Helping People Find Friendship, Community And A Sense Of Belonging With West End Refugee Service

For people arriving in a new country, often having left behind their homes, families and everything familiar to them, finding a sense of belonging can make an enormous difference.

That’s something West End Refugee Service (WERS) understands well. Working with refugees and people seeking asylum across Newcastle and the wider North East, the charity provides practical advice, emotional support and opportunities for people to build friendships, develop skills and become part of their local communities.

The Reece Family Trust has awarded WERS £10,000 over two years to support its work improving the mental health and wellbeing of refugees and people seeking asylum, helping to reduce isolation and create welcoming spaces where people can connect.

At the heart of this work are the charity’s Weekly Welcome sessions, which bring together around 60 to 70 people each week for food, friendship and activities.

Unlike traditional advice sessions, where people might arrive with a particular problem they need help solving, the Weekly Welcomes are deliberately informal. People can enjoy a game of table tennis, try their hand at arts and crafts, listen to music, meet new people or simply sit and have a conversation over a shared meal.

We caught up with Andy Durma, Chief Executive of West End Refugee Service who explained,

“We realised that people need time to open up about their experiences and the challenges they’re facing. Traditionally, people would come to us because they needed something specific, whether that was legal advice, a SIM card or help navigating the asylum system.

“The Weekly Welcomes are different. There’s no expectation that people need to do anything or ask for help – they can just come along, enjoy themselves and spend time with other people. It’s about creating a space where people feel comfortable, build relationships and can simply be themselves.”

The sessions have become an important part of the charity’s work, with activities often shaped by the people attending. From cooking and sharing dishes from different cultures to a sewing group started by someone who brought along their own sewing machine, the emphasis is on giving people opportunities to contribute, share their skills and feel part of something.

Visitors from local organisations, including the NHS, police and community groups, also attend sessions, helping people build connections and access support in a relaxed and familiar environment.

The funding from the Reece Family Trust will contribute towards the practical costs of running these activities, including venue hire, food ingredients and travel expenses, as well as supporting the charity’s SkillsMatch programme.

SkillsMatch pairs refugees and people seeking asylum with local volunteers who can help them develop their confidence, explore opportunities and build connections within their communities.

This might mean helping someone write their first UK CV, introducing them to volunteering opportunities or connecting people with others who have similar professional backgrounds and interests.

“We have people from all sorts of professional backgrounds, and through SkillsMatch we can connect them with volunteers who share their interests or experience. Those relationships can be incredibly valuable, not just in terms of practical support but in helping people feel connected to their new home.”

The charity also organises trips and experiences that help people discover more of the North East, from visits to the coast to watching Newcastle United play football. Andy says many of the people WERS supports have developed a real affection for the region and proudly identify as ‘new Geordies’.

While the funding will help cover essential running costs, it also gives the team greater flexibility to introduce activities that make the Weekly Welcomes feel special.

With Halloween approaching, for example, the team is planning pumpkin carving activities, giving people an opportunity to experience a local tradition. Christmas crafts and other seasonal celebrations are also on the agenda.

“These might seem like small things, but they make a difference,” Andy explains.

“Funding for activities like this can sometimes be difficult to secure because it’s not necessarily tied to one specific outcome, but having the resources to buy pumpkins for Halloween, provide a good meal or organise something a little different helps us create an environment where people genuinely feel welcome.

“Support from the Reece Family Trust means we can continue developing these opportunities and making the sessions as enjoyable and inclusive as possible.”

Sometimes, something as simple as sharing a meal, learning a new skill or making a new friend can be the first step towards building a brighter future. Through its support for West End Refugee Service, the Reece Family Trust is helping ensure that people who have experienced uncertainty and upheaval have somewhere they can find friendship, build confidence and begin to feel at home.

To find out more about West End Refugee Service and the work it does across the North East, visit https://www.wers.org.uk/