Our Bi-lingual Support Outreach / Community Development Workers (CDWs) can provide a more active style of support which suits people coping with practical issues related to the processes of resettlement as a refugee or asylum seekers. The CDWs can offer confidential help and support with understanding and getting to know services available in the new environment; accessing services such as health, education for children, and English or computer courses for adults, as well as finding work or a volunteering opportunities.
They can also provide a "listening ear" to people who feel isolated and would like to talk to someone in private or are not happy with their present circumstances and are worried about the future. The CDWs can therefore act as a filter for people who need some supportive therapy but have first made an approach for practical help. Sometimes the clients/patients can make use of both services simultaneously. This service is currently available in 10 languages Amharic, English, Farsi, French, Italian, Lingala, Somali, Albanian, Tigrinia and Turkish. Referrals for support can be made in writing, or people may wish to come along to our drop-in, which are run twice weekly. The Community Development Project continuously revises and develops its services based on feedback from clients and an understanding of our clients' needs.
Following requests, the CDWs developed the Parenting Workshop in January 2010, working with refugee and asylum seeker parents who are finding the parenting role challenging in their new society and benefit from support and advice with their parenting skills. After a successful pilot, the Community Development Project has now set up a series of monthly workshops for parents.
The session help parents to think about the well being and psychological needs of their children, the challenge of adolescence, the role of the statutory sector in child care and to think about the understanding of parenting expectations in different cultures.
In addition to the Parenting Workshop, the CDWs have initiated an Open Surgery with our local MP and patron Jeremy Corbyn, MP. The Open Surgeries are held at the Centre to assist refugees and asylum seekers living in Islington who need to raise issues with their MP, but are unable to speak English. A pilot took place in May 2010 and bi-monthly Surgeries have been set up for the future, some of which will be held by MPs from neighbouring boroughs.
Refugees and asylum seekers can phone us on 020 7561 1587 to arrange a meeting, or simply turn up at the Centre to see how we can help. We have two drop-in sessions each week on Thursdays and Fridays, 10.30am-12.30pm.
Website by Anterec
©2011 Refugee Therapy Centre, 1A Leeds Place, Tollington Park, London, N4 3RF
Tel. +44 (0)20 7561 1587 | Fax +44 (0)20 7281 8729
Registered charity number 1085922
