SRS Latest News

Watch out this space for moving refugee stories. Please kindly forward your stories to emmanuel@sloughrefugeesupport.org.uk.

Please click here for the full version :  my-long-story.pdf

My name is Said Ali Khamis. I am 33 years old and I come from Tanzania. I came to this country on the 25^th of August 1995. I applied for asylum upon arrival but my application was turned down. The Immigration said they would deport me. Then I decided to go underground. This is a terrible and risky decision I made but I couldn’t help it …. 

Please click here for the full version : my-overwhelming-joy.pdf

We are very happy to welcome and introduce our Refugee Integration Project Co-ordinator Emmanuel Munyambuga.  He previously worked for a London-based Charity advocating for Human Rights and Social Justice for displaced people.  He has an extensive knowledge of the refugee sector having run a project funded by the Inter-Agency Partnership which includes the Migrant Helpline, Scottish Refugee Council, Welsh Refugee Council, Refugee Arrival Project, the Refugee Council and Refugee Action.  This project facilitated the full participation of refugee community organisations (RCOs) in the process of reception and settlement of new communities.  Emmanuel holds a Master’s Degree in Refugee Studies and has recently produced  a documentary film (Asylum Road-Voice for the Voiceless) around refugee narratives.

Look out for Emmanuel’s new plans for Slough Refugee Support.

Would you like to learn a few words in Somali or practise your English?

We have recently started up a new group called Somali English Exchange.  It is on every Tuesday morning from 10.00 to 12.00.  Hera runs the group and would like to invite anyone who would like to meet and talk with Somali and English speaking people. 

Would you like to be part of an exciting new team at Slough Refugee Support?

We are setting up a Development Team of volunteers to help out with our activities programme.

Click here for more information.

SRS football sessions began just one year ago, and currently twenty hardy lads train in all weathers on Saturdays. Their talent is so good that coach K.C. has entered the team in a local league, they have just entered their first tournament and have taken delivery of a bright new strip [photo link].  The lads are confident that they will do well in their first full season, and invite everyone to come and see them play (Premier Division talent spotters particularly welcome!)

We have been fortunate over the past six years in having sufficient funding to develop our work as we have wanted to do. However, along with many other voluntary groups, we have been unsuccessful with both our applications for lottery funding this year. We are determined to find ways forward, continuing to help our clients, and to this end we have launched a tenth birthday appeal with a redesigned website, new leaflet and a short film about our work which can be viewed here [link to video or video page]. If you have links with any groups that can help us, would like to become a Friend of SRS or a volunteer, or have any ideas or suggestions, please contact Ann Matthews at SRS.

Borders and Immigration have reintroduced a voucher scheme for those on NASS Section 4 Support. The use of vouchers in shops immediately identifies the person as a failed asylum seeker,  and makes them vulnerable to abuse from shopkeepers and fellow shoppers. Section 4 support is for those who are waiting either to be able to go back home,  or to for the Home Office to accept further representation or a fresh asylum application - there’s nothing ‘illegal’ going on. If you are interested in advocacy or campaigning for asylum seekers and refugees, please contact Anna or Rose at SRS.

Tucked away in a street just off Brick Lane, this magical little house is a reflection of the story of immigration into London. Built in 1719, it became the home first to a Huguenot family, and was later subdivided into lodgings and workshops. A group of Jewish arrivals from Poland formed the Loyal United Friends Friendly Society to help fellow migrants, and took a lease on the property, building a synagogue in the courtyard area in 1869.Today, the house is a museum to immigration into London. A group of volunteers are working towards much needed restoration of the building so that a permanent museum can be established. The building is rarely open to the public, but will be open during September.

Call 020 7247 5352 for details, or visit www.19princeletstreet.org.uk

To celebrate Refugee Week in June, we held an evening of music from Mamadou Cissoko from Senegal and were served delicious East African cuisine. Over £300 was raised during the evening for SRS funds. Thanks are due to the event sponsors Summerleaze Ltd, and to Tasha Prior for organising the event. See Mamadou Cissoke performing earlier this year in Bristol Cathedral here:

Link to video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0gErXe496Y