A chip and sausage meal was enjoyed by all in the Carew Wesley Hall as part of a Warm Hub project aiming to address loneliness and improve mental health.

The Carew Wesley Warm Hub project was made possible with a grant from the ‘Supporting Community Action Fund’ which is managed by PAVS and supported by Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Government.

The priorities of project were to address loneliness over the winter months, provide a welcoming community space and improve mental and physical wellbeing.

The project was managed by the Carew Wesley Methodist Chapel Ladies Fellowship along with members of the congregation. A dedicated space was created in the hall adjacent to the Chapel. Volunteers from Carew Wesley, Pisgah Baptist and St Mary’s Carew Cheriton hosted each session.

After a slow start in November, the Monday afternoon ‘Warm Hub’ soon reached an average attendance of 25 to 30 local residents. Most were elderly and many lived alone. Ages ranged from young children during the school holidays with their grandparents to two gentlemen in their 90s.

In addition to meeting up for a cup of tea and a chat, activities were arranged. These included card making and craft sessions, games, artificial flower making, seated gentle exercises, and a hand massage session. Once a month, a light lunch was laid on and the project organisers were pleased to be able to support the village shop and the pub both, adjacent to the hall, for the supply of provisions.

Carew Wesley Warm Hub has been very well received by all who attended with lots of encouraging comments – “I have not been so lonely this winter – spending some time with nice company” being a typical example. Everyone involved hopes that further funding can be obtained for the Carew Wesley Warm Hub to start up again next winter.

Pictured below is the kitchen crew: Cllr Vanessa Thomas, Paul Lister, Margaret Richards and Elaine Williams.