‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness, that most frightens us… May your choices reflect your hope, not your fear.’
Nelson Mandela
PLANTING HOPE – 21, 22 and 23 June 2023
When asylum seekers are forced by conflict to leave their home country and seek sanctuary in the UK, they face a hostile environment which makes them feel fearful and hopeless. They do not freely choose to come here but when they arrive, by whatever means, let us welcome them and plant hope amongst them, not fear.
We celebrate 2023 Refugee Week with HOPE.
Asha invites you to join us on:
Wednesday 21 June – Community Event in Hanley Park at 10am
Introduction to volunteer gardening, a walk hosted by the park’s walking group followed by lunch at Asha.
Friday 23 June – Plant a Tree and Plant Hope at 11am
Tree planting followed by a joining in Asha’s Friday Community Lunch. The pots will be recycled pallet containers made by Asha service users. Asha is currently working in partnership with the Furniture Mine to produce the pots.
Saturday 24 June at 10am
Sports activities at the YMCA followed at around 12 noon by Asha’s famous community BBQ. dancing and singing on the car park.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Asha celebrated at the RVS in Hanley with dancing, food, children’s activities and a popular Nail and Henna Salon run by talented Asha volunteers who were kept busy throughout the day.
The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Faisal Hussain, and his wife, the Lady Mayoress, Nazma Najib were Guests of Honour. They received a warm welcome and stayed to enjoy the dancing and music chosen to offer sounds from our users’ homeland.
One hundred and five children and adults took part. The event could not have happened without the active support of users and volunteers. Happily, there was enough food to go round!
‘WE READ TO KNOW WE ARE NOT ALONE’ – C S Lewis
It takes courage to enter a library and few asylum seekers would think of doing so. However, instead of sitting in class, one morning volunteers Chris and Diane introduced twenty of their ESOL group to the City Centre Library in Hanley. They were warmly welcomed by staff and shown all the resources from adult and children’s books to computers. Each was issued with a library ticket and shown how to borrow and return books. One young man was excited to find dual language books in the children’s section and he took away a story in English and Arabic to read at home, and a young Mum’s son was pleased to find a book on football.
Diane comments: “It was a very positive and happy occasion. Thanks to the kindness of the library staff, the group now know that the library is a warm, safe place to come, where they can find resources to meet their needs and where they are welcome.
ASHA WELCOMES MEDICAL STUDENTS
This year nine medical students from Keele University attended ASHA one day a week for three months as part of their community placement programme.
All were enthusiastic about getting to know asylum seekers. Some helped with English language teaching, including online sessions, while others talked more informally to our clients or helped with the play groups.
One joined in Saturday football. All were happy to get involved with sorting clothing, making drinks, doing odd jobs, and commented on learning about working with a charity as well as gaining insights into issues facing men, women, and families seeking asylum.
DON’T LET CANNOCK BE DIVIDED: COUNTER PROTEST AGAINST THE VOICES OF HATE
On 30 April, forewarned that a racist group was going to descend on the town for the third time in so many months, Cannock Welcomes Refugees called for a Counter Protest against fascist group Patriotic Alternative which has split and is calling itself Homeland.
Members of NorSCARF and representatives of Asha joined the protest. Homeland was outnumbered and humiliated, and they retreated to the edge of town where no-one took much notice. A few racists remained but their planned rally, due to be addressed by racist local election candidates, was completely broken and they spent the time awkwardly watching counter protestors chant, sing songs and listen to speeches.
ASHA FIRST SOCIAL INCLUSION EVENT THIS YEAR
On Sunday 28 May, Asha organised its footballers and other service users to play football with asylum seekers in Cannock and litter pick with a local organisation named ‘Save Cannock Chase’.
After being the butt of racists’ jokes, Asha’s Social Inclusion Coordinator thought that any activity that would bring the locals and asylum seekers together for a better co-existence, and to help change people’s perception about asylum seekers and refugees, would not only benefit those involved but also Cannock and the UK generally.
The Asha football team, led by their new Coach Adil Ahmad Rehmat (also an asylum seeker), played against the Cannock asylum team. This was not only a friendly match but also a warmup for the Keele University ‘Refugee World Tournament’ on Friday 9 June. After the match both teams had lunch together with local people.
Our service users really enjoyed the trip out of Stoke, the football, and the company of other asylum seekers and locals they met. The occasion had a mind-blowing impact on everyone and as one hotel resident commented:
“This is the first time in six months I have had a nice time away from my tiny hotel room. Thank you, Asha.”
Asha won the football match but the result was immaterial. What mattered was the social interaction between the two groups, their sheer exuberance fracturing the social isolation they experience daily.
Cannock Chase Welcomes Refugees would like to say a HUGE thank you to Tamba, Godfrey, Ryn and all the volunteers and service users from Asha North who came all the way down from Stoke to join us, feed us, and get us organised. Also, to Stephen who ‘volunteered’ to referee, to the fans who showed up to support us and to everyone who donated boots, kit etc. to allow this to happen.
PS. CCWR are appealing for football kit and boots for their team to take part in the forthcoming refugee tournament which will take place at Keele University.
FEEL THE WIND IN YOUR HAIR
Cycling in sun or rain is liberating! This is why Asha values donations of bicycles to renovate and give to asylum seekers.
Over the last two months Phil, a volunteer, has dropped off 25 bicycles. Most of the recent beneficiaries have been asylum seekers from the Best Western and North Stafford hotels.
Asha can never have enough bicycles, so if you have one to donate, please contact:
Keita on 07498 928610 or keita@asha-uk.org
ONLINE SUPPORT
Keita is inducting at least five people a week to online GP registration, job search, email, and social media, for new refugees.
In May, Stoke-on-Trent’s Libraries Digital Support Lead provided 80 data-Sim cards with unlimited UK calls/texts and 5gb to 12gb internet connexion for six months and 100 users waiting for a data-Sim card in June.
These are popular because although you cannot make phone calls or send text messages with a data-only Sim card, you can use mobile data for internet connectivity.
ADIL AHMAD REHMAT BECOMES ASHA’S FOOTBALL COACH
Building on skills and experience in service users, Adil Ahmad Rehmat was recruited as peer service user volunteer with audit skills.
It soon became apparent that he had other skills. In his own country, Pakistan, he completed training with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) License Coaching qualification and has worked with Azad Football Club in Sargodha, as a pro License coach in Shahzad Anwar, and with Army teams.
Asha has needed a football coach for some time and is delighted to welcome Adil who is organising football training and how to prepare for a match. There is plenty of evidence that taking part in physical activity can have a profound and positive impact on mental wellbeing and allay depression and anxiety.
With this in mind, Asha looks forward to organising football for women and children as well.
DISCOVER REFUGEE WEEK’S 2023 THEME OF COMPASSION
REFUGEE ACTION – Goggle box for Refugees – Watch on FACEBOOK or YOUTUBE.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 23 May 2023
Congratulations to Godefroid Seminega, Asha’s Manager, who this summer will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Keele University.
Alongside Dr Tristram Hunt and David Sweeney CBE, these degrees are awarded to three individuals to commend their immense achievements in the fields of history, social inclusion, and academic research.
CONTACT US
Follow us on Facebook
Office: 01782 363122
Godfrey Seminega, Services Manager (works full-time): seminega@asha-uk.org
Jackie Gregory, Wellbeing Co-ordinator (works part-time Tuesday, Friday and occasional Saturdays): jackie@asha-uk.org
Lydia Mugoyikazi, Women’s Club Co-Ordinator and Caseworker (works part-time Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday): lydia@asha-uk.org
Helen Ranford, Finance and Administration (works Tuesday to Friday): helen.ranford@asha-uk.org
Facinet Keita, Digital Health/IT and Unaccompanied Young People Support Worker (works Monday to Thursday): keita@asha-uk.org
Tamba Musa, Asylum Guide, Social Inclusion and Men’sSupport Worker (works Tuesday to Saturday): tamba@asha-uk.org
Charity Reg. No. 11769634 (England & Wales) Company No. CE013097
