Red Cross Blogs

Refugee week – celebrating the contribution of volunteers

By Julie Linter
June 18, 2009 at 5:01 pm

Today we were in Bristol at a drop-in for refugees and asylum seekers run by our partners Bristol Refugee Rights. They were inviting people to have ‘a cup of tea with a refugee’ one of the Refugee Week ’simple acts’ campaign. As Thursday is our usual day for working at the drop-in, Red Cross staff and volunteers were part of the special day to help celebrate refugee week in Bristol.

As well as talking to visitors about the work that we do at the drop-in with refugees and asylum seekers we were able to provide support to people that needed our help today ……

Many people who come to the drop-in are extremely stressed by the situation they find themselves in. Many have just arrived in the UK after fleeing their home country and enduring a long and dangerous journey. They are now in a place where they don’t know anyone and are having to find their way through the asylum process.

Others are waiting the outcome of their asylum claim and don’t know whether they will be given refugee status or not. For some this has been a lengthy process and the uncertainty goes on.

For others their claim has been rejected but it is too dangerous in their country for them to be sent back right now. At this stage the accommodation and support that they have been receiving whilst their claim was being processed stops unless they are prepared to sign a to say that they will return once it is safe. For those too scared to agree to this all support stops.

We are able to offer therapeutic care massage to people to help relieve stress and improve well-being. It also is a way of showing kindness to people who are experiencing or have experienced difficult times. Very often we can also let people know about other services available from the Red Cross or about how they can become a volunteer.

Today we saw a lady who has been in the UK since 2001 and who was refused asylum in 2005. Since then she has been destitute – not allowed to work, receives no benefits and is homeless. She is only surviving with the help of friends and other concerned people. I watched her having a hand and arm massage and talking with Pat – you could see some of the stress falling away as for that time she felt as though someone cared enough to help her. As part of the treatment Pat painted her nails – she chose a blue glittery polish and was so pleased with the way her nails looked. At the end of her session she asked whether she too could become a volunteer with the Red Cross.

A number of our therapeutic care volunteers are refugees and a number are still waiting to find out the outcome of their asylum claim – all wanting to help others and contribute to life in the UK. This is something to celebrate in refugee week.

Do you have special reasons to celebrate refugee week?

Photo: © Lloyd Sturdy (BRC)

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Tags: asylum seekers, Bristol, refugees, Therapeutic Care, Volunteering

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