The descendant of a Rorke\u2019s Drift Victoria Cross winner is among ex-soldiers fallen on hard times who are finding a new purpose to their lives through art.<\/p>\n
The weekly classes held at the Alabar\u00e9 Home for Veterans in Colwyn Bay have uncovered new talent whose work is to go on display in an exhibition entitled Peace by Piece this spring at Conwy County Borough Council\u2019s headquarters in the town.<\/p>\n
The ground-breaking Creative Wellbeing Through The Arts classes are taken by artist Nadia Wazera for Wintergreen Community Interest Company and have been funded by \u00a32,000 from PACT \u2013 the North Wales Police and Community Trust and are attended by up to 10 ex-servicemen every week.<\/p>\n
Among them is Daniel Chard, originally from Wrexham, and whose ancestor, Lieutenant John Chard \u2013 played by Stanley Baker in the film Zulu \u2013 won one of 11 Victoria Crosses at the Battle of Rorke\u2019s Drift in South Africa in 1879.<\/p>\n
The former Artilleryman said: \u201cI had problems with drugs and crime after leaving the Army but I\u2019m off the drugs now and living here in Colwyn Bay and I\u2019ve enjoyed the classes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have tried art before but it\u2019s different when Nadia is taking the classes and I\u2019ve got a lot out of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is 100 per cent a good place to be and Nadia has some brilliant ideas and there\u2019s lots of things to explore.<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy the challenges. It\u2019s a good use of my time and good for my well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another regular is ex-Signal Instructor Gary Dewhurst, originally from Bolton, who has turned his talent into a fulltime occupation and now paints commissions as well as his own work.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cMy brother was a real artist and he taught me but I was in the Army before being badly injured in Iraq and given a medical discharge after 11 years when I intended to stay in for 25.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been in Blackpool and London and I came here a few weeks go and I like it and I\u2019ve been helping with the art classes and I\u2019ve enjoyed doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nadia said: \u201cThere\u2019s a mix of people here from across North Wales and from further afield and this place provides a safe haven for them but we couldn\u2019t have run the classes without the support of PACT and their involvement has also helped us leverage further funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a safe haven for them and sometimes it\u2019s good for people to have a fresh start \u2013 there\u2019s no criteria and if you are a veteran then you can come and join in.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn total there are 40 ex-soldiers across three homes in the area and they range from those in their early 20s to over 70.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve worked with veterans for some time now and I like the idea of bringing them together – that\u2019s when the magic happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
PACT Chair Ashley Rogers said: \u201cAnything we can do for our veterans to help them and to enable them to interact with others has to be extremely valuable and this is an excellent project around community engagement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt supports them and brings people who have served their country together in a safe space and its clear that PACT\u2019s involvement has enabled the project to flourish and to continue at a crucial time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe continued attendance and active participation by the veterans shows how valuable and worthwhile the veterans art project is \u2013 that\u2019s the proof of the pudding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also in attendance was the High Sheriff of Clwyd, Karen Farrell, who said: \u201cThis is an amazing project and it\u2019s clearly been a wonderful experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can feel the real sense of community spirit and the support for each other among those involved is amazing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I come and see a project like this it just gives me a real Readybrek glow and puts a smile on my face.\u201d<\/p>\n
The work of the ex-servicemen is just one of many projects that have been supported by PACT, an independent charity launched in 1998 to support community initiatives, particularly those in which the police are involved.<\/p>\n
In that time it has helped over 2,500 projects, investing in communities right across North Wales.<\/p>\n
Ashley Rogers added: \u201cFor many who are involved in these projects, this is their first interaction with the police, so making this a positive experience can have profound consequences on their future life choices.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom Gwynedd in the west across to Flintshire and Wrexham in the east, PACT continues to support projects that enable positive and sustainable community development and this has never been more important than right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
PACT offer a range of grants of up to \u00a32,000 for community projects \u2013 for more details and how to apply go to <\/strong>https:\/\/www.pactnorthwales.co.uk\/applications-ceisiadau\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n