As we move into August, the Refugee Project continues to be busy, with 500 individual clients and families using our services. There were 70 new registrations in May and June, with many clients from Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq. During this time, over 2000 food bags and additional food items were distributed, with an approximate value of £21, 000. Your continued donations of food, toiletries and finance are needed more than ever and we really do appreciate all your donations.
The Refugee Project continues to build connections with schools locally. Following a visit from a group from St Mary’s Comprehensive School in Longbenton recently, Azad, our Project Co-ordinator, was very pleased to receive a letter from one of the students about the impact the visit had had on her.
“It was so lovely to be able to visit the Refugee Project today to learn about what our donations and fundraising in school actually goes towards. Meeting the volunteers and seeing clients at the project felt really important to understand why we need to support them, what difficulties they experience and the importance of connecting with other people personally.
“A key bit of the trip that stood out to me was when a volunteer asked a client where they were from, and from that figured out what sort of food items he’d want because of what is usually eaten in his culture, because it reminded me that each asylum seeker has a background and culture that they’ve had to leave.
“Thank you so much for the opportunity to visit the project, and working with asylum seekers is definitely something I will consider doing in the future.”
We are aware at the Project of the importance of our clients gaining the ability to speak English to help them to integrate into their new communities. Currently clients have access to ESOL lessons through the SVP and English conversation classes offered by our volunteers.
Recently, one of our clients from Albania expressed how much she valued these lessons. She wrote;
“I am very thankful for the support with learning the English language.
“Thanks to your practice, kindness and dedication, I have gained more confidence and improved my ability to communicate and integrate into the community.
Thank you, for your help means a lot to me.”
We are grateful to the parishioners of St John of Beverley’s Church, in Haydon Bridge, who have once again approached the project to organise an Away Day in their church hall & grounds in August for a group of our clients, predominantly families with children. Around 40 clients will spend the day in the grounds, be offered lunch and provided with enjoyable activities. We are very grateful to the parishioners for organising these activities and providing our clients with the opportunity to have a break from the pressures of their daily lives. We are also grateful to the SVP who have opened their summer families’ programme to clients from the project, so they can access activities and day trips.
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. We receive donations of food on Mondays between 10.30am and 1.30pm. Please remember that the project will not be open on Monday, 31st August as this is a bank holiday.
We continue to rely on the generosity of individuals and parishes for donations for which we are incredibly grateful. We are thankful for and continue to rely on your generous financial support for our work. Details of our bank account (DHN Justice & Peace Refugee Project) can be found on our webpage. Please consider Gift-Aiding – a Gift Aid Declaration form is available here
For more details about our work and how you can assist, please contact our Project Co-ordinator at jp.refugeeproject@diocesehn.org.uk
