SIX PUPILS from the New Start Centre in Brecon are celebrating a remarkable achievement after receiving prizes and certificates in a regional creative competition marking Refugee Week.
Austin A’Hern, Logan Taylor-Saunders, Finn Morgan, Sophie Elverson, Jacob Wall, and Charlie Couzens were all recognised in the Safe Passage competition, organised by the Hay, Brecon and Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees. The initiative aims to raise awareness and promote compassion through education and community engagement.
This year’s competition invited local schoolchildren pupils to interpret the theme of Safe Passage through a range of creative formats, including poetry, visual art, journalism, and short film.
With over 520 entries submitted from schools across the area, it is a notable accomplishment that every entrant from the New Start Centre received recognition. This outcome reflects both the high standard of work produced by the pupils and the supportive educational environment in which their creativity is encouraged to flourish.
Austin and Logan impressed judges with their powerful and thought-provoking artwork, while Finn, Sophie, Jacob, and Charlie collaborated on a moving and imaginative poem. Their poem has earned them a special invitation to perform at the competition’s prestigious presentation evening.
The awards ceremony took place at Brecon Cathedral on Friday, June 20, where the pupils presented their work to an audience of peers, educators, and community members. Their entries will also be featured in an exhibition of prize-winning work at Brecon Cathedral (June 9–23) and Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye (June 23-30).
Cllr Pete Roberts, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, praised the pupils’ success: “This is a truly inspiring accomplishment by the pupils of the New Start Centre.
“Their success in the ‘Safe Passage’ competition is a testament not only to their creativity and empathy, but also to the nurturing environment fostered by the school.
“It’s heartening to see young people engaging so thoughtfully with such an important theme, and I congratulate each and every one of them.”
