Spotlight on local charities at Tenby Observer Community Awards

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Extracts from the talks by Paul Sartori Foundation trustee Phil Thompson MBE, Greenacres Animal Rescue Narberth shop volunteers Jan and Jane, and Hannah Beer from Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity. They were among seven charity representations at the 2023 Tenby Observer Kindness in the Community celebrations at the De Valence on Friday, November 17.

Transcript

00:00 I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for coming here tonight,

00:04 and all of you who have made an excellent effort,

00:06 but also to take this opportunity to thank the Pembrokeshire people and the volunteers.

00:11 They are fantastic people, and across the board, years ago when I did a survey on charities,

00:17 Pembrokeshire is the second largest giver to charities in the UK,

00:24 and I'm happy to admit that it's the second largest and absolutely incredible.

00:30 We have goats, we have chickens, we have cockatoos, reptiles, ponies,

00:38 and the occasional green hippo, so I'm always working with them.

00:42 Every animal that comes into our centre is given a warm, dry, safe bed,

00:48 somewhere where they can rest and feel safe.

00:52 They're given love, they're given kindness, many of them have never experienced this before.

00:59 Also, sadly, many of them are in desperate need of medical attention,

01:04 and our veterinary bills alone this month are exceeding £20,000 a year.

01:10 If it wasn't for the kind donations of the general public, support for local businesses,

01:17 and people who shop in our charity shops, we'd have a dog out in the West, a wolf, a pig, a gnome.

01:24 We simply couldn't survive.

01:26 So it's with heartfelt thanks that we thank everybody here who has supported,

01:33 for all the members we save, all the creatures who are in our centre.

01:37 It's for children, young people and their families in Pembrokeshire,

01:41 who are anticipating or are experiencing the bereavement of any loved one at any time of death.

01:47 We also are currently supporting children, young people and their families

01:51 who are currently in Pembrokeshire who are bereaved by suicide.

01:55 We see children and young people on a one-to-one basis to help them understand

01:59 what's happened in an age-appropriate way.

02:02 We also work with them one-to-one to make memory boxes,

02:06 as it is important for them to remember the good memories of their loved ones died.

02:10 The children and young people also attend peer support groups

02:13 to meet other people considering their life circumstances.

02:16 It helps them know that they are not alone.

02:18 The main give of our support is to help normalise their feelings of unhappiness

02:22 and to strengthen their wellbeing for their loved ones.

02:25 It costs us around £1,600 per child to receive our full support programme.

02:31 In 2022/2023 we supported 325 children and young people in Penrithshire alone.

02:38 [Applause]

02:45 Our community support in Penrithshire is absolutely incredible.

02:49 I'm sure that somebody in this room has known somebody who has been supported by us

02:53 for no single day in their life.

02:55 We'd just like to say welcome to the Chambi Observer and those involved in committing crimes

02:59 towards the parents here tonight.

03:01 I can't help but praise the way they have supported us. Thank you.

03:04 [Applause]

03:06 The charity has just turned 40 years old.

03:10 It was started in 1982 in Penrithshire.

03:13 At this present moment in time we are averaging our patients at around 50/55.

03:21 Not only do we go into the homes and look after the patients

03:27 but we supply fantastic equipment to the section.

03:32 It basically goes from a small chair to a wheelchair to a bed to loads,

03:38 whatever needs wheelchairs and we supply those to anybody that needs any help with equipment.

03:48 I'm not used to doing it but everything that we do is free of cost.

03:55 Whether it's taking equipment there, or looking after people in their houses,

03:59 in their homes, everything is free on our site.

04:03 Not only do we do the care, we do bereavement counselling, advanced care planning,

04:09 we do therapy, bereavement, anything really.

04:13 It's a one-stop shop if you want to contact us at all.

04:16 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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