Creating a culture of welcome
A REFUGEE & MIGRANT LED CHARITY IN HASTINGS, ROTHER & WEALDEN.
WELCOME TO THE REFUGEE BUDDY PROJECT
Opened in 2017 as a community group welcoming people seeking refuge who had recently arrived in Hastings. Now, we are a refugee & migrant-led charity supporting families and individuals from refugee backgrounds with our buddy programme, advocacy, and financial & emotional support.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GET INVOLVED. YOU CAN BE A BUDDY, TAKE PART IN EVENTS, VOLUNTEER AT THE DOVE CAFE, CAMPAIGNS.
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Community Welcome
Working with Local authorites, hocal organisations and businesses to ensure a coordinated response to Community Welcome, and opposing mass accommodation sites.
Safe Passage
This campaign encapsulates three key areas:
1. The protection and support for those crossing the Channel;
2. Restarting the Vulnerable Peoples Resettlement Programme
3. Restarting Family Reunion
Patients Not Passports
As part of the national Patients Not Passports campaign, we will continue to campaign on access to healthcare for all. This year there is a strong focus on access to vaccines for migrants and those seeking refuge.
Fair Immigration Reform Movement
The Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) unites a call for humane immigration and inclusion policies that can truly reflect our society’s democratic values, and that draws on a distinguished history in Britain of standing for the dignity and justice of all.
The Charter emerged as a result of conversations with those who face the sharp end of current policies: with their family and friends, campaigners, politicians, journalists, case workers, volunteers, and many others who support everyone who has been affected by the increasingly brutal immigration policies in Britain.
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Do you have an idea you would like to develop with us? We are always happy to explore new collaborations. We are particularly keen to hear from artsists as we believe strongly in the power of art and the arts to tranform lives.
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In November 2022 the Home Office opened a detention hotel in Hastings. The Refugee Buddy Project responded by going into the hotel, meeting the residents and completing individual needs assessments with each person to hear their story and find out what we could do to help.
We quickly became involved in the national Communities Not Camps campaign coordinated by Asylum Matters and began advocating to the local authorities in Hasting and East Sussex and the Home Office for the residents to be housed in in-community accommodation.
In April 2023 the government announced a plan to use the Northeye Site in Bexhill as an accommodation centre for 1200 people seeking refuge. We have now expanded our Communities Not Camps Campaign to encompass this site as well.
THE TEAM
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ROSSANA LEAL
FOUNDER & CEO
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Shaza Shelb Alsham
Operations Manager
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Hiba Dahman
Caseworker
Upcoming events
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COMING SOON REFUGEE BUDDY CHRISTMAS MARKET 2024
Join us for a festive Christmas market event hosted by the Refugee Buddy Project Hastings! This event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the holiday season, support local businesses and artisans, and connect with our community.
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COMING SOON ABRAHAM OSORIO: 'OUR HOME'
MONDAY, 17 JUNE 20241 0:00 WEDNESDAY, 19 JUNE 2024 16:00
ABRAHAM OSORIO IS A STREET ARTIST/MURALIST FROM EL SALVADOR. COME AND WATCH HIS NEW MURAL TAKE SHAPE. THE PAINTING WILL BEGIN ON 17TH JUNE AND CONCLUDE ON 19TH JUNE AT BULLET COFFEE HOUSE
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COMING SOON THE DOVE CAFE & GUEST CHEF ROA: COMMUNITY PICNIC
FRIDAY, 21 JUNE 2024. 18:00 20:00
A COMMUNITY PICNIC OPEN TO ALL: SOLSTICE AND SOLIDARITY A COMMUNITY PICNIC WITH MUSIC, DANCING AND FOOD PROVIDED BY OUR COMMUNITY AND CHEF ROA AL MADI
WANT TO GET INVOLVED
These options involve volunteering your time to be a buddy, donating, or assisting in the coordination of different events within the Refugee Buddy Projects. We will make sure to get back to you within a few days after receiving. We are a small team but will endevour to get back to you within 5 working days.
Make a donation.
Your generous support for the funding of various programs at Refugee Buddy will significantly aid individuals in need of refuge. We kindly ask you to consider making a donation, and for smaller contributions, please select the custom amount option.