Working alongside Hay, Brecon and Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees and with support from Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations and Powys County Council, on Sunday 25th June, Henderson Hall and the Talybont community welcomed over 100 asylum seekers and refugees including around 50 local Ukrainians.
The programme for the Welcome Day included drinks and snacks on arrival, followed by lunch and then tea and cakes. For activities there were guided walks through the Community Orchard and Henry Vaughan Garden, crafts, face painting and in the afternoon all sorts of games and sports for the children – running races, sack races, tug-of-war – while the adults just relaxed and chatted in the sun. An action-packed day, with lots of happy, smiling faces throughout.
The event was big success due to a fantastic team effort and so many people from the community getting involved. We said we’d give everyone a day to remember, and we certainly did! The first, but maybe not the last Welcome day at the Hall, which constantly flies the Ukrainian flag in solidarity for refugees living locally.
Special thanks locally to the White Hart, the Star Inn and Talybont Shop and Post office for their generous food and drink contributions, and to others who dropped off cakes during the day. Rhiannon for her overall coordination, Linda and Gail for the much enjoyed guided walks, Talybont WI ladies: Trish, Ruth and Deborah and Henderson Hall committee members: Julia, Gail, Linda and Liz, all real troupers in the kitchen. Anna Bell for her magnificent face-painting and Chris Jones, Rob and Lettie Francis who organised the children’s races, creating a lot of fun and laughter. For all involved it was a day to remember – and one the community can be truly proud of.
