FRIENDS OF THE DROP-IN FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES

Small Grant Unrestricted Core Costs

One-off, unrestricted grant

Providing recycled bicycles to refugees and asylum seekers living in sunderland

One off gift to support with the cost of living crisis

Resilience Fund - Year 1 Wave 2

over three years towards core costs for a charity in Sunderland supporting asylum seekers and refugees

The project will use the funding over five years to continue supporting asylum seekers and refugees across Sunderland. This includes case work the provision of essential items food services befriending and social groups and cultural activities. This ....more

The project will use the funding over five years to continue supporting asylum seekers and refugees across Sunderland. This includes case work the provision of essential items food services befriending and social groups and cultural activities. This aims to reduce isolation improve mental wellbeing and help keep people safe.

The organisation's charitable purposes

The organisation's charitable purposes

To provide indoor and outdoor multisports sessions for men and women with local specialists Young Asian Voices, and a women’s dance group.

Support for asylum seekers and refugees affected by the COVID-19 crisis

support for asylum seekers and refugees affected by the COVID-19 crisis

FODI is requesting core funding.

The biggest impact for the asylum seeker women is on the improvement of their mental health and well-being through providing an opportunity to relieve stress through focussed activity. In a secondary way the women can share in each other's lives and ....more

The biggest impact for the asylum seeker women is on the improvement of their mental health and well-being through providing an opportunity to relieve stress through focussed activity. In a secondary way the women can share in each other's lives and develop a greater confidence and self-worth in the women-only setting. By providing a hands-on activity each week, the women can either demonstrate their own considerable skills in handicrafts, music, art etc or learn a new skill. During this window, the women can put aside some of the long-term worries and focus on the pleasure of producing something to be proud of and take home or to share as a communal activity. The inclusion of physical activity such as dance and exercise has also huge beneficial effects in terms of mental well-being and the women love these opportunities. The women are empowered to direct their own sessions and feedback what they most enjoy. They usually choose to do Zumba, dance, cooking, sewing and crafts but have recently been emboldened to try new arts projects through sessions offered by cultural spring and have been amazed at their own achievements. The individuals fed back how proud they were of themselves and this growth in self worth has a significant place in daily health when they are facing a barrage of Home office and other institutional demands. We deliberately do not look at individual problems at the group but put these aside to another time. Although these sessions are not mindfulness, they can have a similar positive holistic effect. One response was:Coming to the womens group make me feel relief from all the stress Im going through and I love all the activities we do. Meeting different people and sharing ideas and making friends is a very good thing.

To provide drop in sessions.