The Pembrokeshire COAST project celebrated the end of an era at a special event earlier this month.

Staff, service providers and participants marked the end of the five year project at the Withybush Pavillion in Haverfordwest on June 6.

Participants who achieved significant changes to their lives were awarded special recognition, and Craig Jenkins of Dinas Cross was nominated by the COAST central referral team.

Launched in November 2009, the project, part funded by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government, has supported over 1,000 Pembrokeshire residents with a disability or work-limiting health condition, to improve their employability.

By the end of May this year, more than 150 project participants had entered paid work with 90 entering work over 16 hours and coming off benefits.

As well as supporting people to find work, the project has also helped 520 people complete over 1,500 accredited qualifications.

With the project’s funding coming to end in December, this year’s celebration looked back at the project’s achievements over five years.

Project Manager, Karen Davies said: “The remarkable achievements of our participants puts life into perspective,” she said.

“These results couldn’t have been achieved without the dedication of the COAST team most of whom have been with me since the launch in 2009 as well as the service providers who have supported us.”