SPRING NEWSLETTER
March 2024
Rain, sun, rain, rain and so it goes on. We are at the end of the wettest winter recorded. But in between the cloudbursts the birds are singing and building their nests. It is always a surprise each spring how quickly the first chicks fledge freeing up their busy parents to start all over again. Starting all over again is something we observe as families arrive in the area and begin to settle themselves. TWR supports the council provision by offering Befriending new arrivals if they wish to have extra assistance. The Resettlement Team have introduced several families from Afghanistan to us in recent months. There are now circles and semi-circles in place for those families that want help.
Many of the new families have become regulars at the bi-weekly English Conversation sessions. Quickly we find friendships being forged amongst the new arrivals. Our volunteers have been kept busy trying to gauge who needs what help. Some people arrive with little or no English, in which case we start with the My First 500 Words picture book. We ended up buying several second-hand books as the one copy we had was in hot demand! Some people arrive with good English and with them we can chat and communicate easily. Most people fall somewhere in between these extremes, and this is where the delicate art of pitching the conversation comes to the fore. Some people like to be stretched and corrected, but many just want to gain confidence in speaking. We lend books in the hope that they will be returned, but having just run a stock check, this clearly isn’t happening. We like to think that the books are being used and enjoyed as we dig into the charity coffers to replenish our resources again.
We have welcomed several newly-trained volunteers to our Conversation group. They are doing a great job and we believe that they are also all getting plenty out of the sessions themselves. As Mandy writes:-
I have been really enjoying volunteering at Coffee and Conversation. I have had conversations with a huge range of lovely and interesting guests from very varied backgrounds. The conversations have ranged from beginners basic questions and answers to complex discussions on politics and global issues. I never know what the week’s challenge will be!
I have learnt so much from the people I have spoken to. I have also enjoyed having my eyes opened to the complexities and idiosyncrasies of the English language!
The sessions are welcoming, friendly and warm with a good supply of drinks and biscuits.”
Stories
You may wonder how people get on building new lives locally. We thought we could tell you tales about some people. Here is the first one about a man, having first changed his name.
Ryad came to the UK and Somerset in 2017 as part of the governments Syrian Refugee resettlement scheme. He arrived in Taunton and very quickly began attending the weekly conversation group TWR were running in Taunton Library. At the time, Ryad was quite isolated in Taunton having no friends and contacts and this weekly opportunity to meet and share language learning quickly became a lifeline for him. At that time he spoke no English at all.
Through contact with this group we were able to directly support him to prepare for a job interview which we were allowed to attend with him. He got the job and has since been working on the recycling trucks collecting across Somerset which he has continued to do for over 7 years.
In the meantime with our help, Ryad managed to get his provisional driving licence and bought himself 2 mopeds so he could start a business delivering fast food in his evenings and weekends.
Fast forward 7 years and we find Ryad in January this year picking up the keys to the house he is buying. He managed to save a deposit for his house on his two jobs, get through the arduous mortgage process and finally move in. Over this period he has transformed his life and placed himself on a secure footing in the UK.
He can now hold lengthy conversations in English without the need for a translator.
He is now trying to improve his English sufficiently to get through the nationality (naturalisation process) and has plans to try to visit his mother in a neighbouring country to Syria in the next year or so.
Without the steady and ongoing support of TWR over these 7 years much of this story might well have worked out very differently.
Ukrainians living locally have expressed how relieved they are that the government has extended their temporary visas from the initial 3 years by another 18 months. This enables people to make longer-term plans, which is especially important for their children’s education. Although some people have returned to Ukraine, many are still unable to if their homes are in the wrong areas. Our Ukrainian English lessons continue to be well attended. Katya has a very full Level 1 class, but there are a few spaces available in the Level 2 classes which are held on Monday and Wednesday mornings 9.30 – 11am in the Quaker Meeting House in Taunton. If you know of anyone with a good basic grasp of English who might like to improve their skills please mention these classes to them and encourage them to give them a try. They are free!
Digital exclusion refers to the lack of technology resources and access for individuals who are unable to get online. Around the world 2.9 billion people are affected, mainly in developing countries. Here in the UK it is stated that approximately 9 million people (16% of adults) are unable to use the internet and associated devices independently. Various groups are affected including older individuals, people with disabilities and those on low incomes. Increasingly everyday processes such as accessing healthcare, shopping and banking are taking place in the digital world. Age UK is one charity helping older people. Other charities are working with different groups of people. Esther writes
We all know how important it is to have a decent mobile phone and the data necessary to access it. For the people we work with a phone is often the only way they can contact family and friends left behind. They are also vital for many aspects of finding their way in their new lives; banking, gathering information, applying for education and services and even homework from schools is set and completed online.
Some time ago we made an application to Migrant Help’s digital inclusion project and have since received a donation of mobile phones. They are also teamed up with the Good Things Foundation who are a national charity who help all those who are digitally excluded in an attempt to bridge the digital divide by providing devices, data and training.
Many thanks to both of these organisations!
Small helpful things we do……this week Y needed to adjust a pair of trousers. After Conversation, we set up a table with a sewing machine brought in especially for her use. She had spent several days preparing the work and had everything tacked in place so all that was required was to reset the zip and topstitch the waistband and sew up the hems. She sent this photo to her Mum as she thought she might be quite surprised at this image!
Can You Help?
We are in urgent need of a second training co-ordinator to work alongside Bozena. Primarily, we are looking for someone with organisational skills to help plan the training programmes and cover some of the administration. Ideally, we would also look for someone who could help present some of the modules, but we do have a team of presenters who can be called upon, so the co-ordinators do not have to lead all of the topics. However, all of the modules have detailed leaders notes/handouts etc. already prepared. We would expect to have a ‘shadowing’ and hand-over period, so that no-one is thrown in at the deep end!
We usually offer three two-day preparation courses during the year, plus additional refresher modules as needed.
If you feel you could help, please contact Lou on admin@tauntonwelcomesrefugees.co.uk
Here is some feedback that our volunteers have received, should you need any encouragement to join the training team:
Thank you to be very nice with us, sometimes we don’t appreciate. But I appreciate everthing and im very grateful. Keep your smile forever because you smile give light for many people ❤ Thank you
I just want to thank you so much for your weekly support both emotionally and physically and all the troubles you went through for me
Tell everyone that we love you all and we will never forget your kindness, we really had a great great time in TWR with you all it was the best memories for us
On March 21st it was Nurooz, the Persian New Year. Monir’s recipe for March is the popular Persian dish, Kuku Sabzi. This herb-filled frittata is often taken to the picnic on the 13th day of the New Year celebrations. If you have a lot of eggs, this is a straightforward dish to try cooking from the 2024 TWR calendar. January gave us Jamal’s Kurdish orange cake and February was Marwa’s Egyptian layered pastry recipe. A good start to the culinary year. April brings Amina’s roast chicken recipe spiced the Turkish way. Thanks to the 13 chefs who kindly donated recipes from home to fill this year’s calendar. It is always a lot of work, but also a lot of fun, collating the information for the calendar. The look of pride on everyone’s face when they receive their copy with their recipe is worth all the effort though. Do let us know if you have cooked any of the dishes. We love to have feedback.
Some dates for your diary
Volunteer social – Thursday 4th April. You should have all the details on the new WhatsApp group.
Refugee Week – The TWR event 22nd June, look out for various events happening across Taunton from the 17th-23rd June.
Summer Picnic and Produce Show – Sunday 18th August. Please put this in your diaries. And grow some vegetables to enter into the classes!
Good Reads
They: What Muslims and Non-Muslims Get Wrong About Each Other by Saffraz Mansour is a nuanced exploration of the lives of the 3.4 million Muslim people living in Britain today, specifically focusing on Muslims of south Asian descent. He interrogates stereotypes and confronts his own preconceptions inspiring empathy through storytelling to change people’s minds.
Asylum Speakers by Jaz O’Hara (based on her Podcasts of the same name). Published by DK in 2023. Individual stories, vividly recounted and illustrated, in manageable bite-sizes! I have not finished reading this, but already feel that everyone should look at this, even if they read nothing else. It will be recommended as essential reading for new volunteers, alongside Gulwali Passerley’s A Lightless Sky.
Good Films
The Swimmers directed by Sally El Hosaini featuring Natali Issa. The film portrays the story of Yusra, a budding international swimmer born in Syria, who had to flee with her sister to Germany. On route the sisters’ bravery and swimming skills were instrumental in ensuring the survival of a raft full of people crossing the Mediterranean. Yusra subsequently became part of the Olympic Refugee Team selected to go to Rio in 2106.
Thank you for reading to the end. We hope that some of what we do inspires you to continue to support us or maybe even to join us!