Blwyddyn newydd dda, bawb! Happy New year to you all! I hope you had a happy and peaceful Christmas.

January is the time to get back to reality – and perhaps to make some New Year resolutions. If you’re lost for ideas, then my suggestion is that you think about becoming involved in one of the marvellous voluntary organisations that do such good work in so many fields throughout Powys. I’ve been privileged to see many of these as High Sheriff, and I know how much they are dependent on volunteers. If you have even a little spare time, then think about the areas that interest you and just offer your services. It’s so rewarding.

One area of volunteering that particularly interests me is work with refugees. As I’ve said before, Powys isn’t a rural idyll – we have our problems here. But we are very lucky to live in a county (and a country) that is mostly peaceful, law-abiding, friendly and hospitable. Not everywhere in the world is the same. Every day we see what is happening in the Middle East, Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine.

At this time of year, Christians remember that Jesus’s family had grab the baby and flee from their home to escape persecution. So it’s a good time to thank all the organisations, voluntary and statutory, as well as the many individuals, who have made Powys a place where refugees can feel welcome.

My own experience is with refugees from Ukraine. We had a lady from Kyiv and her two young daughters living with us for 15 months. They then moved to a house in Brecon and are now back home in western Ukraine. Her husband joined the army the day after the Russian invasion and is still serving, and she did not want the family to be apart any longer.

But they did have refuge and safety in Powys in the first days of the invasion when they were petrified of what the Russian army might do. The first night they arrived in our house, the little girls asked their Mum where they should go if there was an air raid. That brought home to me so vividly how we need to share our safety with others.

Our guests returned home with an immense appreciation of what had been done for them – by the UK and Welsh Governments, by Powys County Council, by the schools the girls attended (Llangynidr and Mount Street) and by many, many individuals. And they certainly enriched our lives.

In the case of Ukraine, we in Powys ought also to remember especially the brilliant work of our armed forces in training and supporting their Ukrainian colleagues.

My own New Year’s Resolution is to use my remaining time in office to do what I can to help voluntary organisations in Powys I’d be delighted to hear from anyone who thinks I can help their organisation. You can email me [email protected]. You can also message me on my Facebook page High Sheriff of Powys, or on X (formerly Twitter) @USPowysHS.