‘Those displaced, through no fault of their own, need friends more than ever and need action and practical assistance, not rhetoric.’ This quote from a recent email from a supporter  encapsulates our aims. We have spent time on a petition this week but essentially we try to offer a welcome, friendship and practical help to those in need.

When Margaret approached the owners of Penpont in November about our group to see if they would consider being her local place to host a day, she was unprepared for such an enthusiastic and generous response ‘Yes certainly; why can’t we host two days and give you a Christmas tree  for the Cathedral festival and possibly some volunteer placements?’

Well, what a wonderful first day we had at Penpont with so very many like minded people!  I’m actually still quite overwhelmed by the sheer range of activities and comments. Its been even harder than usual to convey a sense of what happened.

Our generous hosts Gavin and Vina and magnificent coordinator (and Chair) Margaret are greatly to be thanked and so are the very large numbers of people who turned out to welcome, cook, sort groceries, toiletries, clothing, toys, draw, make bracelets, print, make dream pillow cases, knit, walk, horse ride, show lambs, wood carve, play football, chat, tidy up and all the other important roles that I have forgotten. We could have more than doubled the signatures on our petition to the council demonstrating our support  for Dubs had we only the time to  consider it on the day!

For my part, I’ve never helped sort groceries in quite such palatial surroundings and it’s hard not to think of the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000, since we must have fed and watered more than 150 people several times during the day with so much food to spare to be packed into every conceivable container for our guests to take home. In the end I heard people offering round the cake saying, ‘I’m not allowed back until this tray is empty!’ Wayne’s car boot was full of cake to share at the Unity in Diversity drop-in when he left – and it’s not a small boot!

When telling people about our days we usually say it will be fun, there will be food (‘and we’ve never run out so plan to eat with our guests’) and chat and somehow the day will evolve allowing everyone to do something enjoyable and share fellowship. This day was no exception!

We made up 50 large grocery bags and 50 bags with toiletries to give to every adult on the trip and the bags were pretty heavy. Sennybridge School and Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, Brecon Food Bank and the people of Llanfihangel Nant Bran were mainly responsible for the vast amounts donated in addition to the donations from Morrisons and Aldi and a kind supporter who shops at a Cash and Carry and gave us all the spares from two for one deals. This isn’t painting a picture of an uncaring society is it?

Please do feel thanked if you were there. And if you weren’t then feel very envious! I’m sure that the feedback from our guests (who of course also contributed enormously to the day with their enthusiasm and quite remarkable ‘joie de vivre’) told everyone how appreciative and overwhelmed they were by the warmth of the welcome, the range of activities, the amount of clothing, the generous take home bags and the food and drink.

We had 58 people from Swansea seeking asylum/ refuge transported by Bluebird coaches with our favourite driver Stuart and cars driven by Wayne and Phil (and Maria) containing another 5 people. On this occasion we were also joined by two Syrian families from the Newport resettlement scheme as their support workers had heard about how good our trips are. “I have heard so much about your activities and all the wonderful support you offer refugees. We are knocking on every door to try get these families integrated with the community and settled. Please can we join with you?” Initially we thought that the families hadn’t come until we realised that they had approached down a different drive, had missed those of us waiting to welcome them at the front and were already intermingled with everyone else at  breakfast!

There must have been over 100 supporters turning up throughout the day to help in various ways or say hello and welcome – so thanks to everyone who helped to make this such a memorable day for us all.

Breakfast was a fantastic mix of freshly baked breads and homemade jams and local honey with fish, eggs  and fruit. People were then encouraged to join in with the various crafts, sort through clothing or go for a walk through the grounds. The crafts were on offer throughout the day and adults and children all joined in.

The dream pillow cases  were popular. This is an idea Sue’s friend Anael in Israel allowed us to use. The basic premise being ‘Think Good Thoughts that Create Good Things’ – you can draw your favourite things onto the pillow case and sleep soundly thereafter.  A lovely thing to use with traumatised people. There were some lovely prints made and friendship bracelets and some knitting. Some people just stayed by the lovely woodburning stove and chatted. Some were drawn by Eugene.

The walk round the grounds was somewhat delayed by a massive hailstorm followed by torrential rain but suddenly the sun came out and we were off. Waterproofs and wellies were loaned and we wandered to see the walled garden by crossing the river (‘Please can we fish?’ ‘Its not the right season, unfortunately’) and then went to the magnificent maze via the elephants! (A hedge beautifully cut as a herd of elephants since you ask). The maze was a new concept for many people and it is unique with so many interesting features. Better weather would have encouraged us to explore more but suddenly it was lunchtime!

Lunch was a delicious lamb cawl prepared by Steve (by popular request – nearly derailed by his broken arm… still not quite clear about how he managed) and vegetable chilli, vegetable stew and a vegetable curry (yum yum) with local salad leaves (fantastic) and some wonderful pickled cabbage amongst other items. During lunch, a cello, violin and guitar  were played and added to the real sense of well-being.

Horseriding and seeing lambs then became a possibility between showers. The horses patiently plodded to and fro and the smiles on human faces could hardly have been broader. Gareth the woodcarver had a constant stream of visitors especially during showers! A football suddenly appeared and some intrepid footballers played on the front lawn.

And suddenly cake started appearing and appearing in almost every conceivable type and variety. We hadn’t forgotten the gluten intolerance either – though some of the gluten containing cakes did look even more special! Little A just wanted to eat the icing off the cupcakes! Trays of cakes were offered round and tray holders blocked doors so people could be encouraged to take extra as they left! A Syrian lady told me she’d not encountered such friendship for so long and we became slightly tearful thinking about all the good people around us.

As people boarded the bus about 45 supporters gathered to wave them off and the Kitchen Crew were briefly able to be seen and applauded. I’m told that shift systems were in action but Jackie and Rob and others seemed to be kitchen bound throughout. Thanks!

There were many new faces and many regulars – both guests and volunteers. Somehow every away day sees various teams formed spontaneously from whomever turns up, everyone helps and magic happens.

We were also able to take more than 30 bags of sorted and labelled clothing down to Swansea Humanitarian Aid Response Project (SHARP) on Monday.  Thanks to the team who so expertly displayed the clothes, assisted our guests to try them and then helped to pack them up.

So especial thanks to

• Vina and Gavin (for use of house and grounds and for making us all so welcome and being part of such a great day)
• Sue Bethel and Tace (‘dream pillowcases’)
• Sennybridge Rainbows/Brownies/Guides (donations of toiletries)
• Sennybridge Primary School (donations of food and toiletries)
• Brecon Food Bank
• Liz Matthews
• Fiona Cloke, Petra Tester, Kate Thomas and their helpers (ponies)
• People of Llanfihangel Nant Bran and the surrounding area for donations of home-made cakes, toiletries and food supplies
• Steve Buzza, Lynne Rogers and Philip Oliver (waterproofs)
• Gareth Irwin (woodcarving)
• Tessa Waite (artist) and Robert Macdonald (artist)
• Julie Cayless (artistic help)
• Clare Binnie (spinner)
• Sally Ty Mawr (Lambs)
• Al Cooper, Di Esplin and Simon Newcombe (Musicians)
• The kitchen team
• The clothing team
• The grocery team
• All helpers on the day!

Margaret (our Chair) wrote:

‘What an amazing day! So many guests, so many helpers, so many visitors – plus so much food, toiletries and clothing. What a wonderful response to the needs of many. Despite what some would have us believe, the world is clearly full of kind-hearted people offering plenty of goodwill to others.

Although the weather was not kind to us, it was a happy experience. The ponies were a great ‘hit’ with children and adults alike, as were the baby lambs. Woodworking, art and crafts (under cover) provided plenty of interest and the supply of donated clothing was much appreciated by those in need. (The left over clothing has already gone down to Swansea to be distributed through the Swansea Humanitarian Aid Response Project; serving refugees and others in need.) A trio of gifted musicians played during the extended lunch time which added a joyous feel to the day. Throughout, we fed about 85 refugees and forty helpers ; and still there was some spare food to travel back to Swansea with them. Fifty bags of toiletries and dried food were also given out to each household to take home…..

I would like to give each of you a personal ‘Thank You’; whether you made cakes, donated goods or money, cooked food, served in the kitchen, managed the stores, looked after the ponies, arranged for lambs to come, musicians to play and artisans to lead the art and craft work or generally assisted in one way or another. Most importantly – to all of you who mingled with our guests and chatted to them; they really do appreciate the warmth of our welcome and the extent of our hospitality. These days offer a ray of hope to them. in their straitened circumstances.

If any of you have any observations or ‘feedback’ to offer, please let me know; another perspective on things is always

valuable’.

Wayne UID

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