Welcoming Ukrainians to Sherborne - Public Meeting 28th April

Sherborne Area Refugee Support is proud to be supporting local efforts to welcome Ukrainian refugees to the local area.

We hope you can join us this Thursday 28th April at 6pm for a public meeting in Cheap Street Church, Sherborne. This meeting will be an opportunity for hosts and all those interested in helping to provide a warm welcome to find out more information about welcoming Ukrainians in Dorset and to make valuable connections with others seeking to do the same.

Speakers include Claire Shiels from Dorset Council, Steve Pratt, a local refugee resettlement caseworker and Jon Sloper, co founder of Help and Kindness which has recently launched a new network to support Ukrainian Refugees and host families across Dorset and provide wider support to those affected by the conflict.

The #DorsetTogether Ukraine Response includes Dorset Council, NHS, Public Health Dorset, Emergency Services, faith groups, Volunteer Centre Dorset, Dorset Race Equality and other key organisations across the county.

In particular, we will hear first hand from Abdul Al Asaly, a Syrian refugee whose family came to Sherborne through the Syrian Resettlement Scheme about his experiences of trying to build a new life in Dorset and the invariable ups and downs along the way.

Event details

Cheap Street Church

Doors open at 5.30pm for a 6pm start.

Masks recommended please.

Refreshments provided

Claire Shiels, Corporate Director - Commissioning, Quality & Partnerships, Dorset Council, and Dorset Together for Ukraine

Jon Sloper, Co-Founder Help and Kindness , Dorset Support for Ukraine

Steve Pratt, Refugee Resettlement Caseworker, Citizens Advice

Abdul Alasaly - The experience of resettlement under the official UK Syrian Resettlement Programme

‘Supporting People Seeking Refuge from War’ - a short video, by kind permission of Betsy de Thierry, Trauma Recovery Specialist

Supporting Syrians back to work

Gaining stable, fulfilling employment is a vital part of the successful resettlement of refugees, but it can be challenging due to factors such as language difficulties, and unrecognised qualifications. Help is now being sought from employers and mentors in the Sherborne area who may be able to help resettled Syrians get back into work.

The Syrians who have resettled in Dorset came to the UK with a wide range of work backgrounds, skills and experience. Former careers included teaching, catering, agricultural work, accountancy, nursing, mechanics, pastry cheffing and building. Whilst settling into the area, they have been attending language training and improving their English to help them find employment. Some have also been contributing to life in their local communities by volunteering – for example at a local hospital, a community leisure centre, and a town garden.

The UNHCR estimates there are 120,000 refugees in the UK, all of whom have the right to work in the UK, but says studies suggest the unemployment rate among this part of the population is at 18%, three times that of the UK-born population.

Philip Rogerson, Chair of Sherborne Area Refugee Support, and a volunteer with local families, says ‘We’d love to hear from local people who can offer some practical help. You may be able to offer employment support, for example by helping with CV writing, applying for jobs and preparing for interviews, or you may be a local employer who can offer mentoring support or work placements.’ All volunteers will need to have DBS checks. Anyone interested in helping should call 01935 389153 or email sherborneshares@gmail.com.

Can you help us furnish a new home?

A new family is expected to be resettled in Sherborne this summer, and we hope they will be arriving in August 2019.

Dorset Council is sourcing much of the furniture for their new home, and some is already provided. However, if anyone is able to donate the following items we would be grateful:

• Microwave oven

• Pots and pans

• Plates and cutlery

• Sofa

• Table and chairs

• Coffee table / side tables

• TV stand

• Television

• Bookcase or storage

• Rugs and throws

• Cupboard or chest of drawers

• Table or desk

• Blankets

• Iron / Clothes dryer rack

• Laundry basket /Laundry powder

• Laptop

• Childrens car seats

• Childrens toys and books

If you can help, please email sherborneshares@gmail.com. Please note that we are very grateful for all offers of goods, but we have a very limited amount of space for storage, so are not able to accept everything.