With and for local residents
We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who came along to our Special General Meeting and the AGM on Friday, March 13th.
More than 75 people there, producing a series of
unanimous votes... saved the Association
and gave us all heart to keep going.
We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you
and we're so very grateful for all your support.
We look forward to seeing you at the events that
will start to plan what happens at the hall.
We were there for our
local primary school and
the community
In October 2022 Manorbier School burnt down/
The staff and pupils all got out safely, but the school had nowhere to go... until we stepped in and offered them the use of our Community Hall as a temporary home.
Nobody expected us to be here three and a half years later... but it's not going to be much longer.
Without getting into the rights and wrongs of their decision, the County Council voted last week, 29 to 20, to amalgamate Manorbier and St Florence Primary Schools, at St Florence.
So, our school is closing... although the County Council's process of closure is about as easy to read as War and Peace... in Hungarian!
It looks like they hope to get things done by the end of this school year, ready for the kids to all start the new term together, in September. But given the speed at which they've worked on things so far, maybe we shouldn't hold our collective breath!
Realistically, perhaps we ought to say something like, we aim to be back in the hall and running things for the community, before the end of the year. Then, any improvement on that is a bonus.
When we do start up again it can't just be, 'more of the same'. That's not to say we shouldn't run some things we've always run - as long as you want them, and they get supported.
In October 2022 when the school moved in, hall use was very low after COVID. Income was almost zero because there were only a couple of successful groups and activities running.
And as a result, the future was far from certain.
Now we have the opportunity for a fresh look at what everyone wants from the hall, to look again at what was running in the hall three years ago.
If there's a bright side to this disaster it's that it gives us the chance to take a totally fresh look at what we do... to rebuild from scratch with activities and events that reflect exactly what the community says it wants.
We'll certainly bring back some of the things we used to do, but have the chance to drop events that have lost heir appeal and add new activities and groups.
We're open to all suggestions and ideas, and ready to try out things that haven't been done before. Anything is possible!
The added bonus is that the rent we've received from the County Council means puts us in a very healthy financial position... unlike 99% of other village halls, which all face the same decline in use that we were experiencing.
So when we're back to normal, our charges won't need to be high, and we might even be able to offer some free sessions.
The bottom line is, that as soon as we know when we can get back into the hall, there will be a series of full community meetings where everyone comes together to identify and plan the events and activities that residents want, and will support.
End of one era....
the start of another
We were determined not to let the disaster destroy one of the pillars of our community... its local primary school.
But now the school is now to close.
That's a devastating blow, but in the face of it all the Head Teacher, all the staff at the school and a host of parents, have all said how much they truly appreciate the way the community came together to support the kids.
The Council's consultation process asked for comments, and they show just how much everyone valued the school, especially the Pupil Responses in Annex B, Page 66.
www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/have-your-say/proposal-for-discontinuation-of-manorbier-church-in-wales-voluntary-controlled-school
At the time of the fire, a key factor was that traumatised
youngsters should be able to stay together in their
friendship groups, and come through it together.
We just couldn't add to their distress and anguish by sending them to schools they didn't know, with teachers they'd never met and a peer group of strangers. They deserved whatever security they could get, and the school in the hall gave them that, and we're proud that it has.
Obviously though, that sacrifice came at a heavy price.
It meant we couldn't run our activities and events in the hall.
For three and a half years.
We did what we could to support groups and events in other local venues - maybe rent another hall for our groups to use, or
support activities financially and in other ways.
And we supported events for our community wherever we can. In both 2024 and 25 we donated £500 to subsidise the senior
citizens' festive lunch at the Giraldus Centre, and supported the Luncheon Club's Christmas meal to the tune of £300. Plus the children's party in 2024 and lashings of sweets for the kids at Christmas, 2025.
But now, the County Council has spoken and we know the school is not to be rebuilt. So we are getting the hall back, and the agreement is that they leave it in tip-top condition, ready for a quick start-up.
We're pressing the Director of Education to find out when they plan to complete the process, and as soon as we know we'll be setting up those community-wide events, to identify and plan the sort of activities that our residents want, and will support.
Great news
The AGM asked us to pursue CIO status.
We have... and we've done it!
And we've told the Tenby Observer and the Western Telegraph
Article sent to The Tenby Observer and The Western Telegraph
Jameston Community Association achieves a new status
Jameston Community Association (JCA) started life over fifteen years ago, and in that time they’ve acquired and converted the old church mission building into the thriving community hall… although it’s temporarily still out of use as Manorbier Junior School is using the site since its own buildings burnt down three years ago.
The trustees and the local community are all looking forward to the hall coming back into use, and with the County Council consultation underway, a decision on the school’s future will hopefully come fairly soon.
In the meantime nobody could accuse the JCA trustees of standing still while the hall is out of action. Having set up a new website a few weeks ago, at JamestonCA.co.uk, they’ve now taken another major step towards the future.
As Ray Hughes, the JCA Chair, said, ‘We’re absolutely thrilled that the Charity Commission has just approved our application to upgrade the Association’s status, from a simple Charitable Association to a fully-fledged CIO… that’s a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Our secretary, Jane George, has done an amazing job, supported by Vanessa John from Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services. A few doubters said it’s so complicated and so expensive that we’d never do it, but we’ve proved them wrong and got a great result.’
The legal titles may be just legal jargon to most of us, but becoming ‘incorporated’ is a bit like turning a small family business into a limited company. In other words, JCA is no longer just a group of well-meaning individuals, as it now has its own legal ‘personality’ in a much more
modern and secure structure.
Ray Hughes went on to say, ‘This is a massive step forward, although the local community and the association members probably won’t even notice the change day-to-day.
But everything is now more professional. For example we now own the hall in our own right - so we don’t need three Holding Trustees to look after our assets.’
And he concluded, ‘There’s still a lot to nitty-gritty stuff to do to complete the upgrade, but we’re all working hard to get it all done, so we can move forward yet again.’
12 September 2025
What's on
Until we're back in the hall, whenever we arrange any sort of event in another venue you'll find all the
details in this section.
Our regular coffee mornings are at the Emmanuel Church, just as you turn for the school and the garden centre.
Every few weeks good friends meet up and thoroughly enjoy themselves, with coffee, cakes, and a prize draw.... all free.
It's all about chatting, laughing, renewing old friendships & making new ones.
Our most recent event in late February attracted about 30 members, on a sunny morning... for a total change!
Meetings, minutes and membership issues
For the Constitution...
Click the blue button
then click the document
or the cloud or download symbol underneath
or...
send us your email address and we'll forward it to you
Get in touch
Drop us an email and and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
JamestonCommunityAssoc@gmail.com
That email address again
JamestonCommunityAssoc@gmail.com