Loughborough Town of Sanctuary Spring NEWSLETTER.

This is our first newsletter of the new year and we apologise for the delay, but as you will see, we have been just a tad busy!

So much has been achieved and so many challenges tackled with determination. Our audience has expanded, as has our collaboration with other local organisations. There have been smiles, laughter, tears of frustration, times of celebration and moments of profound disappointment bordering on despair – but overall, we know that what we are doing is very much needed – and we need to keep reminding ourselves that we can only do our best.

Our original ‘meeting and greeting’ outside the immigration office continues amid deep concerns about the ever longer journeys people are being asked to undertake in order to sign on (recently from Hemel Hempstead and Chesterfield!). Frequent changes are made to the rules and procedures, causing confusion even to some of the experienced support teams who accompany those reporting. These sometimes lead to tough decisions being made seemingly on spurious grounds. Needless to say, this can be very distressing for our welcome teams, not to mention of course, those directly affected. Taxis funded by the Home Office now seem to be replacing bus tickets, causing traffic problems and inconvenience to local residents.

In addition to this original work, so many needs seem to be arising among our local asylum-seeking community, which we are attempting to meet. There has been so much to do and there is so much more we hope to do, but key to all this has been our networking with so many local groups and organisations, among them: John Storer Charnwood, Fearon Hall, Equality Action, Healthwatch Leic, Grub Club, The Wardrobe-community, Loughborough Leisure Centre, URC church, Salvation Army, Loughborough, Kegworth and Quorn Volunteers , Baca ,Care4Calais, Migrant Help , Cupboard on the Corner, Community Pantry and The Flagstaff Family of Churches in Ashby and surrounding villages.

In order to co-ordinate this networking, Anne Nelson and Mo are representing LTOS at the recently formed Charnwood Asylum Seekers and Refugees Network (AS&R Network).

This Network began meeting in November 2023 to:

• map local services and ensure all were aware of each other;
• increase knowledge and support, and enable joining-up, partnering and joint working; and
• determine a strategy and plan of action based on priorities.

Members are drawn widely from the voluntary and statutory sectors (housing, home office, council, education, mental health and the voluntary sector)

Within LToS, much new work is emerging. Here are a few snapshots of our activity in recent months. Please forgive any omissions: there is SO much to say, and we are so very grateful for all that has been achieved with your help and support.

• There were lots of visitors to our Christmas tree in the parish church, especially it was located right next to the front entrance and the font.
• There are currently no women wanting to go swimming….but they are all very keen to go to the gym and we hope that we can get this sorted this out by the end of January.
• Much of our efforts this month have been helping several of our former residents negotiate next steps after being given their Leave to Remain. This is a minefield and we are currently compiling a list ‘Things we have learnt so far’ to help each of us, going forward. We are in touch with our local councillor Beverley Gray and so far are grateful for support from the Bridge, Exaireo Trust and the staff at Fearon Hall. A donated sleeping bag has been much appreciated as despite all our efforts, rough sleeping for at least a few days seems inevitable.
• We are working closely with the Schofield centre/Hub ..a few of our asylum seekers are volunteering there. We now do not collect clothes at the hotel but instead direct all donations, unless specifically requested. The Hub volunteers sort the clothes and display them on rails…very different from random piles in cages!!
• We are sourcing adult bikes again for the Cedars men. …and bike locks, helmets etc. We are not finding bikes at the family hotel. Too many safety issues.
• People are being moved on from the hotels, mainly into ‘hard to let’ housing in Leicester /Derby and Nottingham and also further afield. By definition, some of these properties are in a poor state of repair. It is proving difficult to establish ongoing connections or refer asylum seekers to support agencies near their new ‘homes’.

• English conversation sessions continue. Numbers are up again, so we have reverted to using the larger room at JSH – despite the higher cost. A good number of students from the University attend to support us, and these contacts between students and asylum-seekers seem to have started well. We have some ideas as to how we can develop them further into mutually beneficial relationships.
• Friendships are being forged at these English conversation sessions, across different ethnic groups with different first languages, including some ex-RJ residents now living in Leicester, but still studying in Loughborough. A great deal of support outside these sessions has also been offered, especially to those recently given Leave to Remain, as well as ‘moral support’ and friendship. We worry as to what extent this level of help is sustainable as numbers rise.

• Many thanks to the Yarn Angels at Baxtergate Baptist Church and other church groups for knitting and donating hats scarves and gloves which we are able to share with people reporting to the Immigration Office, asylum seekers and refugees at the hotels or those attending the English sessions.

• We have also encouraged all the asylum seekers to accept the regular hospitality offered at the URC Church by the ‘Wednesday Warm Welcome Club’ and the ‘Grub Club, who have also provided a wonderful New Year party for families. The enthusiastic welcome, delicious food, games and activities and companionship on offer have been enormously appreciated.
• Cupboard on the Corner- Community Pantry have teamed up with other locals in at the Bridge Inn to support those affected by recent floods and some of our asylum seeker friends who have been using the HUB and pantry have helped out, wanting to want to give back when they can.

• GCSE English and Maths support has been found for a year 11 student hoping to take her exams locally this year.

• The bike shed at the Cedars hotel is now complete, funded by LToS and built by volunteers and asylum seekers.

• The Flagstaff family of churches presented 6 boxes of gift wrapped Christmas presents for the children of asylum seekers at the Ramada Jarvis.

• Badley’s supermarkets (Rothley and Quorn) donated £200 to the Loughborough Town of Sanctuary as part of their Giveaways’ scheme to support local initiatives

MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH Loughborough Town of Sanctuary and here’s to a happy, healthy 2024 to all1

If you want to volunteer or find out more, please contact [email protected]

and if you have ever wondered about hosting a refugee, check out ‘Refugees at Home’

Homepage

This charity helps people to provide a short-term home for those given Leave to Remain and it would be invaluable for us to be able to signpost people to this organisation – but they currently have no hosts in our area.

It is organised in on a similar way to the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme but without government remuneration. It does however, attempt to match refugees with suitable hosts, oversee the process of settling in and provide back up and advice if any problems arise.

Here’s a quote from their website:

‘Opening your door to a stranger may seem daunting, but Refugees at Home is here to offer support along the way, and we can connect you to a large community of hosts able to offer their experience and advice.

Hosting can last for as little or as long as you’d like. You tell us who you can host, and how long for.’