Hope is a powerful and essential human need. Local community groups give hope that we can all continue to feel part of a thriving local community.
We are lucky to have great volunteers in the area who support people arriving from overseas to feel welcome, settled and valued. In this area, Harrogate and Knaresborough District of Sanctuary supports refugees and asylum seekers mainly from Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine. They said:
“The charity was founded in 2016 when the first families from Syria were resettled here. Since then we have welcomed many families from Afghanistan and at one point there were as many as 350 Ukrainians here under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Many of our families have been placed here under government resettlement schemes. For example, our Afghan families have been evacuated from the country because they worked for the British and were consequently in great danger once the Taliban came to power.
“One of our chief aims is to assist in the integration of refugees into the local society and economy. Language acquisition is of course key to integration so we support English at Home lessons for those not able to attend college – for example for women with pre-school age children – and we fund English classes for Ukrainians. To encourage confidence in speaking we support small group activities such as sewing where participants can practise their English while enjoying a social occasion.
“Many of our refugees have come here with valuable skills to share and we are very pleased to support and encourage entrepreneurial ventures such as the Afghan Kitchen, a pop-up restaurant run by an enterprising Afghan lady, which is very successful, much enjoyed by all who attend and an opportunity too to offer work to fellow refugees.
“Once we know of a new family, we offer them a ‘befriender’ volunteer, who will help with practicalities, advise on all sorts of issues and stay in contact on a regular basis. We also encourage families to befriend each other and this is successful because established families accustomed to life here are attuned to the needs of others, having been through it. Sometimes we arrange social events to bring the families together and these are always much enjoyed.
“We are always happy to welcome new volunteers. If you are interested in joining us, please contact us on info@harrogatedistrict.cityofsanctuary.org”
Slightly further afield, Migration Yorkshire arrange an annual Integration Festival, a free family friendly event celebrating the positive impact made by migrants and refugees in Yorkshire and Humber, showcasing the diverse range of cultures and customs that make our region a special place to live. This year’s festival takes place on Sat 21 September at the Piece Hall, Halifax between 10am – 6pm. Entry is free and it promises to be a great day out!
