What is Refugee Week?

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. Refugee Week 2009 will take place from 15th to 21st June. 

A short animation by the Refugee Council illustrates some of the difficulties and hardships refused asylum seekers face every day - click here to watch the animation.

What sort of help do people need?

Over the past two years, Your Homes Newcastle has been working with agencies across Newcastle to help people who have had their claim for asylum refused.  When asylum is refused, people can be left destitute - homeless and without any way of supporting themselves.  It is estimated that there are up to 300 people in Newcastle in this situation. 

Visit How do people become destitute? to find out more about how people find themselves in this position.

People still need food to survive and two voluntary projects in Newcastle try to provide food to refused asylum seekers but struggle to collect and distribute enough food.

How does YHN plan to support Refugee Week this year?

During Refugee Week 2009, Your Homes Newcastle is asking its staff to bring items of food and toiletries into work.  YHN has set up food collection points across its buildings, including YHN House, NFS, Community Housing Offices across the city, the Your choice homes property shop in the city centre and the Unison office at the Civic Centre. 

YHN staff are being encouraged to donate the following basic toiletries and food:

All of the donated food and toiletries will be given to the voluntary projects to distribute to those who need it.

There will also be a collection box in the reception of YHN House, YHN's head office, during Refugee Week for staff to donate their loose change.  Any money collected will go directly to supporting destitute refused asylum seekers.

Which voluntary projects will receive the food?

YHN will give the collected food and toiletries to the West End Refugee Service (WERS) and the East Area Asylum Seekers Support Group (EAASSG).  To find out more about these projects you can visit their websites at:

	www.wers.org.uk
	www.eaassg.org.uk

More information

If you would like to read more about refused asylum seekers and destitution, you can download two recent reports by clicking on the links below:

• The Destitution Trap - asylum's untold story (pdf)
• Destitute and Desperate - a report on the number of 'failed' asylum seekers in Newcastle and the services available to them (pdf)

I want to do more - how can I help?

West End Refugee Service (WERS) and East Area Asylum Seekers Support Group (EAASSG) also accept donations of clothing and small household items - visit their websites (details above) to find out how to donate.  Both websites also give you information about how to volunteer if you are interested.

In addition to needing food, people need a roof over their heads.  If you are interested in helping out with this, click here to download the Open Door leaflet (pdf).  

If you want to do more, you can also fill in a standing order form to financially support either the West End Refugee Service (WERS) or the East Area Asylum Seekers Support Group (EAASSG).  Download the documents below for full details about setting up a standing order to either project:

• EAASSG Common Ground standing order form
• WERS standing order information sheet
• WERS banker's standing order
• WERS gift aid form