Volunteer Fair

 When I got to the Castle, I could hear voices in the background, but I couldn't see anybody, so I asked the people who were moving crates around - presumably the art exhibition going back to where it had come from.  They sent me upstairs to the Clore Learning Room, which was a bit small, really, for everything that was squeezed into it.

I think I got a leaflet from every stall, but I might have missed someone in the crush:

At one end was On the Verge, from Talgarth.  They are dedicated to "preserving and creating wildlife habitats through education and influence".  So they go into schools, and look after patches of countryside.  Sadly, I got the message that their website is dangerous when I tried to look, so I don't know any more than that.

At the other end of the room was Clan, Cultivating Learning and Nature CIC (there were several CICs present - it stands for Community Interest Companies, and is a good way of getting organised as a voluntary body.  The Cheesemarket is run by a CIC).  There was no-one there to chat to when I passed, but they seem quite similar to On the Verge, being concerned with "ecology, craft and horticultural activities to support wellbeing", and "being outdoors and using natural resources".  They're also involved in educational activities.  Their website is www.clan-cic.org, and they're based in Herefordshire. 

Also at that end of the room was the Brecon Repair Cafe information - Hay Repair Cafe had a much more active stall near the door.  The Brecon Repair Cafe meets every last Saturday of the month from 11am to 2pm except August and December, at the Market Vaults in Brecon.  They are also a collection point for Tools for Self Reliance.

The chaps from Men's Sheds Cymru were a cheerful bunch.  They've been making swift boxes and have other projects on the go.  This is a community space for men to connect, converse and create, and is also at Brecon Market Vaults.  They have two websites listed, neither of which works at the moment, but they can be contacted on vbxbrecon@gmail.com

The Black Mountain Lions were there - they get involved in a variety of local projects.  On display were pill containers to be kept in the fridge with emergency medication, so that paramedics can go straight to it if someone has a fall or other medical emergency at home.

Hay Football Club had a table, too.

Then there were several opportunities to work with animals.  

Bryngwyn Riding for the Disabled Association has been running for quite a while, taking children and adults riding.  You don't need any experience with horses to volunteer for this, and helping them can count towards the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Welsh Baccalaureate and Pony Club badges.  Their website is www.ridinginwales.com, and the umbrella organisation is www.rda.org.uk

Pentre Farm is a family run small holding at Old Radnor, and they have all sorts of animals - the picture on their flyer is of a donkey and some goats.  Lots of opportunities to help to look after the animals there.  They also run Forest School activities and take animals to care homes and schools.  Their website doesn't seem to be up and running yet, but they can be contacted at sam@pentrefarm.co.uk and via Facebook.

Another lady had her therapy dog with her (and what a sweetie!).  She runs The Animalwise Therapy Foundation, and is a qualified Play Therapist, Filial Therapist and Animal Assisted Play Therapist who has just started working for herself, though she still does work for the organisation she had been working for full time.  Her website is www.theanimalwisetherapyfoundation.org and she's based in one of the offices over the British Legion Club in Hay.

PAVO were there as well, of course, since they've been active in Powys for many years as a sort of umbrella body for volunteer organisations.

I had the longest conversation of the evening with the lady from the Bronllys Well Being Park, but I'll talk about that in my next post.