housing should be provided for local people and in­migrants?

• Where should housing be built, how should it be phased and what type of housing should it be?

• Is it sensible to build homes where there are no local services or jobs?

• What limit should there be to house building in the countryside in order to protect our distinctive landscape and heritage?

• Where should employment related development be located?

• Should the planning authority encourage community renewable energy initiatives?

• Should residential development incorporate more space allotments, play areas and kitchen gardens in the designs?

• Should we be planning now for sea level rise recently predicted by scientists which is significantly higher than that assumed in the draft LDP?

Public consultation on the LDP Preferred Strategy will provide a further opportunity for stakeholders to comment on issues of particular concern or to indicate support for the plan strategy. Details of the public consultation will be disseminated when arrangements have been finalised.

More information about the LDP process and how you can get involved can be found on the Pembrokeshire County Council website: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk

www.pavs.org.uk ‐ 28 ‐