Introduction from the Trustees
Charles Dickens has a connection to our area by way of his birthplace in Portsmouth and his reputation as a great novelist was in part down to his championing of social issues. So, it feels both apt and timely to quote from the famous opening lines of his novel “A Tale of Two Cities”:“it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair”.
Unfortunately, our current winter of despair needs little explanation. It has been bookended by the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and now the unfolding Ukrainian one. Both have led to a new surge of refugees with national governments scrabbling to cope, especially our own one. As with the pandemic, it is ordinary people who have taken the lead and stepped up to do the right thing. At RRN, we experience that desire to act firsthand, as a volunteer organisation, and as a charity that channels people’s desire to get involved. We try to give people hope – both to the refugees but also to the people who want to help. This winter, we have truly felt these connected but contradictory emotions, and we have also seen how despair so often galvanizes action. Consequently, RRN’s work feels more important than ever before. In this newsletter, I think you will be struck by a renewed sense of mission and energy at every level of the charity as we try to meet today’s challenges.
We will not succeed without sufficient money, and this winter we have replenished our funds, helped by our most successful Art Sale ever, and a reformulated ‘Walk for Hope’ – both events have thrived because of our flourishing partnership with Bedales. We have taken on new people – from trustees to volunteers – providing us with added skills in fundraising, organising, finance, and legal expertise. We continue to strengthen our critical work in the high impact areas of education and employment, and we work with a growing diversity of partners and stakeholders, from TPS to Bedales, from the South Downs Park to The Weald and Downland Living Museum, and from Two Saints to City of Sanctuary. Our South Downs Youth Project has been brilliant at connecting young refugee teenagers with the beauty and tranquility of new surroundings. That feels very true to our original mission.
Finally, no RRN newsletter would be complete without recognizing the continuing contribution of Nadia, our CEO, and of our volunteers. Nadia’s subject matter expertise and her ability to navigate a complex field allows us to make sense of often confusing and poorly designed government policy, such as the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme and the Nationality and Borders Bill, and to understand their practical implications in our communities.
The success of our charity is ultimately defined by how many refugee families we can happily settle into our local area. Our ability to have this impact relies on the amazing dedication, generosity, and capabilities of our volunteers. The testimonies of our families we share in this, and past newsletters, are the truest measure of their impact. They show that the RRN is truly the “spring of hope” for the refugees we help settle.
Ian Bell on behalf of the Trustees
Introducing our new Trustee, Katherine Lawrence
“I first came across RRN when I organised a family day in a previous role at Winchester University 5 years ago. I’m experienced on trustee boards and enjoy bringing people together around a vision for change. I am a member of the Association for Project Management and a qualified project manager, working on multi-sector projects in the public and charity sector. I am enjoying studying an MRes in Education and also teach Japanese and Chinese.
We need to prioritise and deepen our support for those fleeing war, violence or persecution to find safety in our communities. I have been struck by the careful, professional approach taken by RRN in running a range of linked activities which have a real impact on people’s lives and by the extraordinary generosity of our supporters. I’ve enjoyed being part of family days at Winchester University and have recently loved helping with the art sale and our trip to the Arundel Wetlands this month with the youth discovery project. The trustees and the CEO put a huge amount of work and thought into the community, ethos and logistics which underpin this important and impressive work. It will be a privilege to contribute, and I’m delighted to be invited to join the trustees.”
Finance
Following the amazing success of the Art Sale at Bedales, combined with their donating the proceeds of the sponsored walk in the same day, our funds are in much better shape. While we do not yet have an accurate figure for the day, we are estimating at least £30,000 from the Art Sale and a further £20,000 from the walk. As fundraising has been tough over the last two years, this provides us with much needed security as we gear up to welcome new families and address new challenges.
As well as raising funds, the events have raised awareness of RRN and our work. We have received several additional direct donations, including an incredibly generous single donation of £10,000 for which we would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to the anonymous donor.
A big thank you to the Southdowns Camerata for the beautiful concert held in February at St Marys in Liss. The classical concert featuring Lucy Flint (world premiere) was a great success, tea and cakes were provided and the funds raised for RRN reached more than £500. Many thanks to Sara Timossi for organising the event.
Finally, I am delighted to announce that we have a volunteer who has offered to take over the role of Treasurer. The transfer of responsibilities is now under way, and I look forward to introducing the new incumbent in the next newsletter.
Anthony Thistleton-Smith, acting Treasurer
CEO’s Update
UKRAINE – Homes for Ukraine scheme
The UK government has been focusing on what they are calling Phase 1 which opened on March 18 (see link below for FAQ). This is for visa applications for Ukrainians who have a named person who can sponsor them or for organisations, including charities, that have networks with communities and individuals across Europe.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions
At RRN, we have been discussing how we can best support those in our area who have generously offered their support and accommodation. We are currently liaising with the local authorities and other stakeholders. The situation is still very fluid, and we will provide more information as the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ government scheme develops further.
At this stage, we are asking potential hosts to think more about the commitment and its practical, long-term implications. We recommend that you research your local area regarding access to essential services. There are also many other ways that you can help, such as volunteering through organisations like RRN. You can see our latest update on our website https://www.ruralrefugeenetwork.org/
As we are writing this Newsletter, Reset UK launches Homes for Ukraine matching and training service: https://resetuk.org/news-and-campaigns/news/reset-launches-homes-for-ukraine-matching-and-training-service. ‘Reset launches a matching and training service to pair sponsors and refugees under the UK Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme. It has mobilised experts in safeguarding to assess sponsors and refugees to make sure that the matching is suitable.’
https://resetuk.org/assets/Homes-for-Ukraine–Sponsor-Toolkit_v1_FINAL-1648486743.pdf
Below are other useful links-information:
- https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/immigration/offering-to-let-someone-from-ukraine-stay-with-you/
- https://www.easthants.gov.uk/support-ukraine ‘If you have made arrangements to house Ukrainian refugees, either through the Homes for Ukraine scheme or through alternative channels, please contact East Hampshire District Council by completing the following form.
- The British Red Cross has produced very useful information for Ukrainian nationals who have recently arrived in the UK both in English and Ukrainians that I am sure you will also find useful for yourself: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-help-as-a-refugee/help-for-refugees-from-ukrain
I would like to say a HUGE thank you to Helen Vyner, our admin volunteer, who has worked tirelessly to respond to all Ukraine’s enquiries, as well as sending emails and letters on my behalf and drafting many more! Quietly and in the background, Helen makes a crucial contribution to the RRN, as does Ruben, our IT volunteer, who keeps our website updated with our latest news, despite working full time. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of both to the RNN cause!
Community Team Volunteers and Education/Employment programme
Since the last Newsletter in November, RRN has started supporting four Afghan families in the East Hampshire and Havant area, and we are aiming to support more Afghan families in the coming weeks and months.
Our team of existing volunteers – Vicky, Hilary, Stella, Hanan and Hannah – have worked very hard, sourcing and organising essential items for the parents and children including clothing, household items, furniture, and bikes. RRN also provided financial grants to each of the families. Four laptops were generously donated by Troy Planning and Design and they were used by two of the Afghans who joined an interpreter training course.
RRN Community Teams volunteers continue to help the families to familiarize themselves with their local area and help them access essential services, often working alongside other local organisations. As ever, the volunteers are a reassuring and friendly presence for the families, as evidenced by the testimony below from one of the families we support:
“’A’ said he was delighted at the prospect of the education and employment programme and working. On commenting about his life since he arrived in the local area ‘A’ said that ‘He didn’t know where to start to thank us for all RRN and its volunteers have done for him and his family; the boys too are so happy in school, and he appreciates everything and everyone who has helped him’”.
We are excited about welcoming two new volunteers to the RRN. Bridget Hughes is helping two young children with their homework and liaising with the schoolteacher to get relevant teaching resources. Bridget has many years of experience as a violin teacher in schools and has some training in teaching English as a foreign language. Susanni Jameson has started 1-2-1, face-to-face English lessons with two families. Susanni has over 35 years’ experience working in schools, both in the UK and overseas, teaching children English and, in the last 5 years, she has developed her working career in TEFL. Susanni is passionate about helping people to acquire a good level of spoken and written English.
“…We recently welcomed Afghan families who arrived in late 2021 at a social gathering in Havant. On a very wet and windy Saturday in February a group of our Afghan families braved the wild weather to meet with RRN community team volunteers at The Pallant Centre in Havant for an informal “Family Day”. It was a fabulous opportunity for the SE Hants-based Afghan families to meet each other and for the children to enjoy themselves. Skipping ropes were the favourite toy of the afternoon and one RRN volunteer put the children to shame with her athletic skipping skills! We shared some delicious home-cooked treats and, after consuming far too many calories and swapping recipes to try at home, we all agreed that another get-together in warmer weather would be most welcome. One of the family said “We so enjoyed the party! Thanks to all of you!” …..”
Hannah Shepherd, RRN Community Team Volunteer
RRN continues to work with a range of stakeholders, including Two Saints (we regularly review together the needs of each of the families supported by RRN), and Home Start, Food Bank, and Ems4Afghan, who have helped tremendously with donated items, as well as the British Red Cross in assisting an asylum-seeking family. RRN has continued to engage with the University of Winchester, both the Portsmouth and Chichester City of Sanctuary groups, as well as the South East Strategic Partnership for Migration
RRN revised its safeguarding policies for vulnerable adults and children, and we asked Reset to deliver safeguarding training to our volunteers, which took place in February. The training for our volunteers covered:
- Safeguarding and what our individual and organisational role is
- Talking to the family you support about safeguarding
- Practical scenarios you may encounter
- Types and indicators of harm and how to recognise, respond, and report safeguarding concerns.
The training is equivalent of level 1 safeguarding training covering both adults and children. It is not accredited.
We are thrilled to announce the fifth Education and Employment Programme. This will be offered to a number of Afghan refugees who have been recently housed in South East Hampshire. We hope to begin the intensive 8-week programme at the beginning of May after Ramadan. This will include work-based language skills, CV building and interview practice, and preparation for the workplace (including investigating work experience and local job opportunities). Throughout the programme, the learners will be given 1-2-1 support and each learner will have a bespoke programme designed to reflect their interests, needs, and relevant employment opportunities.
Hilary Wright, Education and Employment Coordinator
We continue to campaign on the issue of the Nationality and Borders Bill, sending relevant emails and resources to our volunteers and supporters. We are welcoming Alison Glasspool who has joined RRN to help us with campaigning. Alison is a charity development and fundraising consultant and is passionate about raising awareness about the plight of refugees and asylum seekers. She campaigns to change the prevailing UK government ‘hostile environment’ policy to a more compassionate one. I am sure many of you will have seen her excellent articles in the Petersfield Post (they are also featured on our website: https://www.ruralrefugeenetwork.org/press-coverage-2021/).
We are also welcoming Mhairi Cosgrif who has helped us to update the information on our website under ‘current crisis’ https://www.ruralrefugeenetwork.org/welcome-to-rural-refugee-network/ so you can have access to the most relevant and up-to-date information. Mhairi is a lawyer, with skills in legal research, advocacy, and writing. Mhairi also has experience working with refugees in the area of employment support and she is very keen to build her skills in human rights law. I am sure she will also be a great asset to RRN.
We are also continuing to work on updating other sections of the RRN website.
We’re delighted to announce after a long break our next Open Meeting for all our volunteers and supporters. This will take place on Monday, May 9, from 18 30 to 20 00 at St Laurence Church,12 Station Road, Petersfield, GU32 3ED and we are so looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible. More information to come soon.
Nadia Potts, RRN CEO
Fundraising and Events
The RRN Art Sale
The Art Sale has been a crucial fundraiser for the RRN over the years and this year was the first time it was hosted by Bedales school. I’m pleased to report it was the most successful sale yet, raising over £30,000. Three Year 11 Bedales students, Rose, Charles and Turi, worked tirelessly on the sale for a six-month period with Bedales leaders, Abi Wharton and Rob Reynolds. There efforts were extraordinary and led to a wonderful and successful evening. They were joined by a wider team of Bedales staff and RRN volunteers to plan and implement the event. Art works were gathered from local, national and international artists, alumni, parents, and students. A professional curator, Emma Thistleton, who had led previous RRN Art Sales, worked with the students, staff, and charity volunteers to manage the display of artwork.
Many other people were involved and a big thank you also goes to Rosanna Oliver-Black who was seconded to RRN thanks to the generosity of Haakon and Imogen Overli. Rosanna worked with Abi and Rob and without this team’s dedicated efforts it is hard to imagine how we would have delivered on the night. We also want to thank all the RRN volunteers (Andy Crowe, Nick Wake, Kathy Flower, Katy Vetch, Damion Greef and Kaaren Wallace to name a few) who worked during the weekend to help set up the art sale beforehand and supported the event on the evening itself.
The event would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of the artists. Many artists have been severely impacted by the pandemic with sales down and little to no support provided. For them to give so much so freely was exceptionally kind. There are many artists who have supported RRN since the charity’s inception including Alex Rennie, Tim Goffe, Lucy Storrs, Laurie Hutchenson, Susan McFarlane, Emma Thistleton along with many others. These artists have become much loved members of the RRN extended family, and we want to thank them for their unstinting support.
The amount raised at the Bedales Art Sale is nothing short of life changing for the charity and the families we serve. Bedales has supported RRN since its inception and we established a meaningful partnership in 2018. They have backed us during some tough times – like all charities we suffered enormously from not being able to raise funds during the pandemic – and it is thanks to Bedales long-term backing that we have not only survived but have been able to continue life-changing and much needed work even during lockdowns.
Julia Newton, Chair and Co-Founder
The Petersfield School
“..Learning about the challenges facing refugees is an incredibly important thing for all of us to do, but can easily start to feel hopeless. This is why I felt especially privileged to visit the Student Council at The Petersfield School (TPS) earlier this month to discuss their ideas about how we can help refugees, both in our own community and on a wider scale. Although I was a student at TPS from 2010-2015 (so should have remembered something about being a teenager there) I was completely blown away by their engagement, their creativity, and their compassion. I had a great discussion with students from year 7-10 (the Year 11s were working hard for GCSEs already!), and we came up with a lot of interesting routes to explore in the future. Especially interesting was their perspective on how young people can be the root of change, in school and at home, and reminded me of the importance of talking to our friends and family. It was inspiring to see how passionate they were about helping refugees and learning about their stories, and how ready they were to keep everyone else accountable! We had been organising this trip since before Christmas and cooperation between TPS and the RRN has been long in the works – I am really excited to see where we can take this in the future and what we can learn from each other about the possibilities existing in our community, and about remaining hopeful that community organising can have as huge an impact as we intend…”
Milly Jonas, RRN Volunteer
South Downs Youth Discovery Project
The goal of the South Downs Youth Discovery project is to empower, nurture, and support asylum-seeking and refugee youths, helping them explore and connect with the natural world of the South Downs National Park to help with settlement and integration into their new environment. We want to ensure that they can access and discover the diversity and beauty of the South Downs National Park and to gain some exposure to various work opportunities in the environmental and sustainability sectors.
The youth are 15-17 years old and come from various countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia and Eritrea. The Project is supported with generous grants from the South Downs National Park and Nordson Corporation, and benefit from help by Bedales School. As part of the project, we will be organising field trips throughout the year, along with a three day residential in May or June.
After our successful launch in December at the Winchester Science Centre, we started up in 2022 with a fabulous trip to the Weald and Downland Living Museum in February. The tour provided an excellent introduction to the ways of life in bygone eras. The boys were interested in learning about how families lived in such conditions, the one-room school room, sawmills, and work horses. Some of them noticed that the construction of the buildings was similar to their own countries. Flatbread making was a big hit! Thank you to our volunteers Katy, Sofia, and Rob from Bedales and to Mark from Weald and Downland Living Museum for the excellent tour.
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Arundel
In March, we had a lovely trip to Arundel with the South Downs Youth Discovery Project kids. The afternoon was spent in beautiful sunshine walking the trails around the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Arundel. The boys learned about various species and habitat, as well as climate change and its impact on bird life. They experienced pond dipping and identified small water creatures under a magnifying glass. Everyone was equipped with binoculars, and they were able to wander through the spectacular landscape watching ducks, geese, and other unusual species. The wetlands visit culminated with a boat trip through the reed beds. With the sun, the wind, and bird calls it was thoroughly relaxing and lovely way to get out of the cities where the boys live and spend the afternoon in tranquil beauty. On the return we stopped at Arundel and had a wander around the castle and up through the town looking at stores and ancient buildings. We were fortunate to visit Arundel Cathedral at the time that the Angmering Chorale was rehearsing the Solemn Vespers KV339 by Mozart and Howard Goodall’s Invictus: A Passion. Such a serendipitous and splendid end to a wonderful day. Thank you to Andy from Bedales for driving and accompanying us and welcome and thanks to Kath Lawrence, our new trustee.
Emily Mott, Trustee