I have discovered that there is a Hastings Syrian Refugee Resettlement Project and I made some enquiries as the refugee crisis is ongoing and I was pleased that there was local action.
Hastings Council has already resettled 22 families and is in the process of settling 22 more and hope to help altogether 100 families in the next five years with the help of other boroughs. A friend of mine, Tomris Atabay, who is as interested as me to get involved where possible, did some research and found a support group ESCAFA (East Sussex Community and Faith Action for Vulnerable Syrian Families).
Both Tomris and I got in touch with them to see how we could support them and they asked us, if possible, to make other people aware of their work and to pass on the following letter to a wider audience. I felt that surely we have some people in Rye who might be willing to help in their own way once Tomris and myself have an idea what would be the best way forward. We have edited the letter as it would have been too long to publish.
“Dear Friends, I am writing to you on behalf of a new support group ESCAFA in East Sussex. In September 2015 the UK pledged to welcome 20,000 refugees from Syrian camps over the next five years. East Sussex District and Boroughs have agreed to provide accommodation and support, Hastings, Eastbourne, Lewis, Wealden and Rother initially agreed to resettle 40 people.
“ESCAFA is the community and faith group working with the local council to help co-ordinate services for the arriving families. You can help us by sharing information with your church and other community groups.
“Please forward to us any contacts of any local private landlords in the area who may be able to provide accommodation to Syrian vulnerable people.
“For instance one of the support needs for families (amongst other things) is: Providing a team of 3-4 people (DBS checked and reference) to help ‘make a house a home’ by helping to place delivered furniture into the various rooms of the property which the family has moved into.
“Other possibilities of helping is to prepare a meal that each family can enjoy when they arrive (Halal preferably please) or donate a TV/laptop to help the family ‘stay connected’.
“Please contact us if you would like more information. Thank you for your support.” ESCAFA
If you would like more information or can offer help go to: www.escafa.co.uk
I am contacting Hastings Council as they are very involved in the resettlement programme to see what help they need so close at our doorstep and will give further news when I have it.
Tomris and I realise that there is a crisis and poverty in Britain. Unfortunately we cannot do much about the global situation but we can do something closer to home about the war refugees who are being settled in the area.
Perhaps we could also do more for the homeless people in Hastings and Rye who have been homeless for a long time alongside the refugees
Sandra Bridge, you are quite right and I do what I can as I know the issues of homelessness having been a manager of a homeless centre in London for 10 years.
In the 90’s we in fact made huge progress reducing it because money was available and more council housing and Housing Associations. Having sold most council housing in the past years and allowing tenants to buy housing association houses plus the cap in Housing Benefit and the system not helping people getting in and out of work, having zero contracts, we now have again double the homeless people than when I left the job.
Seaview in Hastings is doing admirable work and has been cut again. Maybe lobbying the government might be better than being negative about helping Refugees. We need to help all vulnerable people where and when we can. Heidi
Heidi, you are absolutely spot on to suggest lobbying the government (i.e. your local MP).
The national charity for homeless people, ‘Crisis’ is currently running a campaign – ‘No One Turned Away’ – which calls for every homeless person who approaches their council to get the help they need. In particular, single homeless people are often turned away by councils as they are considered the lowest priority.
A private member’s bill -the Homelessness Reduction Bill – has been put forward by Bob Blackman MP and more information is available at http://www.crisis.org.uk/nooneturnedaway.
Janet, thank you for support of my thoughts and also the information, will have a look at it properly when time. Heidi