HERTS WELCOMES REFUGEES
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Remote AGM

29/3/2021

 
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On 25 March, over fifty members gathered on Zoom for our fifth Annual General Meeting. 


Our patron, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire Robert Voss CBE, congratulated the team for helping the charity to flourish in the midst of the challenges of the past year. “Who would have thought that so much could be accomplished virtually?” he said. 


These accomplishments included ensuring that each of the families had a laptop or chromebook to help with work and study. Herts Welcomes Refugees’ Chair Irene Austin pointed out that this was thanks to the crowdfunding appeal. Our bike scheme is continuing and we now have an educational fund (along with volunteers to run these schemes). Irene praised the volunteers for finding new and creative ways to support the refugee families and the new asylum seekers in our area. She stated that our priorities for the coming year are to welcome and support families and to encourage councils to take part in the new resettlement scheme. Our first Advisory Forum in May will ensure that our refugee partners are involved in planning and directing the future of our charity. 


A number of refugee partners then spoke about the past year and the impact its had on their lives. One of the refugee partners pointed out how volunteers from Herts Welcomes Refugees had helped his family: with school subjects, with English, with transport during an illness and spiritual support. Another partner explained how various challenges had given his life meaning and inspired him to help others. “My goal is to become a translator or teacher to help other refugees,” he explained. 


One young woman spoke movingly about meeting the children’s author Onjali Rauf on Zoom: “It was my first time meeting an author. I was reaching one of my dreams. I couldn’t sleep that night.” The video call was part of an ongoing Youth Zoom series arranged by Herts Welcomes Refugees in association with our new children’s library. 


The AGM ended with thanks to the refugee partners for sharing their stories and for being brave enough to speak to a large group on Zoom. Members and volunteers commented on how inspiring the night had been. ​

Youtube Channel

28/2/2021

 
We've launched a new video channel on Youtube with videos in both English and Arabic to teach basic IT skills. These tutorials cover topics ranging from setting up Zoom calls to applying for the warm house discount. We hope that these videos will assist our refugee partners and, as this is an ongoing project, we look forward to creating new content that will specifically meet their needs.

If you'd like to have a look: 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi9ZKzuyFzxl4NcM4zxYsoA/videos  

HWR on EasyFundraising

24/2/2021

 
You can now support Herts Welcomes Refugees on #easyfundraising! When you sign up as a supporter, 4,500 shops and sites will donate for free, every time you shop online. This includes all the big names like eBay, John Lewis & Partners, Argos, ASOS, Expedia, M&S, Just Eat and many more!?
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https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/hertswelcomesrefugees

HWR on Amazon Smile

24/2/2021

 
If you're already an Amazon shopper, you can now support Herts Welcomes Refugees whenever you place an order. 

Go to Smile.Amazon.co.uk when you want to make a purchase, and select Herts Welcomes Refugees as the charity that you'd like to support. We will get a small percentage (.5%) of your order price to support our charity. 

Many thanks in advance!

Brightening up Christmas for our refugee partners and their families

30/1/2021

 
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Local supporter Ann Maiden crocheted over 30 hats which are helping keep everyone warm this winter. Ann made the colourful hats while she was undergoing chemotherapy last year. We hope this year will be a happier and healthier year for her.

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​We would also like to thank Anna Brady who organised collections of toys and gifts donated by staff, parents and students from Morgans and Sele schools in Hertford, and Mrs Beaumont who collected toys, games and books donated by families at Bridgewater School in Berkhamsted. Local convenors were able to deliver these together with new books for all the children and Christmas money raised in our appeal.

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Friends and volunteers across the county called by with gifts for ‘under the tree’ for local families too, and we ran four story time sessions on Zoom over the holidays, two for older children with authors talking about their books, and two for younger children. More of these sessions are planned for each holiday, starting with a ‘bring your own bear’ session of bear stories, songs and poems for half term.
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Bike Scheme Update

25/1/2021

 
As our wonderful Bike Scheme co-ordinator Chris is leaving the area and we have not been able to find a volunteer to replace him, we are not able to find homes for donated bikes at the moment.

However, we are still getting requests from Refugees and Asylum Seekers so will put out occasional appeals.

Importantly any donated bikes will need to be Ready to Ride as we have no repair facilities - and the donor will need to be able to deliver to the recipient - socially distanced, of course.
This is a tall order we realise!

​At present we are looking for a bike for a young man in Hatfield. He is slightly built and is 5'2".
If anyone can help please contact Vicky - woodcraftvicky@gmail.com

New Bank Details

7/1/2021

 
We've just updated our bank details, effective 1 January 2021. If you currently have a standing order with us, could you please update the details as follows: 

Account name: Herts Welcomes Refugees
Account number 80585378
Sort code 20-05-73



Happy New YEar

3/1/2021

 
On behalf of everyone at Herts Welcomes Refugees, we wish you a very happy and safe New Year. This past year has required great changes for our charity as well as for the refugee families in our area. We want to thank our volunteers and supporters who continue to amaze us with their generosity and dedication - supporting others through these difficult times and coming up with new ways of assisting them. We look forward to a time when the refugee families and our volunteers can again meet up in person, sharing a traditional meal and a welcoming embrace. ​

Christmas Appeal Success

23/12/2020

 
We exceeded our goal and have raised over £5,000 for our Christmas Appeal - an amazing result. The money will help families and individuals across the county to buy Christmas food and a few extra goodies. We've also sent new books to each of the 124 children supported by our charity. Thank you so much to all of you who so generously donated. At this difficult time, your support is needed and appreciated more than ever.

WISHING YOU ALL SEASON'S GREETINGS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Volunteer Bike Scheme Coordinator needed

15/12/2020

 
We are looking for an enthusiastic volunteer to run our Bike Recycling scheme.

You would help with the collection and distribution of bikes, thus enabling refugees to get to school/college/work/shops, to move around their new communities and to experience the general benefits of cycling.

This is a great opportunity for someone who knows a little about bike mechanics - changing inner tubes, tightening brakes and generally ensuring roadworthiness of donated bikes - or is willing to learn these skills, has some spare time and some storage capacity for bicycles.

Whilst other volunteers can help with collection and delivery you will need a car and bike rack.
You will also need DBS clearance, which will be arranged and funded by Herts Welcomes Refugees, who will also refund costs of petrol and purchases of bike sundries.
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The scheme, which has been running for about 5 years, has proved to be a great benefit to newly-arrived refugees across the county and as part of the organisation you will experience the pleasure and enthusiasm of the recipients.

For more details of the scheme please contact current co-ordinator Chris Rigby chris.s.rigby@outlook.com  




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