Newport and Gwent Samaritans works closely with HMP Usk. Here's an account of this years Eisteddfod at the Prison.
On Thursday 13th July 2023, hmp usk held and eisteddfod on the lines of the Welsh National Eisteddfod. Planning and work has been going on for several months, involving inmates and staff working together. Invitations were sent out asking for anyone who wanted to take part. Like the national eisteddfod, the Usk event had different categories to enter, such as welsh recitation, english recitation, poetry writing, music, singing and artworks. A bardic chair was designed and built by the woodwork department. A stage was set up under a marquee on the sports field. the invited guests took the specially positioned audience seats.
Just as everyone was ready to start, mother nature decided to turn on the rain causing people to run for shelter under the marquee and food gazebo. Others turning chairs over so they do not get wet. Ten minutes later, mother nature changed her mind and sent the sunshine instead.
The event opened with the HMP Usk inmates choir singing ‘Calon Lan’ ‘Ar Hyd y Nos’ ‘Danny Boy and a song about a miner coming home from the mine, called ‘Take Me Home’. the official opening was by the governor speaking Welsh.
The whole event went well. there was a short break while the adjudicators adjudicated the winners, and everyone else to have a break. Everyone was back to their seats for the jpresentation of prizes by the governor. The event was closed with the choir singing the national anthem of wales, ‘mae hen wlad fy nhadau’.
Prison Officers at the Eisteddfod