Annual Review 2025 10 Asylum Seeker Friendship Group Once a week, in a community hall in West Cumbria, a group of men of all ages meet to play dominoes and Connect Four. They drink tea, laugh together and try not to think of the horrors they have left behind in their home countries. For these are asylum seekers. From Eritrea and Vietnam, Iran and Afghanistan, they have fled persecution and sought safety in the UK. They have been housed in West Cumbrian communities - Mirehouse, Moor Row, Cleator Moor – while the authorities decide whether they will be allowed to remain. The Asylum Seeker Friendship Group meets every Wednesday morning at Egremont Market Hall. It was set up in the summer of 2024 by Rachel Holliday, founder of Time to Change (TTC) West Cumbria – a social enterprise supporting homeless people and those living in poverty. Rachel explained: “Time to Change were contacted by a local councillor, asking for urgent help. Three asylum seekers had been placed in a house in Egremont, but they had no food, no internet, and no mode of transport. One bedroom had been flooded so one man was sleeping in the kitchen. Two of the three men had no bedding. They didn’t speak English and they were afraid.” TTC began supporting the men with practical help, from meeting their basic needs by providing food and second-hand bicycles, to more complex help with issues around the process of seeking asylum. Rachel explained: “We started out thinking we needed to provide support with housing problems, English lessons, legal advice, but what we soon realised was, what these people needed first and foremost was trust. “We thought, what can we do to help these people settle into our community?’” And so the Friendship Group was born. Now TTC supports around 20 asylum seekers in the area at any one time. They come to the group to socialise, play games and chat (with the help of Google Translate) and also to seek practical support. As well as Rachel and a team of local volunteers, Cumberland Council staff are on hand to help with housing and asylum queries. Alan Alexander is Chair of West Cumbria Refugee Support Network and a regular volunteer. He said: “With the Friendship Group, we try to help people learn English, to help them integrate, and make them feel welcome. We give them support as human beings. The support they’re getting here is wonderful. This is a safe space for them. The Community Foundation has made two grants to Time to Change to help local asylum seekers. A grant from the Welcome Fund, which is funded by public donations, was made to provide essentials such as clothing, food or transport. Asylum seekers save their bus tickets from any journeys made that week and are reimbursed at the Friendship Group. TACKLING SOCIAL INEQUALITY Promoting equality and The group helps tackle digital isolation
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