Yuliia Batrak, who lives with her mum Liudmyla and seven-year-old sister Alona, fled their home in Kiev because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine just over a year ago and have made a temporary home in Colwyn Bay for the past nine months.

She has enrolled on a VRQ Level 1 in Hospitality course at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s Coleg Llandrillo campus and was encouraged by her tutor Glennydd Hughes to enter the WICC.

Yuliia won gold medals, securing a perfect score in both the knife skills for fruit and for vegetables and soup making classes. To round off her success, Yuliia received the overall award at the WICC awards dinner for best live open class competitor.

Yuliia said: “I am so excited because I didn’t think I would win this award. When I entered these competitions, I had to get the gold medals because I have worked so hard. I must thank my tutor Glenn because he believed in me from the first day I started.”