'Helping others - the rewards are amazing'

A MAN who gives his spare time to a Pontypridd-based scheme aiming to help others with mental health and wellbeing has spoken about it as part of this month's Volunteers' Week.

- IAN LEWIS

Paul Jones, from Porth, has been volunteering with fishing group Reel Minds for around two years and is always helping participants during and outside of the organisation's sessions.

He also helps run the community hub and, at the end of last year, was recognised for his immense contribution with the Above and Beyond the Call of Duty award by Reel Minds.

Among his most recent efforts has been to help fellow fisherman Scott Davies, from Wattstown, who has a paralysed arm, be able to fish on his own, thanks to a special harness, that can hold his fishing rod while he reels in catches.

Reel Minds is a CIC (community interest company) and was founded by Dave Williams in 2022, at the tail end of the Covid pandemic, as a way of forging links with others and sharing a passion for fishing, while also offering a space to talk about mental health and any problems people might be dealing with.