A local vicar has raised more than £700 for Hay, Brecon and Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees (HBTSR) by asking friends and family to sponsor her for a dramatic new short haircut.

Rev Liz Bramley, who hadn’t had a trim since before the first Covid lockdown, decided it was time for a change after five years of letting her hair grow.

"I couldn't get to my hairdresser in lockdown" she explained.

"And by the time we were allowed to travel again, the hair was long enough to wear in different styles. Then it just grew and grew over the last five years! But this year I knew the time had come for a real change."

The money raised is being donated directly to HBTSR, a local charity that supports refugees and asylum-seekers. Through HBTSR, refugees from the Swansea area enjoy much-needed days out in different villages and receive other vital support. The charity was founded in 2015, amidst the growing global refugee crisis, and works to welcome and aid those seeking sanctuary in the area.

“I really feel the cold now,” Liz admitted.

“But I have been warmed by light-hearted comments like 'You are certainly a cut above the rest!'

“Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has so generously supported this - I never thought it would raise so much money."

The funds will help support the charity’s vital work, which includes organising outings and advocating for a fair and compassionate immigration system.

HBTSR, which is entirely volunteer-run, is part of both the City of Sanctuary initiative and the Together with Refugees and Lift the Ban coalitions. The charity’s supporters come from all walks of life, united by a shared commitment to compassion and humanity.

For more information about the charity and the work it carries out, visit the website: https://hbtsr.cityofsanctuary.org/