The Refugee Council is the largest organisation in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. As well as giving direct help and support, the Refugee Council also is working with asylum seekers and refugees to ensure their needs and concerns are addressed.
is an innovative project for asylum seekers which is run by the Refugee Council in partnership with Hackney City Farm. Back to Earth attempts to look at new ways of addressing and supporting the multiple needs asylum seekers. It is a twelve week programme offering asylum seekers a course in English and community learning\volunteering based at an inner city farm.
Participants improve their English skills through classes and interacting with local residents and volunteers on the farm. They start each week with two days of structured, classroom-based English language lessons (ESOL) following the Skills for Life syllabus (entry 2 level - Elementary).
The second two days of each week are spent learning new, fun and interesting practical activities and volunteering their time to support the work at Hackney City Farm.
The Refugee Council has set up the Day Centre to help young refugees cope with their new environment in the UK, and facilitate their integration into British society. The Day Centre is run by the Refugee Council staff and volunteers. Activities include:
- English Classes are run as drop-in classes, to assist clients aged, 16 and over, to learn the basics of the English language while they wait in the Day Centre for other Refugee Council services. The classes help improve the communication skills of asylum seekers and refugees. The classes are held 3 days a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- The Learning Time Project provides study support sessions to asylum seeking and refugee children, aged 16 and over, who may have may have difficulty in coping with mainstream academic subjects. The children are helped with their homework and some are helped to prepare for national examinations. The project is run in partnership with the Imperial College, London, which supplies volunteer post graduate students and retired lecturers to work with clients. The Day Centre provides a setting where experienced volunteer teachers support and counsel young people. They are encouraged to investigate their barriers they face and explore opportunities and support available.
- The Arts Club organises music, drama and dance workshops to introduce young refugees to the arts. Young people explore their talents and develop artistic skills. Sessions are designed to encourage them build self esteem and increase motivation to learn. Top
- If learners have the opportunity to practice English skills in a supportive environment while volunteering, communicating with others becomes easier. This will facilitate integration and aid community cohesion.
- Embedding ESOL within the volunteering has proved effective, not only in attracting learners into programmes, but in encouraging good levels of attainment.
- The programme offers those involved a unique, supportive environment in which to learn, participate, integrate with others, build confidence, and put aside problems.
- The Back to Earth programme has shown that the activities delivered have had a therapeutic effect on the participants who would otherwise be thinking about their current situation, what they have been through, and what they have had to leave behind. Top
For more information about the Refugee Council's work with Hackney City Farm please contact Andrew Lawton, Training Delivery Manager - Learning and Integration Unit, at the Refugee Council.
Address:3 Bondway,LondonSW8 1SJ
Telephone: 020 7840 4482 Top
Hackney City Farm www.hackneycityfarm.co.uk Top
