HAHAV is a volunteer led charity, set up in 2015 to provide practical help, social care and companionship for people in Ceredigion with chronic, life limiting illness. Our support offer is also open to family, carers and those loved ones affected. Our services sit alongside and complement the work of the Hywel Dda Palliative Care Team with whom we have a strong, ongoing partnership.
We have a busy charity shop in Pier Street, Aberystwyth and this is our main source of funding alongside donations and other fundraising activities. Since the HAHAV shop was set up in July 2015, 40 volunteers have contributed more than 18,000 hours sorting, pricing and selling donated goods.
The majority of HAHAV’s activity prior to the COVID-19 pandemic focussed on one-to-one support in clients’ homes. Our ‘sitting’ services to patients at home include companionship, shopping, driving, gardening, dog walking and respite for carers. Our amazing volunteers have delivered over 45,000 hours work and to date and HAHAV has assisted over 275 cases at home.
In late 2019, the charity moved to new headquarters at Plas Antaron (Southgate, Aberystwyth), a former hotel. HAHAV plans to run day services, therapies, activities and events from this centre, as and when COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed.
During this unsettled period, HAHAV identified a need and appetite for developing our online offer, to reach clients during times of social restriction, to connect with those who are isolated for whatever reason and to address the geographical challenges posed by Ceredigion’s large area and sparse population. We want to offer multiple ways for people to connect, participate and receive support through a diverse online presence. Thanks to the generous support of the National Lottery’s Community Fund, our new online services will adapt to support increased face-to-face activities as the Welsh economy re-opens in 2021.