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Dyfed
County News
 2010/2011
Dyfed High Sheriff Decides to Go M.A.D.
Being introduced at a recent livery dinner as the MAD High Sheriff was a splendid result. Having spent months urging everyone to Go M.A.D via press articles, mailings and meetings, I was delighted the message had got through!
I spent much of last year in a dilemma. I was strongly aware of the huge number of fund-raising events organised in our area. With busy lives and finite pockets, few can support every good cause. How would I find a gap in the over-active ‘social sector’ market?
It was also clear that hard times were getting harder. How I could make a difference in my community without involving unrealistic fund-raising activities?
Fortunately, I had the right team headed by Maureen and Brian Murray. Without them this just would not have been possible. I gathered them together and said that I wanted to do something that sort of encompassed the spirit of red nose day, bob-a-job week and other initiatives that get communities working together. Little by little, a plan evolved.
We decided we would go M.A.D – that’s go Make A Difference. We were going to ask community groups how we could help them tackle projects that were beyond their grasp. Whether they wanted resources or volunteers, we would try to find them.
First, we needed funding. South Hook LNG, Milford Haven Port Authority (MHPA) and Costain together gave us a fantastic £6,500 in sponsorship – a good base to build on. They also offered practical help, which later proved invaluable.
Next, we needed projects. The Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS) has a data base of nearly 1000 community organisations, which they mailed with our literature.
We were deluged with enquiries. We agreed we would help groups, not individuals, and we focussed on projects that could be tackled during my year, rather than those still needing planning permissions.
Come deadline day, we had 32 qualified expressions of interest. They were assessed by a committee of 12, representing sponsors and a cross-section of active volunteers.
 The meeting ended with a wish list of 20 projects that we would fulfil if possible. They included patching a leaking roof for an amateur boxing club, several village halls to repaint, a youth centre that wanted a new kitchen, and another wanting to develop a bike workshop.
Costain weighed in with their purchasing muscle, asking their suppliers to give us incredible charity rates. Companies like Davies Builders’ Merchants in Whitland and Magnet Kitchens responded willingly. Keen buying delivered product worth many times our original budget.
So far, we have fulfilled 10 projects; two still need volunteer painters, and materials for three more are still being sourced. (For more information, look at our website –
www.go-mad.org.uk.)
 It has been a wonderful experience, discovering a world of volunteering that I didn’t dream existed. Many groups work in socially deprived areas so just a few hundred pounds and volunteers like Rotarians can make a huge difference for them.
I feel humbled by the immensely hard work that community groups do, day in and day out, and am delighted to have been able to make a difference for them during my year.
David Pryse Lloyd
High Sheriff of Dyfed 2010/2011
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