THE VC Gallery has taken a trip to the Brecon Beacons and Cardiff to support the children of veterans and serving soldiers.

Members of the gallery’s team joined 11 children from across Wales for the Barnardo’s Families of Veterans Support Service outdoor pursuits week at Plas Pencelli, in the Brecon Beacons in mid-March.

Pete Jones from the VC gallery gave workshops on art, drama and music for the entire week, and joined in with the outdoor activities during each day including climbing and archery.

"The way I was working, I got involved in all the other activities that were going on," said Pete.

"The week was all about giving these young people a voice."

The FVSS week gave the children an opportunity for some respite, as well as the chance to think about their own future in positive terms.

The VC Gallery also joined the Barnardo’s FVSS team at Chapter Arts in Cardiff on Wednesday, April 11 for the showing of a film made during the week at Plas Pencelli.

The film, Children Speak – Building Positive Futures, allowed the 11 children who took part in the residential week to share their feelings and thoughts about their futures with all who came to watch it.

“It was a really nice project that we did,” said Barry John, founder of the VC Gallery. “It was quite unique because we opened it up to the children of serving soldiers as well as veterans.

“It was a lovely setting up at Chapter Arts. The families all come up and had a great time too.”

Barnardo’s FVSS has been supporting the children of veterans and serving soldiers in Wales for a year and a half.

The service was set up as the charity realised there was no specific support network to help the children of soldiers with their particular experiences, and the challenges they have living with a parent in the armed forces.

The VC Gallery will be hosting its next exhibition, inspired by the works of Henri Matisse, this month.

The exhibition will launch this Friday, May 4 at 7pm, at the gallery’s new building on Bridge Street (The former Store Twenty One), with guest appearances by the VC Double CarTen cycling team.