A training course for organisers of community festivals and events, the first of its kind in Pembrokeshire, has been completed successfully by around 40 people from all parts of the county.
The course included training sessions on event planning and risk assessment, funding, promotion and licensing. Successful participants were presented with certificates at Saundersfoot on Saturday by PLANED (Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development).
Keynote speakers were tourism consultant Arwel Jones, who developed and ran the Festival of the Countryside, and John Fleming, of Ludlow Marches Festival of Food.
PLANED has developed a new handbook 'Organising Community Events and Festivals' to help local organisers. The handbook provides a comprehensive source of reference for event organisers and includes tips on getting started, budgeting, sponsorship and advertising. Mike King, West Wales director of the Welsh Development Agency, launched the handbook.
Guests were entertained by the colourful Circus Malarkey (who were themselves represented on the training course), virtuoso guitarist John Rodge, who played traditional Welsh music, country blues and bluegrass musicians the Scoundrels, Irish and Indian dancers, and Hoelion Wyth, who re-enacted the Rebecca Riots in historical costume.
The handbook has been funded under the EU LEADER+ programme.