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Latest news
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Asylum Seekers Unit Annual Report 2009/2010
The Asylum Seekers Unit Annual Report 2009/2010 is now available to read online.
This year's report focuses on the performance and achievements of the ASU over the last year and also gives an overview of the achievements of the ASU over the last decade.
Visit Newsletters and annual reports to download the report.
Refugee Week is a UK-wide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities.
To mark Refugee Week and to support destitute asylum seekers in our area, YHN's Asylum Seekers Unit set up food collection points across our offices.
Click here to find out more.
Click here to read the latest edition of the Asylum Seekers Unit newsletter.
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December 2009 - Asylum Seekers Unit marks milestone anniversary
To celebrate 10 years of our work, the Asylum Seekers Unit hosted an event that brought together partners and stakeholders from across the city.
Click here to find out more.
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November 2009 - Reflections on the past year
The Asylum Seekers Unit Annual Report 2008/2009 is now available to read online.
This year's report gives an update on the work of the Unit over the last year, as well as case studies detailing how the ASU's Grant Aid budget has helped voluntary and community projects across the city.
Visit Newsletters and annual reports to download the report.
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August 2009 - a trip back in time
In August, nearly 200 refugees and asylum seekers went back to the roots of the North East when the Asylum Seekers Unit organised a trip to Beamish. Beamish is an award-winning open air museum which vividly recreates life in the North East in the early 1800s and 1900s. Clients visited an old north east village, saw how the land was farmed, took a trip down a coal mine and walked around the old schoolhouse.
The trip was organised to give people the chance to find out more about the cultures and traditions of the North East.
We asked Lule and Mickile (age 7 and 9) from Blakelaw what they thought was the best thing about Beamish, they said:
“All of it, it was all good, I liked the sweetshop, but you didn’t get mix-up’s then, and we didn’t like the dentist! Our mam liked the Tram best. We had a great day out, thank you”.
To mark Refugee Week 2009 and to support destitute asylum seekers in our area, YHN's Asylum Seekers Unit set up food collection points across our offices to give staff the opportunity to donate food and toiletries to two voluntary projects in Newcastle. Ten large boxes of food and toiletries were collected and given to the voluntary projects who will distribute the items to destitute asylum seekers.
West End Refugee Service told us:
"Food parcels are a vital part of the support given to destitute asylum seekers who come to WERS each week. Last year 4636 parcels were given out - an average of 97 each week. The food collections at YHN bring some welcome variety to the standard parcels distributed each week and are of enormous help to WERS as we try to support some 130 destitute men and women.
"The boxes of food arrived from YHN at a most opportune moment when we were not sure that we could afford another big supermarket order that week. They put a big smile on the faces of the clients, the staff and volunteers! Thank you all so much!"
Common Ground in the East End said:
"It was tremendous to receive the boxes and I know our clients were immensely grateful - not least because we have struggled some weeks to find sufficient food for them.... thanks to everyone who contributed."
To find out more about why we carried out this appeal visit Refugee Week 2009.
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June 2009 - Customer Service Excellence Standard
This month we were awarded the Customer Service Excellence Standard. This involved an in-depth assessment of how we meet the criteria for this award. In particular the Government want public services to be efficient, effective, excellent, equitable and empowering and they want organisations to use the standard to achieve these aims.
The Customer Service Excellence Standard tests areas that research has shown are important to customers, focussing on delivery, timeliness, information, professionalism and staff attitude. There is also emphasis placed on developing customer insight, understanding the user’s experience and robust measurement of service satisfaction.
The assessor commented:
"There is a very client focused culture within the ASU and this is evident in their approach to service delivery … The service performs very well in terms of delivering what it says it is going to deliver."
We are all delighted with this award as it endorses our approach to the way we manage our work. It also acknowledges all the hard work the staff team put in every day of the week.
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March 2009 – International Women’s Day
On a sunny Friday 6 March, women of the ASU enjoyed an afternoon cruise down the river Tyne from Newcastle quayside to the coast in celebration of International Women’s Day. Nearly 100 women enjoyed a generous buffet lunch, raffle and a chance to leave all responsibilities behind for just a few hours! For many women it was their first time on a boat and glorious weather on the day ensured a memorable day for all.
‘I had a great time. It was like a holiday for me!’ – Abaye from Walker.
International Women's Day (IWD) is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential, and celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future.
We thank all the women who helped us celebrate this event.
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