How can we help refugees? A brief guide (updated February 2019)
‘Overall the best way to help a newly arrived refugee is to befriend them. Many will have lost friends and family before arriving here. Rather than being ‘helped’, socialising can really help a refugee move on from what they’ve lost and rebuild their lives in their new country.’ (Refugee Action)
1.Prayer. You can pray at home, while travelling, at work, in a church, as you are walking along. You can find prayers on a handout in all the pews of the church and also in the Social Justice Forum Handouts, number 1 – 7.
2. Being informed. There is basic information in the Social Justice Forum handouts, numbers 1-7 plus details of many relevant web sites.
3. Helping or supporting three charities with whom St Anne’s has direct contact.
i – Breaking Barriers helps refugees to prepare for and secure employment. If you are interested in learning more. you can find out about their work and ways in which you could help at breaking-barriers.co.uk.
ii – CARAS caras.org.uk – Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers –is based in Tooting and provides community activities and language lessons, as well as general support, mainly to women and young people in south west London.
iii – Safe Passage safepassage.org.uk. Helps young people come safely and legally to the UK.
If you would like to help or support any of these charities in any way, please contact the Parish Office who will put you in touch with someone who is actively involved.
4. Supporting Refugees Welcome in Richmond. www.refugeeswelcomeinrichmond.org. This borough wide initiative has found (with difficulty) four properties in the private rented sector for Syrian refugees coming to the UK under the Government’s Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme and then helping and supporting the households. Their goal is to find fifty properties in total. Help is always welcome. Please contact the Parish Office with any questions.
5. Teaching English locally. www.leah.org.uk LEAH (Learning English At Home), telephone 020 8255 6144 is a local organisation. Volunteers receive training and need to make a weekly commitment for a minimum of one year.
6. Refugee Action in Kingston. www.refugeeactionkingston.org.uk. This local charity is active in helping and advising refugees and asylum seekers in Kingston and is often looking for volunteers and support.
7. Giving money. All charities, large and small, helping refugees here and abroad, welcome our support. Social Justice Forum handouts have details of many of these. .
