REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKER SUPPORT

The St Paul's Refugee Fund supports refugees and asylum seekers, and we have an ongoing involvement with a group housed in a hostel for women and children in Hounslow who are waiting for a decision from the Home Office about whether they can stay in the UK or whether they will be sent back to the country they travelled from. While they are waiting, they are given accommodation but do not have access to benefits, or the right to work and receive a weekly subsistence allowance paid in the form of credit on a payment card that can be used at some, but not all, shops. We give a small amount of money every week to each adult in the hostel and have found that just that small amount of extra cash has come to be a meaningful way to support the ladies. As well as the money, a weekly drop-off has built a strong bond between our support fund and the women. They have told us repeatedly  how much they value the fact that we are thinking of them and supporting them on a weekly basis. Some money has also gone on preparing and planting a small vegetable garden, and improving the play space for the children as well as funding a Christmas party at the hostel. The fund also donates money and supplies to West London Welcome, and to Refugees Welcome Hounslow.

In 2024, so far we have spent money on many different things: grants of £100 towards resettlement after receiving refugee status; uniform grants; and money to cover hospital transport for a sick child. The availability of WiFi in the house is really important to those who can’t afford SIM cards.

Looking to the future, we are trying to develop links with a local children’s centre in Midsummer Park, which will be able to meet the needs of the younger mothers who are going to be our new residents. The hostel has been redesignated as a mother and baby home, so older children have to move out. 

During 2024 there have been many changes at the hostel, with some women leaving and others arriving with their children. Below you see Stephanie and Sheila with some of the ladies on a fun summer trip to the seaside at Littlehampton! There has also been a trip to Kew Gardens.

Stephanie organised a very successful evening at a burger bar in Hounslow to produce artwork for Refugee Week. This was displayed in church and also in Brentford Library for The Creative Mile Exhibition. This is part of our ongoing objective to let refugee voices be heard.

REFUGEES WELCOME HOUNSLOW 
Members of our congregation also play an active part in the work of Refugees Welcome Hounslow. This charity was set up by volunteers in 2017 to welcome Syrian families fleeing their homes as refugees, into our community. Since then, they have helped settle many households into our borough, who have enriched our communities.  One family said: “I can't describe the support they gave us since we got to Britain. They were our brothers, our friends and family in our new country. They stood with us in all the hard situations and were the support for us in everything. My tongue cannot describe their dedication to us.” You can read an article in The Chiswick Calendar about Refugees Welcome Hounslow at https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/refugees-welcome-hounslow-charity-run-by-chiswick-residents-shelagh-allsopp-and-rachel-tanner/

The contacts for refugee support at St Paul's are: Rachel Tanner (020 8742 8016)

Stephanie White and Shelagh Allsop (07710 385839 or 020 8995 9390).

You can find out more about the work of the St Paul's Refugee Fund by downloading a talk below by Rachel Tanner from January 2021.

If you would like to donate, the details are also below. Please use the reference REFUGEE FUND. 

COMMUNITY AWARD WINNER
On Wednesday 6 October 2021, the One Hounslow Community Awards 2021 took place at Hounslow House and nine winners were selected from over 220 nominations from across Hounslow’s communities. We are very proud of Rachel Tanner and Shelagh Allsop who collected the Community Heart Award for Refugees Welcome Hounslow. The award was given in the "Making Hounslow Stronger" category for "the outstanding contribution to their local community, supporting neighbours, creating community spirit and strength."  Refugees Welcome Hounslow was also the overall winner of the evening, taking home the One Hounslow Spirit Award. You can find put more  at https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/OneHounslow-Awards 

WAYS TO HELP

Jesus always directed his ministry towards the most marginalised, challenging us to overcome prejudice and self-interest in the way we respond to situations that we cannot ignore. Here are some suggestions about how you can help.

• Donate to  the British Red Cross or Medécins Sans Frontiers who continue to operate on the ground. Your money will  provide food, clean water urgent medical care and cash-based assistance to those who have been displaced from their homes.

• UNICEF  are there on the ground reaching vulnerable children and families with essential life-saving supplies.   

• Donate to the Refugee Council who have been providing life-changing services to asylum seekers and refugees arriving the UK for 70 years. Their work includes Mental Health Support to heal the trauma of losing everything, Employment Assistance to restart lost careers and promote the skills that refugees bring, and English Language and Integration Classes to help people flourish in their new communities. 

• West London Welcome are a refugee and migrant centre based in Hammersmith who support asylum seekers, including many Afghans.

• St Nicholas Church on Chiswick Mall runs a weekly meal scheme for asylum seekers and if you would like to volunteer with that, Cassandra Barker is your contact here.

• Refugees at Home is a UK charity which connects those with a spare room in their home to refugees and asylum seekers in need of somewhere to stay. At present, they are only looking for hosting applications from those living in cities.

• If you are a landlord, consider the advantages of renting a property to Hounslow Borough Council to house people under the VPRS. Guaranteed rent payments, no voids, no need to use an agency and a steady reliable and house-proud tenant. Talk to Rachel Tanner or Shelagh Allsop to find out more.

MAIMUNA JAWO 
Maimuna Jawo, a woman from the Gambia was, in her own words “in the system” seeking UK asylum for 10 years. She was finally granted Refugee status in 2024, as you can read above.

She spoke very powerfully about her struggle to be granted this status in the UK at the opening of Refugee Week 2022, and you can watch this extremely moving ten-minute speech on YouTube here.

ARRIVAL STORIES
Some of our Syrian friends have made a short film about their experiences, which you can view here. Thanks to Rasha, Khales, Sanaa and Yanal for sharing their stories. 

GHAITH QABBANI
Another of our Syrian friends, Ghaith Qabbani, made a radio documentary about the group and the Syrian refugee experience. You can listen to See You Soon Syria, Hello London Mixdown here 

THE MICROLOAN FOUNDATION
St Paul's has a strong connection with the Microloan Foundation, which was started by Peter Ryan at St Paul's in 2002. This charity helps some of the poorest women in the world feed their families, send their children to school, and pay for life saving medicines. By providing small loans (average £72) and ongoing business training and support, they help women in rural Malawi and Zambia to set up their own self-sustainable businesses; enabling them to work themselves and their families out of poverty. You can read about its work on the notice boards at the back of the church. The Microloan Foundation was recently visited by Christine Lagarde, the high-profile Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund who commented "I visited a group of women supported by the Microloan Foundation of Malawi and I was particularly inspired by their resilience and entrepreneurship." You can find out more at:  www.microloanfoundation.org.uk.

EMBRACE THE MIDDLE EAST

St Paul's often chooses to support Embrace the Middle East as its Christmas charity. This organisation aims to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the region by partnering with local Christians who provide health, education and community development programmes. Find out more here

ST PAUL'S CHURCH
We are registered with the Charities Commission and our charity number is 1154708.