REFUGEE / ASYLUM SEEKER SUPPORT
Thank you
In December 2022, 450 people seeking asylum in the UK arrived in York and were placed in a hotel. Thank you to everyone who gave clothing in response to our emergency appeal for Christmas that year. Since then more people have continued to be placed in the hotel here, as others have moved on elsewhere.
During 2023, we ran a free to access Clothing Store, Central Store, in partnership with Refugee Action York (RAY). From donations collected at several different church collection points, this store was able to provide over 6400 items of clothing to 472 individuals, including tops, trousers, shoes, new socks and underwear, fabulous dresses, coats, hats, gloves, skirts, shorts, bags and even toys. The store was supported by a fantastic team of committed volunteers who gave many hours collecting, sorting and delivering clothes, and running the sessions.
Thank you very much to everyone involved in Central Store, for all your help with donations and volunteering, you were instrumental in making this project a success.
4 key ways to get involved with Ukrainian Refugees:
1. PRAY
Our first priority is to pray. To pray for the war in Ukraine to be halted, to pray for those who are trying to flee, but also to pray for our leaders in the city who are working hard to enable York to welcome refugees well. So we encourage you to pause right now and spend some time praying for the City Council, the NHS CCG, Refugee Action York, York Learning, Migration Yorkshire & York City of Sanctuary.
2. HOSTING / SPONSORING
We know many churches and its members have or are considering registering for the Homes for Ukrainians Scheme. This is a good thing. We want to encourage you in this. We also want you to be supported in this. Within your churches we recommend sharing if you are interested/have registered to host and also sharing if you are able to support someone who is going to host. Families who will be coming will be multi-generational families, so it might be that two hosts need to come together to host one family. As churches - we are communities of believers that exist for the building up of one-another for good works. This is a time to do this well.
York City of Sanctuary are collating information on who has offered to host / has matched up with a refugee. The idea is to build the bigger picture so that as a whole city we can offer brilliant, targeted support.
If you are considering or have registered for the Homes for Ukrainians Scheme - Please register with them here.
3. COLLECTING ITEMS FOR REFUGEES
We’ve spoken to some key people and these are the items we believe will be most helpful to those arriving. We are collecting:
Excellent quality Women’s Clothes
Children’s clothes aged 2 - 16
Toys & Books for children.
Mobile Phones
Brand new Toiletries
We are putting packs together for women and children that are arriving.
For more information on this contact Tom on refugeesupport@onevoiceyork.org.uk
4. DROP-IN
We’re running a drop-in called “Ukrainian Welcome Cafe Українське вітальне кафе”. It is for Ukrainian refugees & their hosts. This will be every-other Thursday from 5th May at the Citadel on Gillygate. A meal will be provided. It is a place for Ukrainians to get together, speak their language with one another, to comfort one another and grieve together. It will also be a place where they can receive advice from experts in the City.
Organisations to support:
REFUGEE ACTION YORK
RAY is a brilliant organisation who have pioneered work with refugees & asylum seekers in York for many years. They work all year round with any refugee/asylum seeker, wherever they are from, and offer support in many different ways. We'd love to suggest that you consider supporting them for both their regular work and also specific work with Ukrainians which will need some financial resourcing.
CITY OF SANCTUARY YORK
City of Sanctuary is another fantastic organisation who support refugees & asylum seekers in York all year round and are playing a vital role in the City's response to the war in Ukraine. We'd love to suggest that you consider supporting them for both their regular work and also specific work with Ukrainians which will need some financial resourcing. Click here to give.
https://york.cityofsanctuary.org/
YORK LEARNING - ESOL
If you have an interest in supporting English Language learning or are a trained ESOL teacher - please contact York Learning.