Key achievements 2021

Refugee & Asylum Advice Project The EYST Crisis project

Our refugee and asylum support, funded by the Henry Smith Foundation, which is one of our longest running projects, was able to make a smooth transition to working remotely. Much of this was due to the resilience, dedication and skill of our support workers Aliya and Sophie. The demand for this support reached incredibly high levels particularly in the face of the uncertainty around the asylum process and the Home Office systems during the pandemic. Our team was able to support 600 different clients in over 3000 advice sessions in a year. Staff supported our clients in a range of issues including employment, asylum related issues, housing, health and financial issues. During this time the staff embodied the saying “Where there is a will, there is a way”. The Crisis project was born out of the pandemic, resulting from the ongoing challenges faced by individuals and families from asylum and refugee backgrounds. Originally funded by the Children’s society then later by the WCVA, the project was able to provide support to the most vulnerable in our communities, including help with access to electronic devices including laptops, tablets and mobile data. This project came at a crucial time for our clients as the pandemic highlighted issues of access to IT equipment and data. This was particularly felt by Sanctuary-seeking families with school-age children.

Supporting the resettlement of refugees in Wales

Swansea

The first families we received on the Resettlement Programme back in 2016 came to the end of the 5 year period. To mark this special moment, goodbye celebrations were held in the presence of Swansea Lord Mayor Mark Child, and later, Mary Jones, as we wished the best to the families. While bittersweet, we have welcomed new families resettling in Wales as we understand the profound impact this can have over time. Client families have resumed life through education and employment access while getting to know Wales.

Carmarthenshire

The team of Nadir Taha, Muhit Rahman, Tsega Teweldy and Grainne Connolly, were privileged to be the first team to receive the first Ukrainian refugee family in Wales and continue doing their brilliant support work with families from Syria and Afghanistan as well as Ukraine. Pembrokeshire

Our support for refugee families has reached Pembrokeshire this year and our support worker Tammy Foley is doing a fantastic job of supporting families from Syria Powys

Our dedicated team comprising Caroline Massey, Eiman Nabag, Hamed Hassoun, Julie Hassoun, Shabnam Brookbank and Chris Brookbank keep up their amazing work supporting refugee families from Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. The families are distributed in Ystradgynlais, Newtown, Welshpool and Llandrindod Wells.