Quaker Children’s Collection Asylum Welcome

Virginia Allport

This year the children and families from Oxford Meeting have decided to support the charity Asylum Welcome as their special collection in December. They were inspired by watching the visit to Oxford of Little Amal, the striking three-and-a-half metre puppet who has come all the way from Turkey raising awareness of the problems faced by migrant families. She has now arrived in Glasgow.

This is part of a letter from Mark Goldring, the director of Asylum Welcome:

Dear Friend, The Afghan crisis has been at the forefront of many people’s minds over these last few months. Several hundred refugees, evacuated from Afghanistan in the emergency airlift, are now being housed in hotels around Oxfordshire whilst they await longer-term housing. Asylum Welcome is playing a key role in supporting the new arrivals and coordinating resettlement efforts.

The new arrivals, including many children and families, have lived through unimaginable stress and trauma. Asylum Welcome is working closely with the County Council to help the families settle, to have access to clothing and other needs, and mobile phones and connectivity to stay in touch with their homes and communities, both abroad and here. We have helped them to register with services and to access healthcare, and for all family members to learn English and prepare for life in the UK. We must ensure that women are not left out and that their voices are heard. We know what a difference this work is making in helping people to feel welcome.

In September, dozens of the children started school around Oxfordshire. The first day of school is exciting and nerve-wracking for any child. Imagine how it feels for the new arrivals. The children – boys and girls, of primary and secondary – returned excited and positive after their first day at school, raring to go the next day.

The rest of life is less straightforward. Life in the hotels is transitory, as the new arrivals await permanent resettlement. Right now, nowhere near enough housing has been secured. They live with uncertainty about life back home and life here, and remain unable to fully begin a new life.

–– Mark Goldring, director.

Back to December 2021 Newsletter Main Page

Forty-Three Newsletter • Number 512 • December 2021
Oxford Friends Meeting
43 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW

newsletter@oxfordquakers.org