THE minister for Children, Older People and Social Care visited Milford Haven last week, to see how a social enterprise café is helping people with disabilities get into work.

Huw Irranca-Davies began his visit to Pembrokeshire at Milford Haven Leisure Centre, where the Social Zone Cafe is providing work experience, training and employment opportunities in catering, food and customer service for people with physical and learning disabilities.

The project, which opened this year, received £100,000 funding from the Welsh Government’s integrated care fund (ICF).

Mr Irranca-Davies was in the county to see how Welsh Government investment is delivering seamless care services that improve people's health and well-being.

He then visited the Care At Home team, based at South Pembrokeshire Hospital.

Operational since January 2017, the team has cared for more than 300 patients in the local community, helping them to maintain their independence and remain at home.

The project has received £200,000 funding from the ICF.

The minister also heard about several other projects the Welsh Government is supporting via the ICF in Pembrokeshire.

This included Community Connectors project, which received £30,000 in ICF funding

Pembrokeshire Time Bank - a pilot project to examine the potential for community time banking as a preventative service that encourages participants to build community ties has been given £11,000 funding.

And the Bus Buddies project - which provides volunteer support for people who need extra help to use public transport.

This project has received £40,000 ICF funding.

Speaking following the visit, Huw Irranca-Davies said: “It was great to visit Pembrokeshire to see for myself the real, positive difference Welsh Government funding is making to so many people’s lives across the county.

"These are the types of seamless services - which bring together health, social services and the social value sector - that A Healthier Wales – our long term plan for health and social care aspires to.

“From the inspirational individuals I met at the cafe in Milford Haven, who are doing outstanding work to help people with learning disabilities gain experience to allow them to make the conversion to paid work, to the Care At Home team, which is providing support to people to maintain their independence and remain at home, it’s great to see so many dedicated staff making a real difference to the lives of so many people in our communities.”