Helping vulnerable refugees adjust to life in UK

16 May 2008

A new Red Cross project is helping vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers to settle and adjust to a new life in the UK.

The Portsmouth orientation project helps new arrivals in Portsmouth and Southampton to access essential services and puts them in touch with social groups. It will receive £292,000 funding over the next three years. 

Volunteers work with each individual for approximately six weeks, providing help with practical tasks such as shopping and travelling on public transport. The focus is on befriending and supportng service users as they gradually adapt to their new surrroundings.

Crisis support

More than 850 refugees and asylum seekers will be helped over the three-year duration of the project. At least fifty per cent of the project’s initial volunteers will be recruited from refugee and asylum seeker communities, and future service users will also be encouraged to get involved as volunteers.
 
Yangchhen Yeshi, service manager, said: “Refugees and asylum seekers face many challenges when they arrive in a new community. Some may have nothing and need basic provisions such as food and clothing, while others might need help with transport or signing up with a doctor or dentist.

“The funding means we’ll be able to provide short-term crisis care throughout Portsmouth and Southampton and ultimately help them gain confidence and independence.”

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