Port helps young people enjoy an action-packed half term in Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven

Young people from Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven enjoyed a fun-filled half term of activities recently.

The Port of Milford Haven teamed up with its community partners to run the brand new project @The Park at the Memorial Park in Pembroke Dock, and the award-winning Under the Bridge project underneath Hakin Bridge in Milford Haven.

@The Park was co-ordinated by the team at the Port along with Pembrokeshire County Council’s youth service in order to provide free activities for 11-17 year olds in the Pembroke Dock area during the May school holiday. Over sixty people took part in various activities over two days including: circus skills, giant inflatables, special effects make up and sports, and enjoyed refreshments provided by the Crow’s Nest café at Milford Waterfront and Tesco and Greggs in Pembroke Dock.

Chris Powles, Targeted Youth Team Manager at Pembrokeshire Youth Services said “It’s been great to collaborate with the Port on a project that benefits the young people of Pembroke Dock and shows their commitment to creating opportunities in the town. Through consultation with the School Based Youth Worker in Ysgol Harri Tudur, Suzanne Moses, young people themselves identified the activities, dates and timings that were most suitable for them. We look forward to providing more activities in the future for the young people of Pembroke Dock.”

During the evenings of half term, two Under the Bridge sessions were held in Milford Haven which attracted record attendance with over 150 young people enjoying themselves with their friends. Working alongside Milford Youth Matters, the Port helped to enable participants to have a go at football, chalk art and inflatables and indulge in the very popular milkshakes and cakes from the Megan’s Starr Foundation’s Speakeasy Coffee & Shake Van and pizza from Phoenix Bowl.

Milford Youth Matters Co-ordinator Dayle Gibby is pleased with how the events went, commenting “We are once again excited to work in partnership with the Port of Milford Haven to see the return of Under the Bridge. This year we have also received funding and support from South Hook LNG to ensure we host a full calendar of events and activities during the May half term and summer holidays. Our recent sessions saw over 150 attendances, with young people getting involved in a wide range of positive social activities, having fun and acting responsibly. The events have also continued to promote volunteering opportunities so that young people can take the reins and get involved in the planning and delivery of the whole project.”

Lauren Williams is the Port’s Community Engagement Assistant and attended @The Park and

Under the Bridge. She said “We’re really pleased with how well our new project in Pembroke Dock was received and it was fantastic to collaborate with the youth service to provide free fun activities in a safe environment. Across the water at Milford Waterfront, the popularity of Under the Bridge is growing and it was great to see lots of new faces keen to get involved in what was on offer. We’re looking forward to the summer holidays when more Under the Bridge sessions will take place every Tuesday and Friday evening.”