Today we were on four Heart Radio news broadcasts about the Government's immigration and asylum plans.  

Hear our volunteer Helen speak on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers we support:


"We have been speaking to refugees and asylum seekers who we support and they are really worried.
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One refugee who volunteers with us said:
'people haven’t felt safe yet, they don’t feel like they have the sense of security, that they initially came and asked for.'"

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​"We are in touch with refugees every day and know that  these proposals lead to fear and uncertainty.

​We are dismayed that their chances of becoming British  citizens are being made more and more difficult."

As usual we’ve been incredibly busy this year welcoming asylum seekers and helping those with leave to remain to settle into new accommodation. Can you help with our annual Warm Welcome appeal?

Many asylum seekers arrive with just the clothes they stand up in. 

Did you know £25 will help provide them with underwear and a couple of basics such as tracksuit bottoms or a hoodie? 

It’s impossible for those with leave to remain to afford the basics to set up home as they aren’t allowed to work but just £9 will buy a kettle for them and £75 a microwave.

And many of those with refugee status who are allowed to work are really struggling with the cost of living, so may also need help especially during colder months.

To donate now and help those in need, please visit our Warm Welcome fundraising page or click the Donate button below.  And thank you so much for all your support.

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We support the Refugee Council's concerns about the Government's draconian asylum plans. 

​Here you can listen to our volunteer Helen discuss this, and how you can help, with Amir Suleman on BBC Three Counties Radio when she and refugee and volunteer Layla were on his show.

Read more at https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/stay-informed/articles/five-critical-concerns-about-the-new-asylum-plans/ and write to your MP.

We were delighted to have the opportunity to talk about our work on BBC 3CR with Amir Suleman last night.   We discussed the work of Herts Welcomes Refugees, our King's Award for Voluntary Service, what our volunteers do and our reactions to the Government's recent proposals on asylum and immigration.

We are particularly pleased that our volunteer and Advisory Group member 'Layla' spoke on the show about her experience as a refugee and how she now volunteers with Herts Welcomes Refugees. We are so grateful to all the refugees who, despite their difficult situations, take time to help others.  Read some of their stories here.

Listen to the interview at this link, with thanks to Amir for giving us the chance to talk about our work, how you can help, and the real life situation for asylum seekers and refugees in Hertfordshire.

Our latest newsletter is hot off the press! It includes our reaction to the government's latest proposals, real refugee stories & myth-busting, fighting negativity, how to help with our Warm Welcome appeal and our amazing King’s Award.   

Do have a read, and to sign up to receive our newsletter straight to your inbox go to Contact Us​

We were thrilled that Enas, Bahar, Shervin and Ghazal, who had residencies at Trestle Arts Base recently, each contributed a painting at the University of Hertfordshire's Seeking Sanctuary event. Read more at https://www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/artists-work/trestle-artists-contribute-to-seeking-sanctuary-event

Herts Welcomes Refugees is delighted to announce that the charity has been awarded a significant three year grant from the National Lottery.

Irene Austin, Chair of Herts Welcomes Refugees, said "This funding decision is enormously welcome.  The money will really help us to improve our welcome and support services for asylum seekers and refugees over the next 3 years.

We are incredibly grateful to all our volunteers who work tirelessly across Herts to help people who have fled because of trauma, persecution and wars.  This funding will enable us to improve our services for asylum seekers and refugees to help them learn English, rebuild their lives and become part of the local community.

The funding means that we will be able to increase our paid positions with a new Director role and more administrative support.  And we will be able to increase our support for asylum seekers and refugees.  This can make a real difference in helping to break down isolation and improve people's confidence as they navigate their new life here.  The funding will also help us to enhance our volunteer development programme and improve our resilience and effectiveness.

We want to thank all our volunteers and members for what they do, and the National Lottery for deciding to award us this money."
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One refugee told us:  “Your support is the foundation of our dreams.”

​​This afternoon I was delighted to visit one of our drop-in centres, held at a local church.

Apparently it was a quiet day but it seemed to be a hive of activity with 25 English learners across three classes.  Alison, who organises the drop-in showed me round.

As soon as I came into the building I saw volunteers Alison and Helen helping asylum seekers and refugees with practical advice and support.

I was then shown the main hall where Sue was leading an English class for beginners, assisted by the senior teaching assistant who spoke so inspiringly here.  He volunteers in the English class, and translates for others  – he speaks five languages, as well as studying international banking and finance at a London University.

He told me that he was forced to flee Afghanistan when the Taliban took power, managing to leave with his wife, a trained midwife, and two children, and they now have a new baby. He had been a lecturer and advisor to a bank.  We talked about the restrictions in his home country and the trauma of leaving his mother behind.  He is so glad to be in the UK where the family feels safe.  Hopefully he will be able to gain refugee status and start his new life here.

I spoke to a lovely young asylum seeker from Iran who started studying English at the centre as soon as he arrived here three weeks ago. He was making very good progress.  Sue later said: ‘I was really struck this week by the determination of the learners and also the progress I can see.’

I also spoke to a young volunteer Beth, who was helping with the English class, having returned from studying and working abroad which she said gave her an insight into what it must be like for those newly arrived here.  You can read a full interview with Beth here.

In the intermediate class I spoke to volunteer David who has been teaching English at the centre for about a year.  David told me he works as a fundraiser for a child cancer charity and loves helping people. He did an ESOL course and dropped his paid work to four days so he can volunteer by teaching English with Herts Welcomes Refugees.  David said he likes meeting the learners and has to be flexible in his teaching as the participants change.

I also met English teacher Henry who had been running a more advanced conversation group and spoke so inspiringly at the AGM.  

I then went into the children’s playgroup, staffed brilliantly by Mavis and Camille, with new volunteer Kirsty and a volunteer from the church. The children are entertained while their parents learn English. 
I also had a lovely chat with Alejandra, from Colombia, one of the young refugee volunteers who kept the playgroup going over the summer where she was an asset to the programme.
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Alejandra’s younger sister is at school, her mother, a psychologist, was at the intermediate English class and her father, an engineer, is studying computer science online.  Alejandra is only 18 and told me about the five months she spent on a church project in her home country working away from home with indigenous families when she was just 17. I am sure she must have learned a huge amount of resilience on this project, and this will have stood her in good stead when seeking sanctuary in the UK.   

​She said she likes to be busy and useful. When she arrived here she took a vocational course and passed her maths GCSE. She is now at college studying for her English GCSE along with art and science at level 2.  She would like to continue her studies with Graphic or Interior Design.  She attends college four days a week so is free on the fifth day to help with the church playgroup in the mornings and the Herts Welcomes playgroup in the afternoons.  Alejandra struck me as incredibly brave and positive and keen to make a new life and contribute. She told me her favourite food in Colombia was bandeja paisa. Fortunately she and her family are in accommodation where they can cook for themselves unlike asylum seekers housed in hotels.

In a small meeting room, Kate and Louise were interviewing young single refugees recently given Leave to Remain, recording the hardships of their lives in order to enhance their housing benefit applications. This is emotional work for all involved and is done at the request of the local Council. A member of the local authority housing team was also at the drop-in to complete the paperwork for some young men moving in to local private rented accommodation.

Alison was giving out bowls of sweets to the participants in the class. When I left she was comforting a refugee who was crying with stress. Moving on from Home Office accommodation is such a difficult time and I understand the lady is struggling with the emotional stress of wondering when she will be reunited with her husband, as well as the day-to-day practical challenges of building a new life in the UK.

The whole afternoon epitomises the love and courage shown by refugees and volunteers alike.  With thanks to the church too, for making this such a positive partnership.

Helen Singer

​We are delighted to report on the wonderful continuing collaboration with Goods4Good.
 
Volunteer Alison tells us:
 
‘Herts Welcomes Refugees holds a weekly drop-in session every Friday afternoon in a local church. The drop-in supports a large local community of asylum seekers and refugees, and we regularly have more than 50 people attending. 
 
At the drop-in a team of more than 15 volunteers provides English classes (ESOL), a children’s playroom to allow their parents to attend the English classes, and a support and advice service.
 
Many people accessing these services arrive clutching a few papers in their hands or a plastic bag.
 
In September, Goods4Good supplied around 50 small rucksacks filled with stationery sets, a large number of A4 pads, around 40 substantial drawstring bags, and some general stationery items. This was an amazing donation for Herts Welcomes Refugees to receive.
 
We gave a small rucksack to every individual and every family, so that people can keep their paperwork together and not lose anything important. Everyone was so excited to receive these. We regularly get asked for rucksacks.
 
We gave an A4 notepad to every person attending the English classes. The ESOL teacher has replenished the box of shared pens and pencils that we offer to learners each week so that everyone can participate in the lesson and will use a pack of whiteboard markers in the sessions.
 
The playgroup leader took one set of coloured pencils and one set of coloured pens to replenish the ‘Bag of Tricks’ that we have available for when we need to support children at different venues.
 
We plan to give the drawstring bags with an A4 pad inside to every secondary age pupil, to help with taking their things to school.
 
We gave extra rucksacks and stationery items to three particularly vulnerable families who are struggling at the moment – one single mum with three children who has experienced Domestic Violence, one single mum with eight children who is really struggling with the cost of living, and one single mum with three young children where one is receiving hospital treatment for a childhood cancer.
 
The donation from Goods4Good was absolutely wonderful, and we were able to help so many people. Thank you.”