Pembrokeshire County Council staff have been making a difference through volunteering in our county.

More than 75 employees have volunteering in our communities so far this year, offering their time to voluntary organisations and charities running vital services across Pembrokeshire.

Pembrokeshire County Council encourages volunteering by supporting staff through the Employee Volunteering Scheme. This is part a wider drive to support Pembrokeshire communities to lead activity in their local area.

Staff have volunteered as teams or individuals for a whole range of organisations including Pembrokeshire People First, Scolton Manor, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Plant Dewi, Treginnis Farm, The Wildlife Trust, Haverhub, Local Scouts and Sea Cadet groups – and many more.

The incredible work undertaken, fits perfectly with Volunteers Week 2022, which is taking place between June 1 and 7.

Will Bramble, Pembrokeshire County Council Chief Executive commended staff for their efforts in supporting local causes.

“It is brilliant to see so many of our staff using the Employee Volunteering Scheme to volunteer for worthy causes around Pembrokeshire,” he said.

“Volunteering is an integral part of any healthy community, and we are proud to be able to offer this initiative to our staff. We hope to see many more of our teams and individuals volunteering in the future.”

One example is Pembrokeshire County Council Team Leader Ceri Jones, who recently volunteered with the national parks to help with the PLANT project – a partnership project between the Local Authority, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Hywel Dda, planting a tree for every child born to a Pembrokeshire family.

Ceri said: “I enjoyed being out in the fresh air, in a new place and meeting friends and colleagues. Planting trees is also particularly satisfying when you see them grow over time and a field becomes a woodland.”

Rebecca Evans, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Volunteering Development Officer added: “Ceri joined a small group of National Park volunteers to help fit weed mats around newly planted trees at a site near Wolfscastle.

“Between all the volunteers we fitted approximately 600 tree mats. Volunteering is so important to the work that we do and it was great to have a staff member from PCC join us.”

In addition, members of the Commissioning team at Pembrokeshire County Council recently spent a day volunteering at Scolton Manor, helping to improve the accessibility of pathways.

David Guy, Participant Supervisor at Norman Industries was pleased to have a group of volunteers from the authority:

“Through the Pembrokeshire County Council volunteering scheme we had a team of their staff to help us for a day. The work included preparation of the new pathway, marking out its route through the woodland, grinding down of roots and clearance of debris.

“Large amounts of hard core was moved using the site tractor and the team helped with laying the path.

“The new pathway and improvements to the existing ones has really made a huge difference to the site and the feedback received from the general public has been extremely positive.”

To volunteer at either Scolton Manor or with the PLANT project, please contact David or Rebecca.

Scolton Manor: [email protected]

The PLANT project: [email protected]