![]() O A great example of partnership working to help refugees into education and employment. Volunteer Alison reports “Over 50 people of 22 nationalities attended, with a 60%/40% split between asylum seekers and refugees came to our Education Fair today. 7 invited organisations included West Herts College; Community Action Dacorum; South Hill Centre, Steps2Skills; Herts Services for Young People; Employability for Overseas Nationals Programme and the DENS employment team. The stall holders, including Herts Welcomes Refugees, had stands to promote a huge range of ESOL courses, other training, employment advice and wellbeing activities. Several organisations spoke to between 20 and 50 people, so that's hundreds of conversations that led to at least 60 sign-ups and bookings plus dozens of ideas and flyers for people to follow up on. It was an event with lots of positive energy and much appreciated by all.” Here are just a few of the positive comments from the organisations that attended.
Volunteer Jane says “None of this could happen without the Church who welcome us every week, our amazing childcare team and ALL our volunteers. Whether you were there last Friday or one of the well-wishers, you'll know that this kind of success is the result of all our work, the relationships we build and the support we give week in, week out.” We are delighted that works by four of the artists featured at https://www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/refugee-week--artists-work are on display/for sale at the St Albans Art Society exhibition, which you can visit from today until Saturday at Upper Dagnall Street Baptist Church Hall, open daily from 10 am to 5.30 pm. You can see here the busy private view along with the artists' work and Shervin next to his striking paintings about refuge and welcome.
Such lovely feedback on this event! Volunteer Veronica reports:
"On 3 July, Hitchin Quakers invited us to give a public presentation about our work as part of the Hitchin Festival. The evening started with the short film that North Herts Council commissioned for the North Herts Hero award. I then gave a brief overview of our work and how it has changed over the years as new challenges have arisen. The main part of the evening was hearing from three refugees who are now living locally, speaking about their challenges and achievements as they have made a life here. This was followed by some lively questions. Afterwards we enjoyed refreshments including Syrian dishes and there were further opportunities for people to speak to the refugees and also to admire the artwork from the ‘Visions of Home’ display in St Albans. We were delighted to receive over £100 in donations." Here is some of the feedback we received afterwards: “It has really inspired me to want to get more involved and it looks as though there is plenty of work to do, going forward.” “Yesterday evening was a huge success and very moving. The achievements and determination of the three that spoke and their families are truly amazing. Am so impressed by all that you and all the volunteers do.” “I really enjoyed yesterday evening’s event. It was so good to see people who are clearly thriving after escaping such difficult situations in their home countries. They are all so very brave, articulate and inspiring.” “I really enjoyed the whole evening and thought it was a very positive experience for speakers, audience and HWR.” “Brilliant evening! Such moving accounts- especially from the Afghan refugee.” This is so inspiring. Thank you to everyone who organised the event. If you would like to volunteer please get in touch with [email protected] – we would love to hear from you! And to make a donation to support our work please donate here: https://www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/donate.html We welcome the new government and will be in touch with our Hertfordshire MPs in the coming weeks.
We stand with the refugee groups who have written to Keir Starmer with a blueprint for an overhaul to the asylum system: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/08/human-rights-groups-give-starmer-blueprint-for-asylum-overhaul In particular we welcome the Refugee Council's report Asylum: Day One challenges for the next government and the UNHCR Recommendations to the New Government. Here's hoping for a more humane, workable system for the asylum seekers and refugees we support and welcome. Take a look at these video clips showcasing our Refugee Week Visions of Home display at the St Albans Museum. You can view the whole digital display at Refugee Week 2024 Coming up to Refugee Week we are so pleased that there has been media interest about the Visions of Home display at St Albans Museum + Gallery throughout June. Take a look at some of these, and do call in to the Museum + Gallery over the next couple of weeks. You can also see the digital display at this link. With thanks to all the contributors and volunteers who work with them. BBC News - Herts Beds and Bucks Radio Verulam interview: Today we hear from Alison, from our Dacorum Area Team, about what happens when asylum seekers are given Leave to Remain.
“Herts Welcomes Refugees is a volunteer-led local charity, able to respond very quickly to changing needs on the ground. The opening of Home Office accommodation for asylum seekers across the County towards the end of 2021 presented many fresh challenges. Our volunteer team grew and evolved to support vulnerable asylum seekers living in difficult conditions for months on end while continuing to support refugees whose numbers have increased significantly over the same period.. The last six months have seen another big change in the demands on our Charity as the Home Office increased its decision rate and fast-tracked applications from a small number of countries. This has led to a surge in the number of asylum seekers getting Leave To Remain. The euphoria of a positive decision is replaced very quickly by fear and anxiety as the new refugees try to open a bank account, make sure their documents are in order, sign up for Universal Credit, find somewhere to live and start to look for employment. This all needs to be done within 30 days – the typical eviction period from Home Office accommodation. An impossible timeframe which puts enormous pressure on our resources and those of the local authorities in whose areas the asylum seekers have been housed. This process is called ‘Positive Move On’ – but sometimes it is difficult to see the positive side. So what does this mean for the support offered by Herts Welcomes Refugees? We are now becoming more expert on getting errors on BRPs (Biometric Residency Permits) corrected, knowing when to request an extension of Asylum Support and understanding the critical path in the paperwork. Navigating our way around different departments in the Home Office and Migrant Help, and working intensively with colleagues from other agencies. The number of volunteers actively involved in supporting on issues relating to positive move ons in Dacorum has increased from 2 to 7. HWR shares learning and knowledge across the County. We are working closely with colleagues in the County and Borough Councils to try to help people find solutions in a very difficult housing market. There are many reports in the National Media about homelessness amongst new refugees and we know that, sadly, some single refugees leaving Home Office accommodation in Hertfordshire have become street homeless. However, we work closely with our Dacorum Council colleagues and support them in running a housing clinic as part of one of our weekly drop-ins. Refugees come to discuss their housing options and sign up for assistance. To date, more than 40 single refugees have found housing in the private rental sector locally. It is very pleasing that local landlords have reported very positively about their new tenants – changing hearts and minds one household at a time. We have branched out into house removals! Much of the accommodation has only minimal furniture – in fact families will often move into accommodation that is completely empty - so teams of volunteers have collected and re-distributed all sorts of household items. These include beds, desks, tables, chairs, sofas, bedside cabinets, wardrobes, coffee tables, chests of drawers, bedding, kitchen equipment and much more besides. We also help refugees apply to other local Charities whose charitable aims include providing white goods and other larger household items. This support has been particularly challenging given the physical nature of the work, although Jane from the Dacorum Area Convenor Team comments that ‘The recipients all pitch in to help with unloading and we are impressed to see the efforts they are making to make their new accommodation comfortable. ‘ There continue to be many challenges in the positive move on process across Hertfordshire and this is putting a lot of emotional and physical pressure on organisations supporting refugees. However, there is also great joy in supporting people who have endured so much hardship and are finally able to call somewhere ‘home’." Area Convenor Kate reports: “We are very lucky to have funding for a storage unit which allows us to accept donated goods and keep them until needed. We are very grateful to everyone who has donated goods and supported with their time and effort. Most things are sourced from donations but we are buying some goods and sometimes we do need to hire a man with a van to move bulky items. Trying to deal with so many moves in a short period is not something we could have anticipated and puts additional pressure on our funds." So if you can help us to carry on doing this, please donate to https://www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/donate.html The photos below showcase some of our work in this area: We are so excited to tell you about this display where refugees we work with tell us about their visions of home, in their own words and images. Find out why they had to flee their homes, and what we can all do to help.
See more, including the digital display at Refugee Week 2024 Do come and visit the St Albans Museum + Gallery during June. We are so grateful that volunteers Beth Lamyman and Thanushan Aravinthan, professional photographers/videographers from Neighbour's Pool Productions, took these fab photos from our AGM. Here you can see our Patron, Robert Voss, HM Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, the Mayor of St Albans, Anthony Rowlands, our Chair Irene Austin, and Treasurer Adrian Ball. Below you can see our Trustee John Borton introducing some members of our wonderful Advisory Board. Source: https://images.app.goo.gl/J4cTw8wHuiTXADR2A At Herts Welcomes Refugees we are dismayed that this cruel bill has now passed into law and are concerned for the safety of vulnerable asylum seekers who could be forcibly deported.
We join our voices with The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants - you can sign their form here: jointcouncilforthewelfareofimmigrants.beaconforms.com/form/ee3d4d40 You can also sign up with the Refugee Council at act.refugeecouncil.org.uk/campaign/join-campaign-fair-and-humane-asylum-system Together with Refugees is a coalition of charities and has a Fair Begins Here campaign. Many other charities and human rights groups are also working to help those faced with deportation notices. Our charity welcomes and supports refugees in Hertfordshire. To feel you are making a difference locally, get in touch with [email protected] - we would love to hear from you! |
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