August was a challenging month for the Refugee Project’s clients as a result of the riots which took place at the beginning of the month. In the week of the riots, the project was very quiet as many clients were too frightened to venture out and those clients staying in hotels were requested to stay inside for their own safety. Working with the police and Diocesan safeguarding team, the Refugee Project was able to remain open as usual and volunteers were able to provide support and reassurance to those clients who came in.
We would like to thank all those who visited the project and sent emails to demonstrate solidarity with our clients. The project was busy again the following week and we were able to provide our usual services. Thank you to everyone who donates to us and to all our volunteers who allow us to continue to support those seeking sanctuary in our community.
In response to the riots, Bishop Paul McAleenan, the Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, commented, ‘Today and always, we need to continue to pray, work and stand together for peace in our country. The actions of the few involved in violence stands in stark contrast to the work of charities, church groups and volunteers who tirelessly extend the hand of welcome to migrants in acts of solidarity.’ It is not possible to quantify the value of the warm welcome, the kindness and the reassurance which is provided by our staff and volunteers to those we serve and in recent weeks many clients have expressed their appreciation that people do care about them and their situation.
We currently welcome many clients with children and young babies to the project and, during the summer holidays, there is an increase in numbers of children visiting. The SVP provide a range of activities to entertain the children, such as a sand pit, play area and a range of toys, which are very much enjoyed. In addition to providing food, toiletries and good quality second hand clothing, the project is also able to provide babies with formula milk and nappies.
Azad, our Project Co-ordinator, is continuing to make links and signpost clients to other services that will be of benefit to them. In recent weeks, several adults and children have been supported with bicycles through the Recyke charity. A meeting has also taken place with the Glasshouse International Centre for Music to explore opportunities for engaging our clients who are interested in music.
We continue to rely on the generosity of individuals and parishes for donations for which we are incredibly grateful. Items most urgently needed can be found here. As we continue to support more than 500 clients and their families each month, financial support for our work is also essential. Details of our bank account (DHN Justice & Peace Refugee Project) can be found on our webpage. Please consider Gift-Aiding your donation, if possible, it makes a big difference. You can download and submit a Gift-Aid Declaration form for a single or multiple donation. Visit our Donate and Gift Aid page now.
For more details about our work and how you can assist, please contact our Project Co-ordinator by email: jp.refugeeproject@diocesehn.org.uk or visit our webpage.