The impact of gifting
Pembrokeshire Care, Share and Give is a charity set up in Pembrokeshire in 2011 by Amanda Absalom-Lowe. It helps people, groups, and charities through the promotion of sustainable waste and recycling of everyday items from clothing and packaging to stamps!
Care, Share and Give has huge impact across the communities of Pembrokeshire, their work not only protects and conserves the natural environment in Pembrokeshire by promoting sustainable waste management but also through providing awareness across the local community and creating recycling opportunities for the public, businesses, statutory authorities, and educational establishments.
Many of the funds raised or items collected are then donated to individuals or to charitable organisations supporting those in need, ensuring useable items don’t end up in landfill.
Care, Share and Give has also been collecting surplus food from supermarkets and other establishments, they then re-distribute these food items to families, community groups and charities.
Richard’s volunteering experience
Richard, is a hotel owner that provides temporary homeless accommodation in Tenby has been involved with Pembrokeshire Care, Share and Give for just under 2 years. Richard volunteers his time to collect food surplus from supermarkets across the county and he shares his experience of volunteering with the charity.
“Since being involved with Pembrokeshire Care, Share and Give it has opened my eyes to the volume of food waste that is created within our current systems and how this food can still be used to support people in our communities, if we didn’t collect this food it would be thrown away.
We are able to donate surplus food items to local food banks and to people experiencing temporary homelessness in the Tenby area as well as cooking fresh, homemade meals for them to enjoy where they may otherwise find it difficult to put food on the table without the support of the charity.
I find the whole experience extremely rewarding seeing the difference that I can make by giving my time to make collections and help re-distribute the surplus food and then to see the impact that this has on those individuals who need it the most.”
Pembrokeshire Care, Share and Give’s partnership with Tempo Time Credits enables volunteers like Richard the opportunity to earn Time Credits for the support that they give to the charity and local community.
Time Credits can be used to access a wide range of opportunities at Tempo’s Recognition Partner network, in Pembrokeshire but also nationally. Volunteers can enjoy days out with family and friends or opportunities to learn new skills through online resources. Time Credits can also be gifted by volunteers to family, friends, volunteers or members of the community through our online platform.
Giving the gift of Tempo Time Credits
Richard has gifted some of his Time Credits to his daughter Rhian, to support her to access opportunities for his granddaughter Maisie. Without the Time Credits Rhian says that they would not have been able to afford these activities in the current economic climate.
Rhian has used the Time Credits to take Maisie to Xcel Bowling in Carmarthen. When speaking about the experience Rhian said,
It is amazing that I have been able to bring Maisie to bowling which she really enjoys through Dad giving his time to support the people within our local community.
In the cost-of-living crisis we’re all currently experiencing it’s made a huge difference to be able to use Time Credits to still access fun opportunities like this for Maisie and help my money stretch a little further, we also made sure we supported Xcel Bowl by getting Maisie her favourite treat from their cafe, an ice cream!
When asked about why he gifted his Time Credits Richard said
“It has been a great experience so far using my Time Credits to go to places such as Torch Theatre in Milford and Xcel Bowling and enjoy the opportunities myself which I am already looking at where to go next, but it’s been lovely to see how giving my time can also benefit others within my family through gifting and allow them to experience opportunities and treats as a direct result of me just giving some of my time each week to volunteer in my local community. I am grateful to both Pembrokeshire Care, Share and Give as well as Tempo Time Credits for providing such a wonderful way of being able to give back whilst being recognised for the time that I give along the way.”
