WHAT WE DO
WE OPENED OUR DOORS IN 2017 AS A COMMUNITY GROUP TO PROVIDE WELCOME FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD RECENTLY ARRIVED IN HASTINGS SEEKING REFUGE AND SAFETY. NOW, WE ARE A REFUGEE AND MIGRANT LED, REGISTERED CHARITY SUPPORTING OVER 40 FAMILIES THROUGH BUDDYING, ADVOCACY, FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.SINCE 2017, WE’VE EXPANDED OUR SUPPORT TO ROTHER AND WEALDEN AS WELL AS HASTINGS; INCREASED SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE IN THE ASYLUM SYSTEM THE PROJECT ALSO WORKS WITH THE WIDER COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE SEEKING REFUGE IN HASTINGS WHO ARE IN THE HOME OFFICE ASYLUM DISPERSAL SCHEME, IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF CLAIMING ASYLUM
THE BUDDY PROGRAMME
BUDDYING IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO, MATCHING LOCAL PEOPLE WITH NEWLY ARRIVING PEOPLE SEEKING REFUGE.
referral
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THE DOVE CAFE
THE DOVE CAFE OPENED IN 2022 AND IS A WELCOMING SPACE OF HOSPITALITY, WHERE THERE ARE FREQUENT COOKING AND EATING EVENTS TAKING PLACE THAT INCLUDE THE SHARING OF OTHER CULTURES RELATED TO ART, MUSIC, AND STITCHING. INVARIABLY, AT THESE EVENTS, PARTICIPANTS SHARE STORIES OF HOME AND BELONGING AND FORM LASTING FRIENDSHIPS. the DOVE CAFE IS A SPACE OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPANTS TO ACQUIRE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE WORKPLACE AND TO LOOK TOWARDS THEIR FUTURES.
STITCH FOR CHANGE
STITCH FOR CHANGE, A COMMUNITY SEWING AND PATCHWORK STORYTELLING PROJECT, INSPIRED BY THE CHILEAN ARPILLERA MOVEMENT. THIS PROJECT MEETS AT THE DOVE CAFE WHERE, IN A STRUCTURED AND SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENT, IT FACILITATES THE SHARING OF PERSONAL STORIES OF DISPLACEMENT AND SEEKING REFUGE. PARTICIPANTS TO THE PROJECT ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENABLE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO VIEW THE WORK CREATED AT STITCH FOR CHANGE THROUGH ORGANISED AND LOCALLY BASED EXHIBITIONS, ATTENDED BY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
Upcoming events.
Make a donation.
YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE FUNDING OF VARIOUS PROGRAMS AT REFUGEE BUDDY WILL GREATLY BENEFIT PEOPLE SEEKING REFUGE. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION.