REFUGEES IN EFFECTIVE AND ACTIVE PARTNERSHIP 

COVID19 related funding. To continue and expand our services that promote the physical/mental health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable older people and BAME communities (particularly Arab and ....more

COVID19 related funding. To continue and expand our services that promote the physical/mental health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable older people and BAME communities (particularly Arab and Bangladeshi) living in Westminster, as current funding is short-term and ends this March except for the older people befriending service funding that will end in August. The project will continue to meet the growing need for the service (we have waiting lists) and give us some time to capture more evidence on its impact as we search for future funding. This project is vital in addressing the deprivation and health inequalities that exist in Westminster. The City of Westminster Profile 2018 revealed, ‘’Westminster is within the 30-40% most deprived boroughs in the UK for the average overall rank’’. According to the 2011 Census, ‘’22% of families were composed of lone parents with dependent children, in the City of Westminster. 23% of children in the borough were receiving free school meals in 2017. 18% of Westminster are over 65, 24% of this demographic lived alone in 2011’’. February 2020, the Institute of Health Equity’s report highlights the following: 1) ‘’People can expect to spend more of their lives in poor health. 2) Improvements to life expectancy have stalled and declined for the poorest 10% of women, 3) The health gap has grown between wealthy and deprived areas.’’ We will coordinate volunteers to support older people who are struggling with being isolated at home by 1) Telephoning (twice a week) to provide company and emotional support, share up-to-date information, answer questions/concerns, and signpost to any additional support that might be available. Our volunteers speak a range of languages prominent in the community, 2) Providing a social group for older people meeting at the Centre as the easing of lockdown restrictions allows, 3) Helping older people with IT skill and advice to access information and feel better connected with friends and family, 4) Providing 1:1 emotional support by phone to BAME communities members experiencing stress and anxiety because of these difficult circumstances. Our bilingual staff and sessional workers speak Arabic and Bengali and will actively listen to concerns/ worries and provide information and signposting to other organisations for further support, 5) Offering activities by Zoom to keep people active, maintaining their mental and physical wellbeing at home, to include women-only exercise, movement and exercise for older people, a choir and healthy cookery and nutrition advice, 6) Maintaining up-to-date links to other resources that are available locally and nationally and promoting all of this through our website, social media, phone, text, and e-bulletins.. We will signpost clients to our new ‘’community pantry’’, at the Centre for residents of south Westminster who are facing hardship and experiencing food poverty, and to other activities/ services including employment support, IT courses, ESOL class, debts advice and volunteering opportunities. Our project will deliver the following outcomes 1) Reduce social isolation/loneliness among clients, 2) Improve the mental and physical wellbeing of clients, 3) Improve connections and create friendships, 4) Build the confidence of clients.

For a refugee-led local organisation to redesign delivery methods for a variety of activities/services, mainly related to interpreting, ESOL and employability.

Citizen-Led is a peer research project designed to enhance engagement with communities whose voice and influence over public policy has previously been unheard. 

Towards a programme of work over aimed at promoting positive attitudes towards lesbian, gay and bisexual equality among refugee community organisations.