Pembrokeshire's first Life Hub is due to open next week.

The initiative - set-up by Pembrokeshire County Council and based at the authority-run library in Pembroke Dock - aims to bring together health and well-being information to help local residents make informed choices about their health.

Funding from the Welsh Government has enabled two areas of the library in Water Street to be refurbished. 

The first area has informal seating equipped with books, DVDs, leaflets and magazines together with a personal computer dedicated to providing information on health.

The second area is a small, private wheelchair accessible consultation room which includes comfortable seating and tea-making facilities.

The Life Hub is free for members of the public, local community groups and charities to use.

The county council's cabinet member for culture, sport and leisure, Clr. Elwyn Morse, said: "Pembroke Dock library is in the heart of a Communities First area and has a high level of inequalities in health.

"This new service will provide a great opportunity for people to access information on improving health and well-being in an informal and convenient location."

The facility will be officially opened at 2.30 pm on Wednesday (February 25) by Professor Sir Mansel Aylward, chairman of Public Health Wales and director of the Centre for Psychosocial and Disability Research.

On the day, there will be light refreshments, plus information stands manned by mental health charity Hafal, Age Cymru, Communities First, Pembroke Leisure Sentre, the Alzheimer's Society, the Food Co-op, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and the Stroke Association.

Said Laura Evans, health and well-being librarian: "Good information is vital to good health and the aim of the Life Hub is to make finding health information easier.

"Research suggests that regular reading is associated with a 35 per cent reduction in the risk of dementia and it can reduce stress levels by six per cent."

A wide range of events are planned for the Life Hub such as providing help to stop smoking and offering over 50s health checks. The events will be delivered through partnership working with a range of organisations, such as Public Health Wales, Communities First and Pembroke Leisure Centre.

In the run-up to the opening, the library will be hosting two health-centred events.

On Monday (February 23), staff from Pembroke Leisure Centre will be conducting health checks between 10 am and 4 pm, while the following day there will be a healthy eating demonstration between 3 and 4 pm.

For more information on the Life Hub, contact Laura Evans on 01437 775898 or email [email protected]">[email protected]