Sian Summers-Rees, Chief Officer of City of Sanctuary, wrote towards the end of August to ask if it might be possible to visit our group and a school of Sanctuary in our area as City of Sanctuary’s main funding body the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, wanted to see some of the things the City of Sanctuary do. We were very flattered to be asked but had to find where to go in our area and who could be available for 10th September.
Being the positive and flexible group we are we managed to secure 10 of our group supporters and 2 teachers at pretty short notice and arrange a short programme of presentations, lunch and a school visit [ no mean feat when schools are on holiday and teachers away..] Then the challenge was to find a venue as the community hall was fully booked. Thankfully The Castle Inn Llangorse kindly agreed to let us use their space and agreed to provide a light lunch. All was in place for an interesting few hours and this was what was delivered. Ailsa had put together photos from our website of events and activiites which illustrated/amplified the short messages.
Margaret Blake [Chair HBTSR] about HBTSR– We are a group on our 12th year, having started in 2015 during the war in Syria, Initially we collected goods to send abroad and then turned our focus to what we could do to help people who were already in the UK. We decided to offer hospitality and inclusive activities to counter division and hatred. We formed strong links with support groups in cities to help the people they were supporting and to help them as well. At the start then we had three main strands of activity welcome, fund raising and campaigning. Welcome days have been a big focus for our activites inviting a coach load of people about 8 times a year to share food and activities with local communities, but also we’ve helped groups to set up things like teh bike project in Newport which had grown enormously but started with bike maintenance sessions in Drivers Cycles in Hay. And we usually collect Christmas gifts to take to Swansea from our local schools. In addition we’ve been given a number of awards by local bodoes in recognition of our work which are on display in Llangorse hoall as we don’t have paid staff or any premises but 3 of us are on the committee of Llangorse hall!
Lawrence Duffy [Treasurer HBTSR] finances, fundraising– At least half of our income is from donations which shows what popular support we have. We’ve had a few grants that we’ve been encouraged to apply for e.g. Bwyd Powys Food to support our community meals and local sustainable food producers, Gibbs Trust to help with educational projects, Powys Association of Voluntary organisations and Bannau Brycheinuog National Park Authority to help with some specific welcome days. We run a hardship fund to help with one off requests but also hand over money to Swansea support groups to allow them to offer immediate assistance when needed { in return for details of how the money was spent] . We also help Asylum Justice with some funding as we know people seeking sanctuary rely upon them as the only free legal advice in Wales. During most years we have raffles, stall in markets or shows and promote our group and encourage donations and support.
Ailsa Dunn [ Secretary ] Campaigns– We’ve run campaigns for individual people to help avoid deportation and to be reunited with family. We have campaigned with Together with Refugees for a number of years with the Orange heart campaigns these have included our hearts around Brecvon when we had supporters hold a string of hearts up around the central church in Brecon, we’ve had orange heart flags in public buildings, and campaigns in Hay Castle for general public and local school children to make heart related items and share stories about refugees. We have helped to raise money for legal cases and most recently we have planted small ‘Gardens of Hope ‘ including one in Hay Castle. And we have a book that was made into a heart shape with each page written on with messages of support. WE have benefited greatly from the support offered by City of Sanctuary especially with our website and advice if we find difficult issues. The Schools of Sanctuary programme is a key feature of our work.
William Powell [ supporter and County Councillor] County of Sanctuary and resettlement . Spoke about the support that the council has for people seeking sanctuary and for our group. He has appreciated the Schools of Sanctuary developments in Powys and knows that the Libraries may also seek to be recognised as Libraries of Sanctuary. Some people may feel seeking sanctuary is too hot a political topic but if one works with good people then good things happen.
Tamara Mascarenhas [ Social Media lead HBTSR and Community Development Officer for BBNPA] Social media and also experience with Australian Refugee Council]. Tamara spoke about her role with running our Instagram account and how she has been able to continue the support that her predecessor Francesca had with helping to ensure our beautiful countryside was accessible for various disadvantaged groups.
Claire Armstrong [ trustee] the Quilting project as an example of collaboration and building links with other support groups. During lockdown the concept of a quilt made by lots of people was conceived and came to fruition in a large quilt now displayed in Hay Castle made of many small squares embroidered by individuals at home and sewn together by many visitors to Hay Castle. A truly community project.
Most recently The organiser of the friendship quilt , Emily Hedges, was able to get a grant to allow her to run some embroidery workshops on the theme of Borders with people seeking sanctuary in Newport. Their work will be sewn together as a quilt tracing the Welsh border in abstract form. This was very successful in gathering people together with a shared interest in Sewing [ local to Hay and Sanctuary seeking people in Newport] and has led to visits to Hay Castle and to Newport with a desire to share recipes as well.
Rev Anna Bessant [ supporter and Area Ministry lead] on Hay Castle workshops for the Together with Refugees campaign and exhibitions of Childrens’ work. details of the various campaign days held in Hay castle were discussed and How Anna has also helped with exhibitions.
Rhiannon Davies [ lead for Ukrainian support with HBTSR] on the links with the local Ukrainian population and the South Powys Ukrainian Oral History project. Rhiannon described how she has liaised with the various Council and voluntary groups to help represent the Ukrainian families and peoples needs. In addition using monies raised locally she has been able to assist groups of local Ukrainian people to organise parties, gatherings and trips and help individuals access advice and support. . As a spin off she was able to arrange to record various aspects of the Ukrainian peoples experience as a social history project
Rowland Jepson [ Trustee and Schools of Sanctuary Lead for HBTSR] to talk about our local schools of Sanctuary . We now have 6 schools of Sanctuary in Powys, All have been visited and continue to be visited to check that they fulfill the criteria of being a welcoming and safe school above all and also tackle the myths around sanctuary seeking. We arrange visits by people seeking sanctuary to assist the learning. .
In addition we run competitions annually for Refugee week with various themes which schools are encouraged to enter and these are displayed around our area, so ensuring pupils learn but also they can share their learning with the visiting public at the exhibitions.
Mark and Tom Williams from Llangorse School were able to join us at lunch and this was a good opportunity to hear about the Scholarship they had from the Farmington Institute to explore tackling refugee stereotypes in primary school education. The teachers were clear that the process of teaching about seeking sanctuary and the journey towards becoming a school of sanctuary had been inspiring and helpful. A survey they did with pupils and parents showed how valuable the pupils had found the visits from People with lived experience and also the experiential work they did.
Following Lunch the visitors were able to go to Llangors school and reflect upon some of the differences between schools in India and Wales as well as understanding work that the school was doing to ensure that children in a small rural school with little diversity were equipped to become citizens of a multicultural world.
When our visitors left we were able to give each of them one of our T Towels, a card from our Schools competition, details of our group and a summary of what we did in 2025.
These two letters were emailed to show that the support we give is appreciated
6 September 2026
My name is Maria Nicholas, and together with my husband, Phil, we have been committed volunteers with Swansea Asylum Seekers Support for more than eleven years. Early in that journey, we were contacted by Ailsa from the newly forming HBTSR—an inspiring group of people determined to support asylum seekers at a time when most were placed only in Swansea, Cardiff, and Newport.
I’m sorry not to be with you today, but I want to express how deeply we value the relationship that has grown between our two charities over the past eleven years.
HBTSR’s support has been unfailing. It has uplifted countless individuals and families seeking refuge, and it has also strengthened those of us working daily with people facing trauma, loss, poverty, and uncertainty. HBTSR is a remarkable example of what committed, kind, and thoughtful people can achieve together. Their quiet generosity—hospitality, financial help, moral support—has enriched communities and helped rural areas become better informed and more welcoming, including through Schools of Sanctuary.
The monthly trips organised and funded by HBTSR have been a source of joy and respite. The food, activities, and donations are always exceptional, and the welcome offered by local communities leaves a lasting impact. Our friends consistently return from these days lighter in spirit. Any leftover food is shared at our Swansea dropin—homemade cake never goes to waste.
A particular strength of our partnership is the trust we have built. HBTSR’s hardship fund allows us to respond quickly and compassionately in emergencies, relying on shared judgement, experience, and a mutual commitment to dignity and fairness.
Much of HBTSR’s work is unseen, but its impact is profound. Because of their support, more than fifty people have enjoyed respite breaks; individuals have been funded to attend courses; laptops and phones have been sourced; volunteers have accompanied people to court; hundreds have received essential footwear; football kits have been provided—and so much more.
Our longterm collaboration has changed lives. We are deeply grateful for HBTSR’s friendship, generosity, and unwavering commitment.
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From Meg Lewis Powys Resettlement project Lead
I am disappointed not to be able to join you but I have a prior commitment that I
cannot change.
I am happy to take this opportunity, however, to thank you and the Hay, Brecon
and Talgarth Group for all you have done to support both myself and EYST (our
contracted service provider) with resettled families over the past eight years,
since I have been in post.
From the smallest of things, like helping to find a TV, to larger pieces of work,
such as helping with the setting up and running of the Ukrainian ‘Welcome
Centre’, your support has been given quickly, willingly and professionally. As
you know, the Home Office budget does not stretch to ‘luxury items’ like
electrical equipment and broadband and every single family that you have
supported with TVs or laptops have benefited hugely. Not to mention the
bicycles, push-chairs and other items that you always manage to find for us! If
not ‘life-changing’ they are definitely ‘life-enhancing’ for both parents and
children at a time when a friendly hand is most needed.
I am also aware that resettled families have been invited to join your regular
‘away days’ thus enabling them to make new friendships and gain confidence in
their communities. The feedback is always so positive.
As a Local Authority, we can’t ‘do it all’. Our role is often transient in the lives of
those we help, but the community is always there. I would like you to know that
both myself and the team at EYST greatly value our connection with HB&T and
appreciate the kindness, commitment and support we and the resettled families
have received over the years.
So, a very heartfelt thank you to you all.
Please do feel free to share this letter with Ms Summer Rees and her colleagues
so they too can see how much your work is valued.
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