Pembrokeshire Association

of Voluntary Services

Volunteering

Pembrokeshire

Volunteer Bulletin

Spring / Summer 2013

Volunteering Pembrokeshire offers a comprehensive advice and information service on:

. Volunteering Opportunities

. Personal Development

. Careers and Education

To find out more call 01437 769422

Latest newsVolunteering and Opportunities inside

Come Celebrate Volunteers Week 2013 with PAVS

Celebration Event and Pembrokeshire Volunteering Awards 2013 Ceremony

Venue: Letterston Memorial Hall, Letterston, Haverfordwest Date: June 5th 2013 11am – 3pm This is the main event of PAVS’ National Volunteers Week celebration! Starting at 11am, browse the organisation’s stands and find out about the various volunteering opportunities on offer. Complementary therapists will be available to spoil volunteers with a free treatment as a thank you. Lunch is served at 1pm, followed by the Pembrokeshire Volunteering Awards in the afternoon. Everyone is welcome, both volunteers and volunteer managers, so please join us on the day.

If you would like to nominate someone who carries out exceptional volunteering in their community then visit PAVS web site for a nomination form. There are 6 categories:

1. 25 and under individual 2. Over 25 individual 3. 25 and under group 4. Over 25 group 5. Trustee 6. Mary SIgley

For more information about the event, to book a place or a stand, or to nominate volunteers for the awards please call PAVS (01437 769422) or visit the PAVS website (www.pavs.org.uk). We would very much like to see as many people there as possible so please book your places early as the event is usually very well attended. Last year’s winners of the Pembrokeshire

Volunteering Awards

************************** Spring 2013 Volunteering Opportunities at Clynfyw

We are focussing on several new projects this spring for which we would welcome new volunteers! Community Market - from the end of April we will be taking a stand at the community market selling things that we have made at Clynfyw during the week. Part of this project is based around a cookery club at Clynfyw on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays during which our participants follow accredited courses making basic meals and food production. On Wednesdays, we plan to make additional items to sell at the market on Thursdays, while on Mondays and Wednesdays, we plan to make surplus to supply to elderly and house bound people within our community in a small “meals on wheels” type of basis.

Community Gardening Scheme - We have been approached to tend several local people’s gardens, a service that will begin as soon as the frosts stop. So far we have five gardens signed up, with more interested. We are hoping to develop a team of 4/6 people who would follow a series of accredited horticulture and gardening courses throughout the spring/summer, while they gain the hands-on experience of being a jobbing gardener. Once the individuals are competent and confident, we plan to ‘gift them’ a gardening round, so they have their own small business up and running, while we will offer as much, or as little, support as they need from us from then on. Much of the surpluses earned from these projects will be paid to those involved as therapeutic earnings up to a level which does not affect their benefits. Surpluses beyond this go into our Wheelie Good Idea project, sending refurbished independent living aids to Kenya. We would be interested in talking to anyone interested in volunteering to support any aspect of this project. If you would like more information about these or any of our other projects, please get in touch!

Jim Bowen, Clynfyw, Abercych, Boncath, Pembrokeshire. Sa37 0HF 07980290522 [email protected] www.clynfyw.co.uk

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News from Stackpole Mencap Gardens

Straw Bale Visitor Centre/Café - Our exciting new project is now nearing completion and is looking fantastic. That we have got to this stage is thanks, in no small part, to hours of voluntary work by 2 of our dedicated trustees – Ian Wilshaw and Mike Evans who have gone above and beyond what is the norm for voluntary services. We will be hopefully opening our Garden Café and new shop to visitors at the end of May and with the expert help of PAVS have received £12,000 of funding from the Lloyds Foundation towards staff costs and £2000 towards the cost of kitchen equipment from the Pembrokeshire Impact Fund. We will be serving freshly ground coffee and a delicious range of homemade cakes and soups which will be made from garden produce wherever possible and are in the process of appointing somebody who shares our vision to run it. Volunteer opportunities will be available and initial enquiries should be made to the Gardens Manager on 01646 661442.

We are in discussions with the Learning Disabilities Team from Pembrokeshire County Council and the COAST project with the aim of providing work experience to people with learning disabilities who have undergone catering training at the Anchorage SAC and are looking to progress further.

The gardens and visitor centre will be open 7 days a week throughout the summer and we are looking forward to welcoming as many people as possible to enjoy our unique surroundings.

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HOST

HOST has an unusual opportunity, which combines easily with any other volunteering you may do, or even with a full-time job. We are looking for friendly people who have a spare bedroom (or a room which can occasionally be made available to a guest). You also need a heart for hospitality, and an interest in meeting (mostly) young people from all over the world. HOST arranges invitations for international students at UK universities for a single weekend, when the students will be treated as ‘friends of the family’, joining in with whatever the household is doing. Hosts also like to show students their region – it’s a good excuse for an outing – and perhaps take them along to a community event. For students, the visit is a unique chance to experience the British way of life and chat with ‘the natives’, as well as sharing their own culture with their hosts. Most hosts offer just two or three invitations a year. Sometimes a day visit (no overnight stay) is possible. And 3-day stays at Christmas are very popular. For more information, see www.hostuk.org, or call the Voluntary Regional Organiser in S Wales, Lynette Chappin 029 2069 3903. Thank you.

Exhibition Stand at Farmers Market

Venue: Farmers Market, Riverside, Haverfordwest

th Date: Friday 7 June 2013 9am - 3pm PAVS Volunteering Pembrokeshire will have a large table and stand at the Farmers Market and will be encouraging passers-by to volunteer!

****************************** Explore Voluntary Internship Programme

Have you ever thought of volunteering full time, or trying a volunteering internship? The aim of the Explore Voluntary Internship Programme is to place Interns into an organisation to provide an enjoyable, meaningful experience which enhances employability, skills, and understanding of the Third Sector. Interns can be of all ages and come from all walks of life, the only criteria being you have the requested knowledge or skills. Opportunities available in the area include: Marketing & Communication Project for Transition Bro Gwaun (Fishguard/Home Based) Activities Researcher- Welcome Friends Project for RSVP (Haverfordwest) Social and Digital Media Development for the National Trust (Stackpole) Short Film Making for The Phoenix Project (a Fire and Rescue initiative based at various locations)

Full Time volunteering with the National Trust The National Trust has been providing opportunities for volunteers to develop practical skills in countryside and heritage for many years. On the job training, combined with structured learning opportunities, will allow you to develop personally and professionally. They offer a number of opportunities for full time voluntary work. There are some minimum requirements if you are interested, you should be: able to give 21 hours or more a week available for at least three months over 18 years old

Current roles in Pembrokeshire include: Assistant Ranger - Full Time Volunteer Assistant Rangers assist in implementing the Trust’s twin objectives of the conservation of its properties and helping people to enjoy and understand them. Outdoor Activity Assistant - The National Trust is committed to helping people of all ages learn from the rich educational resources available at different types of properties.

CSV Full-Time Volunteering in the UK CSV (Community Service Volunteers) provide full-time volunteering opportunities for 18 to 35 year olds, away from home for six months to a year, dedicating your time to helping others. Volunteer full-time in your gap year before University and boost your UCAS application. You can also apply if you'd like to take a career break, and gain valuable skills for your CV. CSV will provide training and support and you’ll get free accommodation and day to day expenses. For more information about these opportunities please contact PAVS. **************************** Volunteer as a Digital Champion - Share your IT Skills

Communities 2.0 recently ran a “First Click” introductory computer course at Dairy Park Grove residential home which made headline news in the Milford and West Wales Mercury. The course was run by our Communities 2.0 Digital Champion volunteer Chris Howell. Dairy Park Grove warden Jean Meyes with residents Edgar Garnham, Joan Hooper, Connie Thomas, Rose & Ferrell Black, Doreen Jones, Doreen Calder, Glenys White and Jean Howard who have been learning about computers and the internet. Jayne Smith, Communities 2.0 Outreach Officer, said “Most of the residents had not touched a computer before, but once they were shown how to use one and what to use it for, they got so enthusiastic they now want me to set up a computer club for them.” Rose, one of the students, added: “It was also lovely to get together with everyone – we enjoyed that aspect of it as well. The people who ran the course made it so interesting and easy to follow and that got us hooked.” Dairy Park warden Jean Meyes said that the residents will now set up a committee to oversee their new computer club. Communities 2.0 Digital Champions Project Communities 2.0 is a Welsh Government and ERDF funded Digital Inclusion project that helps people get online and enjoy the benefits of technology such as saving money, accessing information & services, and communicating with family and friends. Visit www.communities2point0.org.uk for more information. Our inspirational volunteers will be fully trained as “Digital Champions” to teach people essential computer skills. They will assist the local Communities 2.0 area team, delivering sessions in libraries, community venues, social housing - in fact, anywhere with computers! The Digital Champions volunteer project is managed through PAVS as the local Communities 2.0 partner organisation. For more information on becoming a Digital Champion, contact Mike Beckett or Lindsay Morgan on 01437 769422. Theatr Gwaun - Fishguard

Theatr Gwaun in Fishguard is a community cinema / theatre run mainly by volunteers. We show films Sunday – Wednesday every week and offer an interesting programme of live events. Some of the live events coming up include Have a Laugh Comedy Club on 24 May; a Fishguard Folk Festival event on 25 May – lunch time concert (with food) and an evening show; and Victorian Old Time Music Hall on 31 May. All good stuff! We are currently raising money for our digital project, Cinema by the Sea, which will transform the cinema and allow us to screen recently released digital films plus live opera, ballet, theatre and sport. Importantly, digitalisation will enhance the experience of visually and hearing impaired visitors by providing the equipment necessary for audio description and hearing assist.

If you’d like to be part of our happy and vibrant team here at Theatr Gwaun we’d love to hear from you. We have volunteer vacancies in our front of house team and vacancies in our marketing and cleaning teams. Friends of Theatr Gwaun would welcome new members (a £10 annual subscription gives you a discount on prices and helps run the theatre) and we are always keen to add new people to our mailing list. For more information please contact Vanessa Davies on 01348 873421 or by email at [email protected].

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Get Connected in Pembrokeshire

RNIB Cymru is looking for volunteers in Pembrokeshire to be part of its Get Connected project, to support blind and partially sighted people to get online. The charity's Get Connected project gives comprehensive training to volunteers, who then deliver services to blind and partially sighted people in their own homes and community venues. This can include anything from how to use a Kindle or iPad, to shopping or searching for jobs online. The project is proving to be very successful, with a huge number of referrals, and now the charity wants to recruit and train more volunteers. Darren Williams, Digital Inclusion Officer, explains: "The Get Connected Project has already made a difference in many people's lives. One lady from Pembrokeshire has already benefited from some Get Connected sessions, she can now speak to her grandchildren who live in Scotland using Skype. "Our volunteers are fully trained in how to help our blind and partially sighted clients get online, and get so much out of supporting our diverse group of clients to live more independently. We are currently recruiting in Pembrokeshire, so if you want to act now to make a difference, please do get in touch." To volunteer for Get Connected, visit the charity's website http://bit.ly/get- connected-cymru or email [email protected] For more information, please contact Andy Williams, Communications Officer, on 029 2044 9593 or by emailing [email protected]

The Pembrokeshire Volunteer Awards 2012 Ceremony took place at the Pavilion Hall, Withybush on May 31st with many awards being given to very deserving recipients for their commitment and dedication to voluntary action in Pembrokeshire. Phil Steele, presenter from Scrum 5, kindly presented all of the awards to the winners. If you would like to find out more about volunteering and get involved, please call Caroline White at PAVS on 01437 769422 or email [email protected].

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Green Dragon spreads its wings

Green Dragon Bus has been spreading its wings recently, with funding changes meaning we have taken over Town Rider (Dial-A-Ride) services in Fishguard and Goodwick, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke and Pembroke Dock to add to our existing services in Cardigan, St. Dogmael’s, Crymych-Narberth and St. David’s. Green Dragon is now providing Dial-A-Ride services 16 times a week across Pembrokeshire and into Ceredigion. Green Dragon also hires minibuses to community groups across the area and one of our volunteers runs day trips for our local Dial-A-Ride passengers as well.

Green Dragon is also operating a community Car Club with a small 5 seater car and a large 7 seater plus wheelchair car, which can be hired by anyone over 25 for any legal use! These can be used for personal use as well as by families or groups for outings, holidays, work or when the car dies and you need a stand in while you find a new one. We have groups and individuals looking for volunteer drivers throughout the year for minibuses to get groups out and about and for our cars to help those less mobile or unable to drive to get where they need to go and back again. Please let us know if you can help. We are also looking for volunteers to join our Town Rider (Dial-A-Ride) passengers to help them with their shopping, assist them with mobility and share a chat with them. This is a great way to volunteer in your community helping people get out and about and enjoy their freedom in your area. www.greendragonbus.co.uk 01239 698 506 Yr Hen Ysgol, Bwlchygroes

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Gofal Y Ddolen

Gofal y Ddolen is an intervention service based within the British Red Cross. The idea behind Gofal’s Outreach Project is to help and enable elderly people make the first steps towards recovery from trauma or illness. The aim is to work with clients over the age of 50 for up to 12 weeks to tackle loneliness and social isolation through working together to improve client’s confidence, self esteem, and general well being.

The Community Support Worker will visit the client to do an assessment of need and complete an action plan tailored to the client’s individual requirements; a volunteer will be assigned to the client, working with them to achieve the outcomes identified in their individually tailored action plan. They will help them combat loneliness and isolation, and encourage social interaction by linking them up with services and social groups in their local communities. They will support the client on trips out into the community in order to enable the client to build independence and confidence.

The aim at the end of this period is for the beneficiary to have greater social interaction, feel more engaged with their local community and have improved emotional and mental wellbeing.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer, contact the Pembrokeshire British Red Cross Community Support Worker, Jan Williams on 01239 615945 or mobile 07711376982.

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Volunteers visit Police Custody Suites

Public confidence in local policing is crucial to Christopher Salmon, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys and his Independent Custody Visiting Scheme is a big help as it sees volunteer members of the public visit police stations unannounced to check on the treatment of those detained in custody. Retired Cilgerran man Bob Bird has been a volunteer Custody Visitor for 13 years. He said: “The scheme enables volunteers to play a small but important part in the criminal justice process. I do around two visits a month, usually to Haverfordwest police station. Working in pairs, we look round the custody suite and speak to detainees”. “Sometimes it’s not possible to do so as not all detainees wish to talk. If possible, we find out if they’ve been treated according to the law, for example if they were informed of their right to a solicitor and to have someone contacted”.

“We check that they’ve received food and drink or had the chance to sleep and exercise. Volunteers don't discuss the reasons why detainees were arrested as this falls outside our responsibilities. Being a volunteer on this scheme brings me into contact with a wide range of people. Fellow volunteers come from many walks of life. The scheme offers us annual training and regular panel meetings when we compare notes and hear about what’s going on in other areas”. “It’s not difficult to find time to carry out the visits as times and days are flexible, although I try to visit when it’s likely there will be detainees. I enjoy the role as every visit brings a new experience”. Mr Salmon is committed to securing high standards of professionalism within Dyfed-Powys police, ensuring everyone is treated with dignity and respect. He said: “The volunteers on my Independent Custody Visiting Scheme perform a valuable function. The scheme offers protection to detainees and helps make police processes transparent. I urge those interested in their Pembrokeshire community to consider volunteering; they’ll find the role incredibly rewarding.”

For more information email [email protected], or phone 01267 226440.

Volunteer for the Police Commissioner

Have you got what it takes to be a volunteer Independent Custody Visitor? Are you able to visit a local police station to check on the welfare of detainees as well as the conditions in custody? Can you commit to a maximum of 1 hour once a fortnight? If so, we want to hear from you.

Independent Custody Visitors are members of the public recruited specifically to visit police stations unannounced to check on the treatment of people detained in custody and on the conditions under which they are held. These checks offer protection to detainees as well as transparency of police detention processes.

Christopher Salmon, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys has an Independent Custody Visitor scheme and currently has vacancies in Haverfordwest and surrounding areas. Applications are welcome from anyone aged 18 or over except those with a direct involvement in the criminal justice system e.g. a serving police officer, solicitor or probation officer to prevent a conflict of interest. We are particularly keen to receive applications from those from under-represented groups within our communities to ensure the Scheme’s volunteers are reflective of our diverse communities.

Training will be provided and appropriate expenses reimbursed. Custody visitors will be expected to make one to two visits per month.

If you are interested in becoming an Independent Custody Visitor and would like an application form, please contact the Police Commissioner’s Office on 01267 226440 or e-mail [email protected] or go to our website www.dyfed-powys.pcc.police.uk

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Latest Volunteering Opportunities

Pembrokeshire County Council (Learning Disabilities Team) - Volunteer Supporter To provide core management, day services, protection of vulnerable customers, assessment of eligible needs. Overarching objective is to safeguard and promote welfare and well being of its customers in a manner we would expect for ourselves.

Haverfordwest Improvement Project – Beer and Music Festival Volunteer Volunteers are required to help out at the Beer and Music Festival from August 22 – 27th 2013 at the Haverfordwest Castle grounds, helping to set up, bar work, security, clean site and take down after the event.

HOPE MS Centre – Admin Volunteer HOPE Multiple Sclerosis Centre near Neyland is looking for volunteers to help out with general admin, reception duties and taking minutes at monthly meetings.

Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust Volunteers are needed at the PDST community café to help serve customers and make teas, coffees and sandwiches. Also volunteers are need to help at the museum, meeting and greeting visitors and generally helping out where needed.

Green Acres Charity Shop, Milford Haven Volunteers are needed to help at the charity shop in Charles Street Milford Haven, serving customers and helping organise merchandise on the shop floor and back of shop.

Pembroke 21C Community Association – Reception Volunteer Assisting on the front desk of a busy Community Centre, receiving and greeting visitors, user groups and members to the building and answering the phone and re-directing calls or taking messages as necessary.

Guide Dogs Cymru – Collection Box Coordinator Coordinate collection boxes in local area to support fundraising for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Guide Dogs provide mobility and freedom to blind and partially sighted people through our guide dog and rehabilitation services. They also campaign for the rights of people with visual impairments, educate the public about eye care and fund eye disease research.

Dyfed Powys Police Commissioners - Independent Custody Visitor Independent Custody Visitors are members of the public recruited specifically to visit police stations unannounced to check on the treatment of people detained in custody and on the conditions under which they are held. These checks offer protection to detainees as well as transparency of police detention processes.

Age Concern Pembrokeshire – Odd Job/DIY Volunteers ODD JOB SERVICE Tasks to enable clients to live more independently in their own homes. Practical work carried out in older people's homes e.g. minor repairs such as fitting light bulbs, putting up shelves, Safety measures such as installing grab rails or banisters.

Age Concern Pembrokeshire - Exercise Instructor LIFT (Low impact Functional Training) programme Age Concern Pembrokeshire aims to improve the quality of life of all older people in Pembrokeshire by: developing services, campaigning to improve things like pensions, housing or health services and encouraging the Health Authority, NHS Trust and County Council to remember older people's needs. A volunteer is needed to deliver seated exercise to groups of people aged 50+

Milford Youth Matters – Youth Project Support Worker Activities include supporting the Project co-ordinater to plan, prepare, deliver and evaluate a host of youth activities for young people between 16 and 25 in the Milford Haven area.

Lab in a Lorry - Science Communicator Are you interested in communicating science to a young audience? Then we need you! Lab in a Lorry is a mobile science lab that visits secondary schools around the UK giving pupils the chance to participate in hands-on experiments while being guided by scientists and engineers from the local area. We will be touring around Wales from April - June 2013.

Ash Wales This is a new and exciting role that gives you the opportunity to take part in the Filter project in your part of Wales to promote the key messages of the programme, help to recruit a team of volunteers and to represent the views of young people in your local area on smoking and tobacco. For volunteers aged between 16 and 24 years.

RNIB Get Connected Do you like to tweet? Spend a lot of time on Facebook? Can you never be parted from your Kindle? Then get in touch! We are looking for volunteers with a passion for technology and social media to support blind and partially sighted people to get online and access digital technology.

National Trust Stackpole Centre Working along side our catering team to produce cakes pastries scones welsh cakes and similar for sale in the restaurant and coffee shop. Engaging visitors and customers with product sampling and inspiring them with your food knowledge. Helping to look after the presentation of the restaurant Learning about the history of the Stackpole Estate so you can share this with our guests.

GwirForce GwirForce is a panel of Young Volunteers aged 14-25 who drive forward and challenge the image of Youth Volunteering in Wales. As a member you will be able to access training, advice, support, residentials and various opportunities.

MENCAP Cymru Mencap is the voice of learning disability. Everything we do is about valuing and supporting people with a learning disability, and their families and carers. Volunteers with creative skills are needed to run classes for users of the day service at Pier House, Pembroke Dock. Music, art, dancing, cooking, drama, yoga and other activities are all inspirational ways in which people with learning disabilities can express their opinions and emotions through diverse mediums. If you have a spare few hours a week and have the drive to prepare and organise classes in a specific subject, Pier House can provide the support workers, expenses, materials and teaching space. Classes can be long term or short term, and can be between 1 and 2 hours long between 9am and 9pm Monday – Friday.

1st Haverfordwest Scout Group We are looking for adults / volunteers who would like to take a less formal role in working with young people. The role would be working within a chosen section of our group. Providing educational and social development for young people under the guidance of the action Leader. We encourage both indoor and outdoor activities.

Paul Sartori Foundation A Fundraising Volunteer helps to raise vital funds for the Paul Sartori Foundation by assisting in a range of fundraising events across Pembrokeshire. To provide a hospice at home service to people living within Pembrokeshire with a life limiting illness.

To find out about all of the volunteering opportunities, just visit www.volunteering-wales.net

Also check out volunteering opportunities advertised on our Twitter @volpembs and FaceBook at ‘PAVS Volunteering Pembrokeshire’.

For more information on a specific opportunity then contact Caroline at PAVS on 01437 769422 ************************** Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides The Pembrokeshire Coast Path Challenge

We invite walkers nationwide to join the Pembrokeshire Cystic Fibrosis Branch in a one day sponsored walk of the Pembrokeshire coast path aiming to cover the entire 186 miles during the course of the day. Volunteer early to choose your favourite stretch. Not a walker? Volunteer to assist instead! Contact PAVS Volunteering Pembrokeshire for more information.

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Newport Memorial Hall – Neuadd Goffa Trefdraeth

We have many fun and exciting volunteering opportunities at Newport Memorial Hall. We hold a number of events that include live music, theatre and drama, jumble sales and discos which wouldn’t happen without our wonderful volunteers. You can help on the box office, bake or work in the café, serve drinks behind our new fantastic custom made bar (made by volunteers), help us promote events or even help us organise and suggest bands for live concerts. We also have training opportunities – Events Management, Marketing and promotion, Door Supervisor and we will be holding a live sound engineering course in May/June,if interested then please contact Lowri at [email protected] or phone 07800 568211, www.newportmemorialhall.co.uk Events May 11th – Storytelling – 3-7pm - A wonderful afternoon of storytelling from Milly Jackdaw, V and Atinuke with a special performance by Newport Community Choir, Megaffon. May 24th, June 21st, July 19th, August 23rd, – Full moon Circus sessions – 6.30-8.30pm. Bring your circus toys (if you have any) and enjoy playing with them in our lovely big memorial hall to the sound of some brilliant music. There will be workshops and lots of opportunity to swap tricks with others. July 4th-7th – 5 Rhythms Dance Weekend - Seeking fluidity, clarity, release, delight and peace. Movement that inspires healing, creativity and change which is good for the body and soul. These classes follow a wave of energy up and down again. By the end of the session we often feel more energised, balanced or peaceful.

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Exciting Times for Narberth Museum

Less than a year after re-opening, Narberth Museum has found itself thrust into the glare of the nation’s media after making it to the final of the Art Fund’s Prize for Museum of the 2013 – the largest arts prize in the UK.

Pembrokeshire’s newest museum is up against some of the country’s oldest and most well-known institutions: Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Baltic and the William Morris Gallery to name just a few.

With just four part time staff running a bookshop, coffee shop, research facilities, and of course, the museum over seven days a week the support of volunteers is essential and really valued. The competition judges were impressed by the largely voluntary nature of the organisation and the dedication shown by volunteers since the museum was forced to close in 2003.

The group is incredibly lucky that they have a committed group of volunteers drawn from a broad cross section of the community, some of who have been volunteering for a number of years.

Some of the volunteers have been blogging about their experiences at the museum and the kind of roles they fill, you can find out more on the news section of their website (www.narberthmuseum.co.uk). With their new found fame and the fast approaching holiday season they’re keen to recruit new volunteers to the following roles: Front of House/Shop Assistants Coffee Shop Assistants Gallery Attendants Trustees Anyone interested in joining Narberth Museum at this exciting time can contact Daniel Sheen on 01834 860500 or by email at [email protected].

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Pembrokeshire YouthBank

Pembrokeshire YouthBank is a project which is run entirely by young people. They give out grants of up to £500 to help young people put their ideas into action in the form of projects which will benefit other young people and their communities.

Youthbank made contact with an officer of YouthBank Scotland, a national agency which all youth led grant panels in Scotland affiliate to and contacted a YouthBank in Tranent, East Lothian. A residential to Scotland was arranged in April to meet both, with the aim of meeting a group who do a similar thing and share good practice. Youthbank also found out how a national network of YouthBanks is set up and managed.

A lot was learned from an interview with the worker from YouthBank Scotland on how the company works, however what was most noticeable was how well the two grant panels got on. From both groups being very nervous about meeting one another, to appearing like they had known each other for years, in a matter of hours.

The young people networking and learning new ideas from groups from a different country was amazing to see. I believe the young people from Tranent and Pembrokeshire have become friends for life. I know they are still in touch on a personal level and speak to each other regularly via social networking as well as at a group level. A return visit is planned for March 2013.

For more information about Pembrokeshire YouthBank contact Tim on 01646 680863 or email [email protected] Or visit www.pembrokeshireyouthzone.co.uk

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Sunderland Trust – A Volunteer Focus

Pam Maynard, one of our long-serving volunteers, joined the Trust in 2010 an has since been a key player both at our Flying Boat Centre and in our Glass House Coffee Shop. Should you visit when Pam is on shift you are sure of a cheery welcome and wonderful conversation. Here Pam tells, in her own words, her story….....“I feel I have come full circle as a volunteer because, as a child, my sister and I watched the Sunderlands landing and taking off from our house in Milford Haven - we grew up with them as part of our heritage. At night we listened to them Pam and her coming over the house but it was a comforting husband, Gerry, on sound. During the war my father was called up to the their wedding day in Royal Navy Reserves. He was an engineer and served 1956 during the Battle of the Atlantic on HMS Hibiscus as Chief on a ‘Flower Class’ corvette. During this time my father was awarded ‘The Oak Leaf’ when Mentioned in Dispatches for bravery. This, and numerous photographs, can be seen in ‘The First and Last’ public house in Pembroke Dock. I was born in Milford Haven, went to Milford Haven Grammar School and worked for a local doctor for a time. Christmas 1955 at a dance for 897 and 899 Squadrons flying from the Fleet Air Arm station at Brawdy, I met a young navy pilot who became my husband in 1956. He was flying Sea Hawks from HMS Eagle at the time of the Suez Crisis when Egypt tried to take control of the Suez Canal. We moved to Lossiemouth, Culdrose and Hal Far, Malta during my husband’s time flying in the F.A.A. My husband left the service and off we went to Singapore where he took up an appointment as Commercial Director of Vosper Thornycroft, now known as VOSPER. Our three children attended The United World College of Singapore and loved it! We had exciting trips to Malaysia and Brunei and at weekends we sailed from Seletar - the old R.A.F base - but sadly no more Sunderlands remained. Our next move years later was to Hong Kong. Whilst there I worked for the Dunhill Group which was very interesting as they merchandised the whole of S.E Asia from there. Further moves to exciting places continued including Abu Dhabi where my husband was General Manager of ADPOC (Abu Dhabi Petroleum Ports Operating Company) and I was working in the British Embassy. Our children returned to universities and stayed with my parents – who had moved to Pembroke Dock in 1961. They ran ‘The First and Last’ which was then called ‘The Commercial’. Our eldest son, Richard, now owns ‘The First and Last’ which celebrated 50 years of operation in 2011. Our younger son, a Colonel in the Royal Marines has just retired after 24 years of service and is now the communar of Chichester Cathedral. Our daughter Sara lives in Saundersfoot and is a counsellor. I returned home after the death of my husband to be close to my family. I visited the Sunderland Trust’s Flying Boat Centre and joined up as a volunteer on front of house. I enjoy meeting people from all over the world who visit because of their connection with P.D and the Sunderlands.”

Ron Boreham - A father of four with a RAF service history spanning some thirty four years and the world itself, Ron is a man who has had a long and varied career. Lucky for us, this included flying on Sunderlands - imagine our delight when Ron joined the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust five years ago! Joining the RAF as a young man in 1950, Ron trained as a signaller before being posted to Coastal Command in St Mawgan, Cornwall where he flew on Lancasters. However, a treat was in store for Ron and 1952 saw a posting to the OCU at Calshot where he learnt the skills he needed for the iconic Sunderlands. This led to a two and a half year posting to 230 squadron in Pembroke Dock - a far cry from the posting to Singapore that Ron was on embarkation leave for – and so started two love affairs; one with the Sunderlands and another with Ron’s future wife Nansi. Marrying in 1953, Nansi accompanied Ron wherever his postings took him including to St Eval in Cornwall where Ron flew on the Shackletons and then that long-awaited posting to Singapore. By the time Ron was posted to Singapore, in 1958, he had two sons, Jonathan and David, in tow. Singapore saw Ron on 205 squadron with the Shackletons then detachments to Hong Kong and North Borneo before a return to the UK. After a short spell as an instructor Ron returned to flying on Varsitys, Comets and Canberras. His last three years as aircrew were spent on a ground tour in Cyprus. After nineteen years, Ron was commissioned in the RAF Air Traffic Control Branch where he served fourteen years as an Air Traffic Controller at airfields and Military Air Traffic Control Radar Units. Ron’s last tour as an Air Traffic Controller was at Brawdy at his request. The lure of Pembrokeshire was too much to resist - Ron and Nansi knew they wanted to go back to where their relationship began and were keen to settle back in Pembroke Dock. Sadly, in 2006, after fifty-three years of marriage, Ron lost his beloved Nansi. Joining the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust in 2007, Ron recalls that the “Trust came at a good time for me”. We think the same could be said of Ron joining the Trust. A father of four, grandfather of nine and a great grandfather of eight, we wonder how Ron manages to fit volunteering in but we are very glad he does. Ron has been a key member of the team since signing up with Allan Ross and Mike Hurley in the Trust’s very early days, before we had even opened the Flying Boat Centre! Ron was one of the early crew instrumental in the development of the Trust and nowadays can mostly be found with a smile and a story on front of house. Thank you Ron – we salute you! ******************************

Treats for Time

you give your time we give you a treat!

Treats for Time is volunteering incentive scheme providing rewards in

return for 50 hours of volunteering.

Give some of your time to the community through volunteering and choose

a fabulous treat as a thank you for your commitment. Treats may include: A day at a spa Cinema or Theatre tickets

A day out at a theme park

And much much more ………

For more information and to register with Treats for Time contact PAVS Volunteering Pembrokeshire on 01437 769422 or email [email protected] Treats for Time is funded by the Port of Milford Haven and coordinated by

PAVS.

For more information regarding anything in this Volunteering Bulletin including any of the latest volunteering opportunities, please get touch with the PAVS Volunteering Team on [email protected] or 01437 769422.

PAVS Volunteering Pembrokeshire

Visit the Volunteer Centre located at the PAVS Office to make an appointment with a volunteering advisor who will assist you with making a suitable choice.

PAVS also offers an outreach service at Fishguard, Narberth, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock and Tenby by appointment only. Volunteering Opportunities include: . Working with People . Working with Children and Youth . Office and Administration . Befriending and Mentoring . Practical and DIY . Environment and Conservation . Working with Animals . Retail and Charity Shops . Trusteeship . Arts and Media

To find out more about volunteering and how to get involved, contact PAVS on the following: Phone: 01437 769422 Text: 07892790931 Email: [email protected] Web: www.pavs.org.uk / www.volunteering-wales.net Like our page ‘PAVS Volunteering Pembrokeshire’ Follow us @volpembs

36/38 High Street, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA61 2DA If you would like PAVS to publish your article in this bulletin, please contact us