- Area:
- South East England
- Programme:
- Reaching Communities
- Release date:
- 17 7 2012
As key entry points into the UK, the port cities of Portsmouth and Southampton have historically played key roles in Britain’s migration, and today the port cities are where the majority of refugees and asylum seekers in the South East are dispersed.
The British Red Cross (BRC) estimates there are over 1,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Portsmouth - with many more “hidden” - and in Southampton at least 4,000.
In addition, BRC say public spending cuts are contributing to substantial gaps in services to cater for these vulnerable people. The majority of secondary school age children and young people seeking asylum in Hampshire arrive without their parents or relatives, often having been killed through conflict in countries such as Afghanistan or Iraq.
Today The British Red Cross has been awarded £493,758 from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) to provide emergency support and other important services for refugees across Southampton, Portsmouth, Fareham and Havant over the next five years. Many of the young asylum seekers have chilling stories to tell of their lives before England, with family bereavements, torture and the dangerous long journey to be smuggled to the UK with no food or water and in freezing temperatures.
One of the young asylum seekers from Kurdistan, who has been supported by the charity, said: “I don't have my parents or any other family member. My father and my mother were both killed by the soldiers. My father was tortured. I was always worried about being taken by the soldiers, it was not safe anymore and I was very unhappy. I decided to leave and get to a place where I would be safe and I could lead a normal life.
“Sometimes I want to cut myself as I feel lonely and sad. I cannot go back to my country because there is still fighting. The journey to this country was very difficult. I do not like to think about it. It is too painful. Life is better now. I am safe. I learn English and Maths and play football.”
This expanding project will help refugees and asylum seekers to integrate socially, live independently, and help improve attitudes within the community towards them.
The British Red Cross will deliver talks to schools, community groups and other service providers to raise awareness about the plight of many refugees and cultural differences.
Homeless refugees will be provided with vouchers for emergency provisions and/or food parcels, among other essential supplies such as clothing, bedding, toiletries and in extreme cases, accommodation. Clients will also be signposted to other support agencies such as the local mental health team, the multicultural link group and the asylum seekers activities project, providing a sociable events programme which organises volunteering opportunities. A new development will include an outreach service by staff and volunteers.
The British Red Cross, established in 1870 helps vulnerable people in the UK and overseas prepare for, withstand and recover from emergencies in their own communities or lives. It currently manages 34,000 volunteers across a variety of projects dealing with emergency response and recovery, health and social care, resilience such as first-aid training and humanitarian education such as engaging schoolchildren in global issues.
Red Cross Refugee Services Manager Yangchhen Yeshi, said: “This fund will help us to continue our support to the most vulnerable group in our community. Many of our service users continue to face challenges in accessing services, particularly in the light of reduced provision.
“Over the past few years many services supporting refugees and asylum seekers have been cut and the British Red Cross now provides a large proportion of the orientation support given in the Portsmouth and Southampton area. Working together with other agencies we have been able to provide one point of contact and we are very grateful for support from the Big Lottery Fund for enabling us to continue this work for the next five years to reach and support the most vulnerable communities in our local area.”
Today’s funding comes from BIG’s Reaching Communities programme, aiming to help those most in need and build stronger communities.
Sacha Rose-Smith, Head of Big Lottery Fund’s South East region, said: “With so many young people arriving here to fend for themselves with no family, no support and having fled terrible turmoil, this project will help ensure they are kept safe at this very vulnerable stage.”
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500 572
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Ask BIG a question here: https://ask.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Follow BIG on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BigLotteryFund #BIGlf
Find BIG on facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund
Notes to Editors
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
- BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since June 2004 BIG has awarded over £4.4bn.
- The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
- Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £28 billion has now been raised and more than 383,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
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