“To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.”
Arundhati Roy, The Cost of Living
A NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM GODFREY SEMINEGA, CEO, ASHA NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE
As we welcome the New Year 2025, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your unwavering support and dedication to our mission.
The past year has been filled with challenges and triumphs, and your commitment has made a profound difference in the lives of refugees and asylum seekers.
Together, we have provided essential services, fostered a sense of community, and advocated for the rights and dignity of thos eseeking safety and a new beginning.
As we look ahead, we remain steadfast in our resolve to support and empower those in need.
May this New Year bring hope, peace, and new opportunities for all. Thank you for being a part of our journey.
Warm regards,
Godfrey.
2024 CHRISTMAS FOR ALL
As well as the splendid donation of toys from Lidl, we were supported by Cash for Kids – Mission Christmas for the fourth year in a row.
They supported us with 450 presents which meant that all children residing in the hotel received a large Christmas gift each, as well as all children from families who are settled in properties in Stoke-on-Trent, who access ASHA services regularly.
The presents were collected in a large van, which I drove to Birmingham. Jackie came with me on the collection mission! It was a long afternoon of loading all gifts into the van and then unpacking them into Unit 5 once we got back to Stoke.
The van was filled with gifts from top to bottom and left to right. It was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Darcy did a fantastic job of securing a huge number of local volunteers to help prepare for Christmas. Thanks to their support this huge job was dealt with smoothly and efficiently.
Staff members, alongside around 20 local volunteers, wrapped 450 Christmas presents in just one day! The presents were then sorted and packed into bags according to families, and their postcode, ready for delivery. We had 17 volunteer delivery drivers this year. Another fantastic turn out!
The party at Staffordshire University Student’s Union was once again supported by a fantastic turn out of local and asylum volunteers.
Thanks to these large numbers we were able to offer a range of different activities for children. We had an arts and crafts colouring table, a face painting station, circus toys station, and a large area for children to enjoy dancing to party music.
Some of the Iranian women from the hotel cooked delicious Iranian food using the YMCA kitchen. The rest was prepared by our amazing Fudia who, whatever the quantity, makes it look easy!
A bus or taxi fare makes too big a hole in a stringent weekly income. Asha also pays travel expenses to families for whom an additional expense at Christmas
is unaffordable.
A member of staff dressed as Santa gave every child a ‘sweet’ box and they all had an opportunity to have their picture taken and a hug with Santa which they loved!
All in all, one of the best ASHA Christmas’s I have seen yet!
Miriam
Miriam, Jackie and Darcy are to be congratulated for the superhuman effort put in during the run up to Christmas. The logistics alone would defeat many.
Lydia, too, plays her part, and Keita and Tamba are always predictably available, week in and week out, to do whatever they can to ease the passage of the men, women and families seeking asylum.
The Christmas celebration cost £3,712. This includes hire of Staffs Student’s Union, hot food for 398 people, tea, coffee and juice, bus passes, volunteer expenses, catering equipment – plates, cups, cutlery – children’s activities, including arts and crafts, circus toys etc.
Asha’s Christmas Appeal raised £3,601. This is more than previous years.
A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED.
WHY VOLUNTEER?
“I literally stumbled across Asha as a result of reading about Asylum Seekers on a church newsletter.
I was intrigued as this is a topic on which so many people have very strong opinions built on very weak knowledge foundations. So I thought it may be a good opportunity to volunteer in an area that was completely new to me.
I have only been volunteering at Asha for a few months, but I have the privilege of working with some truly wonderful people. The staff and volunteers, external agencies such as housing officers and health and, most importantly, the many and varied people who use Asha as a pivotal point for guidance and support.
I generally do registrations, taking all relevant information, acting as a liaison with the housing officers from the local authority, signposting to the food bank, and general enquiries.
It’s such a warm, friendly and inviting place and despite many people having lots of challenges to face, we have such fun each and every day.
It’s a privilege to be a small part of such a truly amazing and valuable service and community.”
Hugh, volunteer at Asha
CAMPAIGN ORGANISING NETWORK
Together With Refugees is launching a new initiative bringing together a network of passionate people working with others in their communities to unlock the energy, commitment and power of local people to take action to win a fair new plan for refugees.
To find out more, email network@asylum-reform-initiative.org.uk
LIFT THE BAN
Hundreds of thousands called for the last government to give people seeking asylum the right to work.
Despite Refugee Action and a coalition of over 300 charities, trades union, businesses, faith group’s and think tanks, supported by a petition signed by more than 180,000, the campaign was narrowly defeated in the House of Commons.
The time has come to Lift the Ban. It’s only common sense.
If not now, when?
HANLEY PARK
Hanley Park is a heritage park of which Stoke-on-Trent can be justly proud. Asha has enjoyed a number of memorable events there.
As part of the Making Great Places campaign, a partnership between Stoke City Council and Staffordshire Police, there will be a crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour in and around Hanley and Shelton.
Police officers will be in Shelton and Hanley Park on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings to speak to users and neighbours.
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
