Here volunteer Pete tells his story:

"I was introduced to HWR by an Iranian friend (not a refugee) who, in the course of describing the dire situation in her native country, mentioned that there were Iranian and other asylum-seekers at a local hotel and that an organisation, Herts Welcomes Refugees, was helping them.

Being appalled both by the plight of people fleeing their homes in desperation and the negative coverage in Parliament and the press of those arriving in the UK, I joined immediately. Having taught EFL overseas, albeit many years ago, it was natural for me to slip into an ESOL role, notwithstanding the very different circumstances and needs of those we support as compared to my students of long ago. Despite having a (post-EFL) career which I loved -doing academic research involving people with learning disabilities – my work as part of HWR is by far the most rewarding activity I have ever done. An example illustrates why.

Arriving at the hotel one day, I was asked to take an ESOL session with a recently-arrived couple (co-incidentally Iranian) who were beginners. Not having any prior experience of teaching at this level and with no appropriate material prepared, I gave the most boring, repetitive, uninspiring session possible. At the end, just as I was wishing I could speak Farsi so I could apologise and promise to have something prepared and more engaging next time, the husband smiled broadly, shook my hand and then gave me such a huge appreciative hug that I nearly burst into tears! It was just one of so many beautiful moments I have been lucky enough to experience with both residents and co-volunteers. 

Little vignettes like the one described show that, whilst we may give a little of ourselves to the people we support, they actually give back far more - in warmth, humility and (sometimes unwarranted!) appreciation. A heartfelt thanks, therefore, to my fabulous ESOL group learners, and to others who always brighten my day with smiles and friendly chat. I am grateful to you all!"
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Thanks Pete, we are so grateful for your commitment to the refugees you support.

We were delighted to hear from our volunteer Lorna, who tells us:

"My first experience of volunteering with HWR was helping at the monthly social lunches for Syrian refugees in Hitchin/Letchworth in 2017. Since then, I have used my experience as a secondary English teacher to help two secondary age Syrians with their English work, practised English conversation with one of their mothers and am now giving English support to another Syrian couple who moved to the area more recently. Once a week I also help at the HWR homework club in Hitchin.

I am inspired to volunteer because I can see that there is a great need for support and believe it is vital for people settling here to learn the language. I enjoy being able to use my teaching experience, now that I am retired. Alongside this, I dislike government policy towards refugees and the frequent negative press coverage, so as an individual I want to do something to counteract this.

From volunteering I have learnt more about how the system for asylum seekers and refugees works.

Meeting people face to face has also allowed me to learn more about other cultures and languages, and most importantly it has reinforced my feeling that asylum seekers and refugees are people just like us.

At first I was using Zoom to give English language support, as this was during the pandemic, and this created some difficulties, as I was unfamiliar with it. Nevertheless, it has been good to try to upskill myself on how to teach remotely and I think I have learnt quite a lot. Finding ways to overcome the language barrier is a challenge, which I enjoy.

In every interaction with those I have worked with there have been many moments, which have made this volunteering experience worthwhile – too many to mention. Overall, it is life-enhancing to get to know lovely people."

Thank you Lorna, we so appreciate your reflections on volunteering, and all that you do for Herts Welcomes Refugees!

Our volunteers Kathie and Veronica talk about what motivates them to volunteer with Herts Welcomes Refugees, in these clips taken from this video by North Herts Council's made when Veronica was given the Local Hero award in the Caring category.   So inspiring!

We were intrigued to find out a bit more about Lucile Bertolaso-Scarlett, our new Safeguarding Lead, so our social media coordinator Helen interviewed her below.
 
Lucile talks about her background, outlook, what brought her to volunteer with Herts Welcomes Refugees and the importance of safeguarding:


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I see from your website that you are an architectural designer.  What does this involve and what are your main interests in these areas? 
I have practised architecture for about ten years now. I design buildings, collaborate with engineers, liaise with clients and planners to develop schemes that contribute to the urbanscape as sustainably as possible given all the stakeholders.

What projects have you worked on?  
The projects I have worked on in this current role have been data centres exclusively. Coming from Belgium, my degree in architecture was not recognised as equivalent to the Architects Registration Board approved degree. For that reason, I decided to study again part-time in London, and although it was a real challenge, being a full-time mum and employee, I loved it. I enjoyed exploring my creativity, analysing case studies and exchanging with other students and tutors. So much so that I'm planning on studying some more soon! And unexpectedly, all this work led to an award for my final project!​

I see you studied in Brussels so is your first language French? I wondered whether this has given you a different perspective on living and working in different countries?  
Well, I was born in Belgium, to a British dad and French mum. I grew up in a bilingual family and had friends from all over Europe. I was exposed to many European cultures. I have never really felt like a country was home. I have come to realise that people, friends and family, make my home. To this day, I feel European more than anything. I would say my perspective on living and working in new countries is different to those who have never left home or never spoken a different language.
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Your profile lists your interests as architecture, nature, food and travelling.  Do say a little bit more about these! 
I grew up in a family where we show love with food and making things for the people we care about. Art and food equally can make your soul travel. My dad is a jazz saxophonist, his sisters are singers, his mum was a professional singer in London. My mother is a multifaceted maker, making clothes, paintings, and growing food in the garden, making her own bread. Her dad is also a maker, he built his home, his furniture! So I'm the fruit of all this, and so much more. The idea of making things, sharing them, transmitting to the next generation, all of this is important to me. I love the saying "Make Art, Not War".
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What led you to volunteer with Herts Welcomes Refugees?  Is there a particular motivating factor? 
Volunteering with HWR was a coincidence. Ruhena (our Volunteer Coordinator), who lives in my village, advertised for the role. I have always felt strongly about justice and protection of the most vulnerable. I have volunteered before, in orphanages abroad and in youth clubs here. My mother-in- law has a project called Protect the Girl Child, which is one of the many initiatives her charity, the WILDE Foundation, leads. I have more recently heard stories about cases of abuse or violence, that have deeply affected the victims, and that have not been addressed with the seriousness and care they should have received. All of the knowledge I gain from these experiences, these stories, has motivated me to take on the Safeguarding Lead role.
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How do you think Herts Welcomes Refugees can best support asylum seekers and refugees and its volunteers?  
Giving care, respect and help where needed is essential. I think we need to speak with asylum seekers and refugees and ask them how we can best support them. We need to acknowledge our privilege, at many levels, and listen listen listen to their stories and what their needs might be now, in their current situations.
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​Can you say a little bit about the importance of safeguarding, both from the view of the volunteers and our refugee partners? 
Safeguarding is key to preventing any harm from happening to anyone. It is essential to keep safeguarding measures in mind when working, and especially when people who are more vulnerable are involved. By vulnerable in this case I mean that all the things that refugees and asylum seekers will experience, like differences in language and culture, the stress of change, their temporary status and very likely a recent traumatic past, will result in more sensitive situations.  Volunteers are as much at risk as anyone and should make sure they take precautions to keep safe. Some incidents will be small, others will be obvious, all should be taken seriously. A series of small incidents can indicate the tip of an iceberg. The safeguarding team, alongside all other volunteers should be aware of things to look out for. That's why we should and will regularly talk about safeguarding, review the policy, and train volunteers, for the safety of all.

Thank you Lucile, we are so pleased that you are part of the Herts Welcomes Refugees team!

​Paulina thoroughly enjoys being a volunteer with Herts Welcomes Refugees. She is originally from the Netherlands, so has some experience of what it’s like to live in a different country from where she was born. In her working life, she teaches ESOL and English Academic Skills in Hertfordshire.

Here Paulina talks about the impact of volunteering and how the time spent with local asylum seekers benefits volunteers too.

“Everything we do contributes to emotional and wellbeing support, me giving a friendly smile or a thumbs up to some of the learners in class when they get the correct answers, the learners agreeing with each other when one person is describing a familiar situation, sharing knowledge of local towns, group work in class, sharing familiar words in different languages, … the list goes on. 

And don’t forget the happiness they give us in return when they smile after their lesson saying how happy they were with the materials we covered in class.  I absolutely love spending my time with everyone from the hostel.”

Thank you, Paulina, for sharing this positive view of the impact of volunteering and how it helps both the refugees you teach and what they give in return.

​In Befriending Week we hear from our volunteer Jale who speaks so compassionately:

"I come from Turkey. I studied Journalism and Public Relations at a university in Istanbul. I was working for a Turkish daily newspaper and decided to learn  English in England. While I was student in London I met David, my husband. When we got married we decided to live in England because of his job and also he had his own house. We have a daughter who lives with her partner and recently they had a baby, I am a grandma now, so happy😊.     
                                                  
Living in a different country, even if you have chosen to, is so hard. I feel so much for people who had to leave their homeland.  
 
I support two Afghan families, they are wonderful families and I am so glad I met them. I love helping them and giving them support, seeing them become happier and healthier as they settle into life in this country."

Thank you to Jale and all our befrienders.  Herts Welcomes Refugees couldn't function without you!

We were recently delighted to catch up with Janet who you can see interviewed above.
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Janet, originally from Yorkshire, returned last year from working in China for 14 years and was keen to volunteer, and a friend told her about Herts Welcomes Refugees.  Below she tells us how she set up English classes for children in a hotel in North Hertfordshire, what motivates her to volunteer and how she has found volunteering with Herts Welcomes Refugees.

What is your background?
I lived in Yorkshire with my husband and family and moved to China about 15 years ago.  I am a teacher and taught in China for 14 years.  I taught Kindergarten (reception) aged children.  Mostly Chinese children but also other nationalities.
How did you hear about Herts Welcomes Refugees?
When I returned to England a year ago, I had a desire to help in the community maybe by volunteering in a school.  When I mentioned this to my friend at church. She recommended I talk to another friend who was already volunteering for HWR.  We chatted with her and she explained a little about the charity and what was required in the local hotels and I thought I would be able to help.
What does your volunteering involve?
After the induction with the charity, I was able to go into the hotel and set up an “English class”. It involved teaching the children who are in the hotels and not yet in school.  I helped with language and the skills required for school. It involved preparing lessons for the children, including songs, activities, videos, vocabulary exercises, games.  We were able to get kind assistance from a local charity shop who donated notebooks, crayons, pencils and books for the refugees.  We set up a library so they could take a book one week and return it the next week.  Next term I would like to set up an after-school club with the help of other volunteers.
What do you like about volunteering with Herts Welcomes?
I try to put myself in their shoes and help if I can in some small way.  It is always fun to be with children and see them excited and gain confidence especially when they have come to a new country and had a very unsettling experience.  It motivates me to want to help in the community.  By working with HWR it also gave me a support system around me as I volunteered rather than just trying to do something on my own.  The charity provides a safeguard and a team that I can turn to at any time.
What support do you get from Herts Welcomes Refugees?
I have received support from the charity every step of the way.  Whether it be from emails of information, or posters, or actual physical attendance at the classes. My Area Convenor Veronica supported me every week with the library we set up for the children. 
I would recommend to anyone to volunteer with Herts Welcomes Refugees.
 
Thank you Janet, it has been lovely talking to you and we are so pleased you are able to help local asylum seekers in this way.