Torbay Communities has been actively involved in supporting refugees and asylum seekers for the past two years. Working in partnership with 30 organisations across Torbay and South Devon we have supported and helped over 540 Asylum seekers and refugees from over 44 nations integrate into our communities.
The challenges of starting anew in a foreign land, leaving behind everything familiar can be daunting, and adjusting to a new environment can be overwhelming. We have endeavoured to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by people fleeing persecution and conflict and we aim to support our Asylum Seeker and Refugee community in a way led by them, seeking what they need the most and supporting them to stand on their own feet and live life to the fullest
To date, we have provided:
- Hundreds of items of clothing.
- Thousands of hours of Data and Call time
- Hundreds of pairs of shoes
- Dozens of phones, laptops and tablets.
- Over 50 bikes, gym and sports equipment.
- Hundreds of toys and celebration items and a good number of birthday cakes!
We have helped set up and establish a number of networks, partnering with over 30 other organisations, creating support and signposting services around employability, mental health support, housing support and integration.
We have also supported several Peer groups, helping Refugees and Asylum seekers honour their own traditions, as well as celebrating the new traditions they may not have experienced in the past, as well as supporting their integration into their new community whilst holding on to and maintaining the aspects of their own identity most important to them.
Let’s Live