NIGEL Pugh, son of Dr Ken Pugh, was born and brought up in Builth Wells and is now a social documentary photographer.

With the collaboration of the Welsh Refugee Council, Nigel formulated ‘Creating Sanctuary’, which is a series of new photographic portraits and texts documenting volunteers working with refugees across Wales and on display in Cardiff for the next three weeks.

Within this project he identified human commonalities of purpose, work, security of home, family, friends, community, creativity, camaraderie, healing, sharing loss and grief. The subjects of his work all volunteer their time to work with refugees. It enabled six volunteers from across Wales to share their story and experience of working with people seeking refuge in Wales. The resulting exhibition includes the presentation of photographic portraits, and some quotes from the volunteers in response to a set of questions.

Typically, the questions posed were; what was it that brought them to assist refugees, what reward do they get from volunteering, what have been their struggles, what they would say to their wider community to encourage others to be welcoming, or to work with refugees, what does volunteering bring to the community?

One of these volunteers was Sean O’Donoghue, emeritus chair of Hay, Brecon and Talgarth Sanctary for Refugees group and in his inimitable style he participated fully. The results are some stunning portraits and interesting text. Sean commented: “Nigel originally wanted to do a two-day ‘shoot’ as we say in the business... I wanted half an hour...I could take 100 photos in that time!! Anyway, we had a full day of it. I didn’t think it was going to work out too well when Nigel asked me right at the beginning if I could change my shirt! He relented and we had a good day. I enjoyed the opportunity to reflect upon the success of our group in bringing together members of our small rural communities to host people seeking asylum or refuge in need of kindness and welcome.

“In the process new friendships and alliances are formed and I, too have made many new friends and acquaintances since the group formed.”

Refugees, whoever they are and regardless of where they are from, have had their basic human requirements wholly or partly removed. ‘Creating Sanctuary’ recognises and illustrates the core human requirements that volunteers, or the ‘sanctuary makers’ are assisting to recreate and reinstate.

The exhibition is being displayed in the First Floor Gallery Space at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff until July 2 and Nigel’s hope is that it will encourage others to accept and assist in the integration of refugees in Wales, and lead to increased voluntary action.