We help people make the first steps in meeting new people, increasing skills and supporting further education.
After the long journeys you have made with no choice or control over how you travel and who you are with, you may feel very cut off from others. We also know that people whose abusers have deliberately isolated them may, through no fault of their own, lack confidence or feel intimidated when interacting with others. You may feel painfully lonely and isolated, missing members of your own family or community. We want you to have the support you deserve to recover from your traumatic experiences, find new and welcoming communities like ours and experience the world fully.
WHY is community important?
When you experience exploitation from a young age you miss out on many opportunities that others have. These include basic rights such as education and freedom from hunger. People who have been denied these opportunities sometimes struggle because they feel excluded or because they don’t trust other people. In the UK, studies show that refugees who are unable to speak English are at the highest risk of exclusion. Without education or language to communicate, it can be difficult to build new friendships and the practicalities of finding a job and working can also feel overwhelming or even dangerous. We want to include you and welcome you to our community. Work with us to ensure that your rights are well known to you and you have the space to build skills to get you to a place of confidence and physical and mental safety.
WHAT’S OUR SOLUTION?
Our Community and Integration team welcomes you to the HBF community. We aim to rebuild your trust in people and society. Our experience – and evidence - shows that interacting with other people who have had similar experiences reduces feelings of isolation and depression. And having fun improves well-being!
Our weekly Community Group and Creative Arts and Skills Programme activity groups, education and employment workshops and 1-to-1 appointments offer you the chance to develop skills in things that matter to you.
Our group activities and 1-to-1 support give you access to education and skill-building opportunities. We value what you say, and we aim to nurture friendships and support networks that provide a springboard for you to develop and test new skills and experiences. We know these things are vital for your wellbeing and confidence.
Many people have told us that when they first came to us, they could not even imagine being able to work and live freely and safely in the world. We accompany you on your whole journey, as we want you to feel valued and welcomed to our society.
SUPPORTIVE, EMPOWERING AND CREATIVE
We are professionals and volunteers who work in collaboration with other partners to increase your access to the activities you want.
Our care involves group activities including digital skills, yoga, English and textiles.
We offer you the space to access your creativity and to find your fully realized self, as we recognize that your trauma does not define you. A weekly community group helps us to offer you the care, support, fun and friendship we believe you deserve.
We advocate for you and assist you as you find the educational path that is right for you, so that you can claim the rights that you may previously have been denied. We deliver regular clinics to help you do this. We also offer one to one support to help you find appropriate opportunities and submit applications.
Sometimes this means you will start with our welcoming English class, sometimes you will quickly feel confident enough to join one of our independent education and training partners. Let us know your educational hopes and dreams.
we help you FIND EMPLOYMENT
We know how motivated you are to create a better life, and we want to provide you with the best chance to do that. Having safe and meaningful work, financial independence and living your lives to the fullest are goals you have identified that we fully support. We are developing activities that include tailored CV and interview support, volunteer placements to help you gain experience, and linking you with targeted employability schemes such as The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network and Breaking Barriers, a charity that offers bespoke employment support.”
A FEW FACTS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND INTEGRATION PROGRAMME
Of the people attending our weekly Community and Creative Arts and Skills groups
- 79% have said they have felt increased confidence since attending.
- 70% have said they have made new friends in the group.
- 80% have said they have learnt new skills
- 74% have felt less lonely since being part of the Community Group.
"You just don’t know how much my Helen Bamber Foundation group is doing for me, I feel like am living again. I have never been among a group of women with so much peace and joy. It’s the best thing ever. Thank you so much, you owe us nothing but your dedication is out of this world."