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Feedback from refugees we support |
These messages were thank yous for furniture and white goods delivered to refugees who had nothing.
More lovely thanks, we don't do it for these but wonderful that all the hard work of our volunteers does seem to make a difference:
Thank yous from refugees we support
Today we received this wonderful thank you from an asylum seeker who has exciting news:
Going swimmingly! Volunteer Christy writes: “Lovely card from one of the children at the hotel. Managed to get her school swimming lessons approved to be funded by pupil premium and just dropped her off some swimwear 😊“ Small things like these make such a difference.
Lovely to receive these messages from asylum seekers at a local hotel when they received festive parcels, and thanks to all the volunteers who worked so hard to make refugees in Hertfordshire feel welcome over the Christmas break.
Look what happened when Kbrom turned over the canvas of his gift to us, a brilliant painting of Old Gorhambury! We were so touched to read his words of thanks:
"Your support is the foundation of the dreams." We never fail to be inspired by the resourcefulness, talent and resilience of the refugees we support.
"Your support is the foundation of the dreams." We never fail to be inspired by the resourcefulness, talent and resilience of the refugees we support.
“As an undergraduate I was badly in need of a lap top to continue my studies. But unfortunately, we are not in a position to own a laptop at this moment. Without a laptop it is extremely difficult to continue the studies as very often we have to attend online lectures; also the preparation and the submission of the assignment all done through online. Thanks to Herts Welcomes Refugees for providing me a laptop. Now I can continue the studies without any obstacles. Also, the laptop provided for me is helpful to engage myself in self-studies. Once again, I would like to express my heartiest gratitude for Herts Welcomes Refugees for the support that they extended in this regard.”
Lovely thanks from this asylum seeker currently studying on a Sanctuary Scholarship. Thanks to Stevenage Community Trust for providing a grant for emergency travel costs to university and a contribution towards a laptop, which we were able to top up with our own funds.
Lovely thanks from this asylum seeker currently studying on a Sanctuary Scholarship. Thanks to Stevenage Community Trust for providing a grant for emergency travel costs to university and a contribution towards a laptop, which we were able to top up with our own funds.
It is always so lovely to hear news of how well the families of asylum seekers we support are doing.
We heard today that this man's daughter is starting her studies at King's College London on a Sanctuary Scholarship.
Wishing her all the very best for her course.
We heard today that this man's daughter is starting her studies at King's College London on a Sanctuary Scholarship.
Wishing her all the very best for her course.
thank you from father whose daughter has a Sanctuary Scholarship
"You understood our needs and helped us communicate better and resolve things quickly."
This couple who cannot hear or speak send thanks to volunteer Joyce who supported them and their two sons, who speak English and Hindi, along with British and Hindi sign language to help their parents:
This couple who cannot hear or speak send thanks to volunteer Joyce who supported them and their two sons, who speak English and Hindi, along with British and Hindi sign language to help their parents:
We don't do it for the thanks but it is always lovely to receive acknowledgement of our support - these messages were sent to Area Convenor Joyce who passed them on to the whole team at a local hotel:
We thanked talented artist Shervin, who we feature here, for donating a beautiful painting to raise funds for Herts Welcomes Refugees, and here is his lovely reply:
This beautiful note is a tribute to the lady who wrote it, and the volunteers who supported her:
We were so pleased to receive this lovely note from one of the asylum seekers we have supported at a local hotel:
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Watch this short video about Samer from Syria who talks about our work. Samer features in a short film made by North Herts Council when Veronica was given a Local Hero award in the Caring category.
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We run weekly drop-ins including English classes for asylum seekers. Watch this slide show to see some of the lovely comments received after an English language assessment:
Our Christmas gifts at one of the hotels resulted in these heart warming thank you notes:
Here are some more thank you messages from asylum seekers in hotels. We are always so moved by their adaptability and resilience.
We always love receiving feedback from people we have helped but it is often hard to say goodbye when asylum seekers write to us because they are being moved to a different part of the country, often at very short notice.
We love this feedback from refugee partners who attend the lunch club run by Area Convenor Kate, pictured here. Kate tells us:
"Twice a month we are very lucky to be able to have lunch in a lovely Church Hall. Volunteers and refugees come, often bringing delicious food contributions. We chat, we get to know each other, and often we play simple round the table games, so we can speak to everyone (in English!), talk a little about ourselves, and laugh together. These lunches are a chance for some of our refugees to have a rare break away from home - and laughing together can be very helpful and relaxing."
In our Warm Welcome Fundraising Appeal we heard from Arash (not his real name.) Now Arash and family are likely to be moving on, Herts Welcomes Refugees volunteers received this lovely message:
"Dear Joyce, I wanted to share an update with you - we have received our eviction notice, and our departure is scheduled for the 15th of December. Unfortunately, there's a possibility that we might be relocated to another city.
I wanted to take a moment to express how fortunate and happy I am to have met you, Anne, and Pete. Your kindness and the support provided by your organisation have been a tremendous help during this challenging time. Your assistance has meant a lot to us, and I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to you and your team.
The uncertainties surrounding our relocation are daunting, but knowing that we have people like you to lean on makes a significant difference. Your compassion and dedication to helping others are truly commendable.
Once again, thank you for being a beacon of support for my family. We are grateful for the friendship and assistance you've extended to us."
We wish this lovely family all the very best for the future and are pleased that we could have helped in a small way.
"Dear Joyce, I wanted to share an update with you - we have received our eviction notice, and our departure is scheduled for the 15th of December. Unfortunately, there's a possibility that we might be relocated to another city.
I wanted to take a moment to express how fortunate and happy I am to have met you, Anne, and Pete. Your kindness and the support provided by your organisation have been a tremendous help during this challenging time. Your assistance has meant a lot to us, and I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to you and your team.
The uncertainties surrounding our relocation are daunting, but knowing that we have people like you to lean on makes a significant difference. Your compassion and dedication to helping others are truly commendable.
Once again, thank you for being a beacon of support for my family. We are grateful for the friendship and assistance you've extended to us."
We wish this lovely family all the very best for the future and are pleased that we could have helped in a small way.
"When I arrived, I had nothing but my clothes and a small doll for my child." We received this heart-rending account from an asylum seeker, known as E:
"I have a small family consisting of a child and my husband. Life forced me to leave everything I owned. To leave my hobbies that I cherished and was happy with in our country. I came last year on December 15, 2022 to this country, and before this date I had left my country and fled with my family empty-handed.
Life chose the United Kingdom as a home for my small family. Upon our arrival we were left at the airport on a dark winter's night. Due to fear and cold, I was very desperate, but I was pretending to be strong for the sake of my family.
They sent us the next morning on 16/12/2022 to the Home Office. Then they sent us to the Hotel. When I arrived, I had nothing but my clothes and a small doll for my child.
Fortunately for us, they told us that a charitable organization comes every Tuesday and Wednesday and this organization can help us with anything we may need.
I waited for them, and when I saw them for the first time and saw the smile and welcome, I cried from my heart because I saw how much they loved to do good deeds even though they did not know us.
Every time, I thank my Lord because in the harshest moments of life, He sent us this institution and they listen to all our needs and meet what they can do.
Sometimes a little help means life for those who have been disappointed in the estrangement and harshness of life."
"I have a small family consisting of a child and my husband. Life forced me to leave everything I owned. To leave my hobbies that I cherished and was happy with in our country. I came last year on December 15, 2022 to this country, and before this date I had left my country and fled with my family empty-handed.
Life chose the United Kingdom as a home for my small family. Upon our arrival we were left at the airport on a dark winter's night. Due to fear and cold, I was very desperate, but I was pretending to be strong for the sake of my family.
They sent us the next morning on 16/12/2022 to the Home Office. Then they sent us to the Hotel. When I arrived, I had nothing but my clothes and a small doll for my child.
Fortunately for us, they told us that a charitable organization comes every Tuesday and Wednesday and this organization can help us with anything we may need.
I waited for them, and when I saw them for the first time and saw the smile and welcome, I cried from my heart because I saw how much they loved to do good deeds even though they did not know us.
Every time, I thank my Lord because in the harshest moments of life, He sent us this institution and they listen to all our needs and meet what they can do.
Sometimes a little help means life for those who have been disappointed in the estrangement and harshness of life."
Today we hear from E from Albania who has been in the UK since May 2022. She lives in one of the hotels with her daughter who is 13 months old.
She tells us about the difficulties she has encountered but also speaks touchingly about the help she has received from Herts Welcomes Refugees:
"I know that every asylum seeker is having a difficult time but we feel better when we have good people around us."
She tells us about the difficulties she has encountered but also speaks touchingly about the help she has received from Herts Welcomes Refugees:
"I know that every asylum seeker is having a difficult time but we feel better when we have good people around us."
It is always lovely to receive feedback from our refugee partners. Here we spoke to Marcus, who is from Eritrea.
We asked Marcus to tell us a little bit about himself, and how Herts Welcomes Refugees has helped him. You can listen to the interview here.
How wonderful to hear how he describes the volunteers who support him: "They're like friends, they're like family.'"
We asked Marcus to tell us a little bit about himself, and how Herts Welcomes Refugees has helped him. You can listen to the interview here.
How wonderful to hear how he describes the volunteers who support him: "They're like friends, they're like family.'"
Our Area Convenor Karen was so moved to receive this from one of the families: ‘We want to express our most sincere gratitude for the support you have given us, your help has been essential to get through our current situation, and we cannot find words to express how much it means to us.’
