D E R B Y RE F U G E E FO R U M & D E R BY R E F U G E E ADVICE CENTRE

Transcription

1 Page 1 D E R B Y RE F U G E E FO R U M & D E R BY R E F U G E E ADVICE CENTRE Inside report C H A I R S R E P O R T M R S. J OA N S T A N N A R D Working Together 2 Donations/Tutors 2 Finances 3 DRAC Statistics 4 Mission / 5 Thanks also to Sarah, Helen and Maureen who continue to run our outstanding English course which is so popular with those who cannot access Derby City funded groups. It is amazing how rapidly progress in made. Thanks also to those who have cared for the children to enable parents to attend. Case Study 5 Volunteer Profiles Awareness Raising Donations/ Funding Bids Key Roles & Tasks Thanks Priorities for the Future of the Refugee Forum Training Networking Widen knowledge of DRAC to enable a greater number of asylum seekers to access services Funding English classes Working in community to advance understanding of asylum seekers and refugees Support City of Sanctuary in Derby City Develop opportunities for asylum seekers to become involved in volunteer projects and workshops Chairperson s Report has been another year of blessings, celebrations, disappointments, frustrations, but above all one of determination and commitment of many people to bring justice and much needed support, a little hope and comfort to asylum seekers and refugees. Several of our clients have been granted leave to remain. It is often in these early days of settlement when additional help is needed to access work, benefits, find housing and furniture, get set up with utilities etc. It is also at this point we often need to give food as there is a delay period between benefits when they are destitute. Derby has accepted a great number of asylum seekers this year and this has been reflected in our numbers of new clients and increase in numbers seen each day we are open. For the size of the city, we have more asylum seekers than Nottingham and other cities. It has become clear over the four years that I have worked at DRAC how important it is to support the health and wellbeing of our clients and to help them to integrate into society. It is not merely enough to make sure that they are linked to a doctor, education, and solicitor and have food to eat. Many have suffered bad experiences; have worries about family left behind, lost en-route, or children in refugee camps or with another parent or grandparent or family in war zones. There is plenty of time to think- for thoughts to buzz around and fears to expand. It is with this in mind that the welcome in our lovely new centre encourages a shared cup of tea, a chat and watching T.V. together. This gives opportunity to meet others and build friendships. We have also, through the hard work of our administrator, Hannah, put on courses such as First Aid, photography, creative writing, C.V writing etc. All the contributors have given these workshops without charge for which we are grateful. They have been much appreciated, build self-esteem and help with employment in the future. It also provides evidence for the courts that asylum seekers are beginning to engage in the community. One of our aims over the past two years has been for Derby to become a City of Sanctuary. This June, during Refugee Week, saw the launch of this great organisation. We wish to promote ourselves as a welcoming city. Response to this venture has been very positive. Do visit the website at to see how you can become involved and what is going on. We are sorry to have a few volunteers leave us this year- Abraham, our Arabic translator, has been with us almost since the start of our project so it is strange without him and he will be missed. Jane and Tony have moved their houseboat down to Worcester so charities in that area are now benefiting! Congratulations to Muna who now has leave to remain and has a job. Thank you so much to these and all our volunteers who give so much time. We are so fortunate to have new recruits who have been amazing in filling these gaps. There is still an enormous amount of work to be done in the future with continued unrest and injustice in the world!

2 ANNUAL REPORT 2013/2014 Page 2 W O R K I N G T O G E T H E R Derby Bosnia Herzegovina Community Association Thank you to Ferid Kevric for all his hard work and the Bosnia Herzegovina Community for allowing us to use their premises and enabling our work to take place at the centre. It is a great working partnership which has benefited us all. Refugee Action It is with great sadness that I report that Refugee Action lost out on Government contracts for several basic services for the Home Offices. We miss their advice and face to face client support terribly. We wish them well in the future and hope that they will be able to expand again filling in gaps the current providers have left. British Red Cross Perishable foodstuffs continue to be delivered from surplus supplies at COSTCO by the Red Cross volunteers. This is much appreciated by asylum seekers and the cakes go down well with a cup of coffee! A First Aid course has also been delivered to volunteers and clients. They have also given fares for travel to many clients enabling visitors to solicitors etc. City of Sanctuary DRAC has signed up to support the City of Sanctuary project. Several volunteers and clients attended the launch in June at Riverside, Pride Park. Thanks to Lakeland and Rose & Crown Morley for supporting our Christmas raffle. Thanks to Quad and Nandos for providing prizes for our Short Story competition. Thanks to all our volunteer workshop tutors who gave their time and shared their skills free of charge. They offered a professional and inspiring example: Albert Biete (HIV Awareness), British Red Cross (First Aid), Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (Living Landscapes / Presentation Skills), Russell Pollard (Photography), Disability Employment Project (CV & Careers) and Gill Spendlove (Creative Writing). Above: Creative Writing tutor, Gill Spendlove, with some extremely talented students.

3 ANNUAL REPORT 2013/2014 Page 3 F I NA N C E S / Income 2013 Unrestr. Restr. Total Grants Donations TOTAL Expenditure: 1083 Office Cost Salaries & Assoc c Rent & Room Hire Training - Interpr Destitute Cost Manag, vol. cost Equipment Cost Sundry TOTAL Year movement Start of period Transfer between Carried Forward Assets and Liabilities 7657 Bank Cash Total assets Net Assets 6442 Derby Refugee Forum continues to be supported by a great team of volunteers who give freely of their time for no financial reward. Churches and individuals donate food items, toiletries and cash which can be used for purchasing essential food items at the same level to the previous period. We had no problem managing our business and our account. On behalf of all our clients, and Management Committee thank you for the support that has been given us over the last twelve months from Lloyds TSB, Awards for All, Yapp Charitable Trust, G4S, Derbyshire Community Foundation and the Red Cross. I would like to thank to all volunteers from DRAC for again organising fundraising activities and appeals and providing continuous support from individuals and Churches over the past year. Throughout the year, the finances were always a hot item for me and sometimes I had no time to put it as an agenda item at Management Committee meetings. How to raise some money? How to spend money? How to keep the project running whilst balancing income, expenditure and future plans for funding? We have got the Partnership Agreement and funding from Big Lottery Fund s Reaching Communities starting on 1st September for 5 years which gives to us sustainability and stability for the year to come. Combining Project include fundraising as a match funding, so we have to carry on with Project DCCG, for another 3 years. Note 1: Funding sources - Awards For All 5788 (started in May) for one year - Lloyds TSB 4000 (3rd install0-end December Yapp Charitable Trust 3000 (1st installment) - G4S Funding 2000 (one off payment) - Derbyshire Comm. Fun d 1300 (one off payment) - Fundraising-donations 5481 (in line) with prev.) Thanks to the Management Committee of the Derby Bosnia Herzegovina Community Association for their generosity, providing us through the years with free copying, free paper, free toners for printers and faxes, free internet connections and room for additional activities. Also, they have not asked for a rent increase since 2002.

4 ANNUAL REPORT 2013/2014 Page 4 Statistics Asylum applications in the UK (excluding dependents) , , , , ,843 Visits this period 1839 Clients seen this period 325 New clients this period 203 Total clients since start 2428 Total visits since start Number of days open 101 Average clients per day Maximum number of clients per day 35

5 ANNUAL REPORT 2013/2014 Page 5 Mission and objectives in To relieve the needs of refugees and people seeking asylum in Derby and to advance them in life. To assist them in adapting to life in their new communities, in particular by providing advice, practical assistance and liaising with other organisations that can help fulfil such purposes. 2. To advance the education of the public in general about issues concerning refugees and those seeking asylum. 3. To stay open two days each week throughout the year to offer support through our team of volunteers. 4. To provide English classes to those unable to access education in other institutions. 5. To improve he health and wellbeing of asylum seekers by extending opportunities for training, volunteering and social integration. Photo top left: Derbyshire Wildlife Trust gave a talk on the county s wildlife and history clients loved it! Photo top right: Risk Assessment training. Clients, volunteers and staff worked together and gained certificates. Photo left: Creative Writing Group composing ideas and reading aloud - a sparkling workshop of meditation and creativity! Activities and workshops planned for the coming year include: Regular Health and Wellbeing checks, First Aid, a Nature & Fitness Walk, Calligraphy and Handwriting (to help those adjusting to a new alphabet, plus an artistic craft for others), Community Gardening, a Transgender Awareness Talk, an Art Workshop, plus more Creative Writing and Photography. Case Study Anonymous In Ethiopia, life was very difficult. I was tortured. My father is still being detained over there. The government was brutal. Families were chased. In Derby I ve found life very interesting. Dealing with the Home Office can be very depressing but I do owe a big thank you to NASS for their support, enabling us to have some money and food. Dealing with caseworkers and immigration officers can be tiring and difficult. Many people here think that people are coming to England for economic reasons, not because of the threat to us in our own country. Derby Refugee Advice Centre understands the bureaucracy and realise how frustrating the process is with all the delays. They helped with translation and telephone calls. It s also great that they offer courses at DRAC, subjects like Creative Writing and First Aid. I also went on to do volunteering at a charity in Derby. I m proud of the British Court and how they understood my evidence, although I had been detained twice, ready to be deported. Thanks to my solicitors too that I have now been accepted. I hope to study engineering and management at a University. I m really grateful to DRAC for all their help. They re such nice, good people.

6 ANNUAL REPORT 2013/2014 Page 6 Helen Volunteers Volunteers I started volunteering at DRAC at the beginning of this year, assisting Sarah in her English classes. Sarah has been so welcoming and friendly, ensuring I was comfortable with and informed about what we were doing each week, and introducing me to the staff and work of the Centre in general. More recently I was encouraged by Joan to assist in supporting clients and I ve had great support from all volunteers in helping me to learn the ropes. I have been so grateful to everyone for giving their time to help me through this induction period, with Sally and Hannah especially patient in supporting me. The volunteers here are a wonderful group of people and have been inspirational to work alongside. Wahbalbari My experience as a volunteer at Derby Refugee Advice Centre is very inspiring. I do interpretation from/to Arabic and to/from English for refugees and asylum seekers. What I have learned from volunteering is to help people without expectation and contribute to the community. Also, volunteering enhances the spirit over the material and minimizes the materialistic dimension in people's life. Elliot Although I have only been volunteering at the Derby Refugee Advice Centre for a few weeks I already consider myself part of the team and was made to feel welcome from my very first day. In my brief time as an advisor I have learnt so much in such a short period of time and I am thoroughly enjoying working with asylum seekers and refugees to help solve their problems, however big or small. The Derby Refugee Advice Centre is a place where asylum seekers and refugees in Derby can feel at home and a place they can turn to when in need. Without such organisations it is unclear how many of these people would be able to overcome the various obstacles they face when coming to the UK. I am proud to be part of this team and look forward to learning much more in my role as an advisor. Awareness Raising Joan Stannard spoke to Chellaston Ecumenical Group and St George s Catholic Church, Derby Maureen Pridden gave a talk to the Men s Group at Sinfin Moor Church, Arleston Lane, Sinfin Janet Fuller liaised with Wirksworth Amnesty

7 ANNUAL REPORT 2013/2014 Page 7 Donations and Funding Bids Thanks to successful funding bids and donations from various churches and individuals we have been able to continue our work. Lloyds TSB funding continued to pay for our administrator which has enabled us to expand services offered, including the workshops which have taken place each month. Derby Community Foundation funds provide some of our basic food for the destitute. YAPP Charitable Trust has donated funds for rent and some basic running costs. This is a two year pot of money and we have just secured the second advance following returns of financial statements. St. John s Methodist Church, along with students from Derby University donated some lovely Christmas gifts for clients. The people of Wirksworth and many churches in Derby and surrounding areas have donated goods at Harvest time and throughout the year. Individuals and parishes have also donated funds which are the mainstay of our financial security. Donations have been received following talks to various groups. Derby City Council continues to offer some funding, though this has had to be greatly reduced this year. They value our work and do their best to support it. Thanks to those who have donated and helped to move furniture, including the YMCA. Without each of these funding streams and support, our work could not continue. A GREAT BIG THANK YOU! We will commit ourselves to continuing our support for all those asylum seekers and refugees who find themselves in difficulties regardless of their background, religion, sexual orientation etc. Provision of food and fares to reporting centres, appeals etc Providing food parcels for the destitute and additional food for all clients is a major part of our work. Clothing is found for those in need. Train or bus fares are given where vouchers have not been sent in time by the Immigration Services or when clients have no entitlement to this. Below: Photography Workshop Above: Sarah s English class is enjoyed by students every Tuesday and Thursday during term times

8 ANNUAL REPORT 2013/2014 Page 8 Address: 99 Curzon Street Derby DE1 1LN Tel. Number: Fax: Number: address: drac2@hotmail.co.uk Our Charity number is Derby Refugee Forum & Derby Refugee Advice Centre Thanks to Volunteers Ann Abraham Wahbalbari Amir Ann Bain Sally Bramson David Callow Adama Djalo Elliot Emery Joan Foster Janet Fuller Laura Hearn Rosemary Hollingworth James Maureen Kelly Ferid Kevric Helen Knott Maahi Soran Qadir Mohammad Christy Ottewell Moira Phelan Chris Pridden Maureen Pridden Jane Robinson Tony Robinson Nasreen Samavi Margaret Smith Hannah Stirland Joan Stannard Terry Thompson Erna Tricic Sarah Wall Ann Watts Anne Wigley The Derby Refugee Forum was formally setup in 2002 by resident and refugee & asylum seeking communities. The organisation takes a multi-agency approach towards developing its services for the Community. The Refugee Advice Centre project was setup in 2003 as the result of a Research Project, and registered as a Charity in Signposting Key Roles and Tasks We signpost and make appointments for clients with relevant agencies: health, education, solicitors for immigration matters and Refugee Action for advice on claiming benefits. On being given indefinite leave to remain, support is given for access to work, job seekers allowance and housing issues. Advocacy Support is given in contacting immigration authorities, faxing details for cases and writing letters to query details with the Home Office, Loughborough Reporting Centre, police etc. Letters received by clients are read and explained, often with the help of an interpreter. Capacity Building We aim to give our clients the skills to become independent from us. Clients can make calls with us on hand to support and help them through the initial stream of automated responses at call centres. From September 2011 weekly English classes during term time, targeting those who have been here for less than 6 months and therefore have no access to ESOL. Courses provided have included First Aid, Child Protection, Risk Assessment, Health & Safety, Creative Writing, Photography, CV & Careers, Derbyshire Wildlife and Presentation Skills. These aid social integration, and build confidence, preparing them for the workplace and enabling them to share these skills with others. We plan to explore opportunities to help carers and victims of torture and abuse. Management Committee Joan Stannard chair Ferid Kevric treasurer Zbigniev Wojcik Ann Watts Kelly Kittenge Nassir Hayat Maureen Priddin Saloemah Ghavami Rosemary Hollingworth David Callow Thanks to : Thanks for the very generous donations from the churches and individuals in money and kind. Thanks also to Costco store and British Red Cross. We would not be able to maintain this service without them. Sadly, the weekly food bag is small, but it is comparable to that offered by other cities which we have read about. Muna Younis