HAY, Brecon and Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees were delighted to receive donations of items collected for them to distribute to refugees in Wales by staff at Cartrefi Cymru.

Ann Price, a support worker, and service user Judy Griffiths were brought together by a shared passion for helping people.

With the agreement of Cartrefi Cymru area manager Nicola Phillips they started to collect donations of toiletries, unwanted gifts, household items and surplus clothing from friends, co-workers and service users.

Before Christmas they were able to give toiletries and gifts to HBTSR for people seeking asylum in Swansea.

Since then, they have continued their collecting and handed over a number of bags of clothing, materials and a large collection of mugs this week.

Ann said that Judy had been very saddened by the news about people fleeing from Syria and to hear how some people didn’t welcome them in Britain. She wanted to do something to make a difference and with Ann’s help decided to collect things that might be of use to these people living on the margins of society.

Judy said: “I was very sorry that people were made to leave home and now need help, so I was happy to help.”

Cartrefi Cymru is a not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder co-operative that supports people with learning disabilities in Wales, to lead fulfilled lives at home and in the community.

Their approach is to enable Service users to have more of a say in the way they receive support, and have more of a community presence.

Cartrefi Cymru area manager Nicola said: “Our sessional support team provide tailored Care and support to meet the requirements of each person, as requested by them in their own words. This enables people to move from a dependency on the floating support service and become more independent.”

HBTSR chair Revd Margaret Blake was delighted to be asked to receive the items. She said: “It is wonderful how all sectors of our community can come together to welcome people in need. We continue to run a regular programme of days out in our beautiful area for people forced to seek sanctuary in Swansea which we know is much appreciated as a day of fun, good food and friendship in a life that may otherwise be very sad, lonely and impoverished. We hope Judy may join us at one of these days out soon”

For more about HBTSR visit www.hbtsr.org.uk.