Refugee Action
Who are you?
A regional office of a national charity. Our activities include advice to refugees and asylum seekers, support to refugee groups and communities, development work with other service providers, campaigning and research.
When and why did you start up?
Founded in 1981, mainly in response to the arrival of Vietnamese Boat People. Formed by people who wanted to work alongside refugees to help them re-build their lives.
Describe your organisation in three words.
Challenging, diverse, passionate.
If your group ruled the world, what would be your first act as world leaders?
Divert resources from making war to making peace, and address the causes of people having to flee their homes and seek asylum.
What is your most memorable achievement?
Increasing the awareness of statutory and other bodies of the need to provide interpreting services as a standard service, and also increasing access by refugees to a wide range of mainstream activities.
Do you belong to any partnerships?
Working in partnership with Social Services, Bristol City Council, Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling (which provides help with refugees' psychological needs), and with a range of partners on the Refugee Clinicians Project (which helps to get refugee medical staff employed in the NHS).
Who are your funders?
Main ones are: Home Office, Community Fund, Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, Baring Foundation, and other charitable trusts.
What do you get out of being a member of Voscur?
Voscur brings to our attention events and opportunities that we wouldn't otherwise get to know about. Also, finding out what other people are doing that we can make connections with.
How can we contact you?
Based at 36 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QD. Contact ( 989 2100. Advice Line (open weekdays 2 - 4 pm for advice / service providers working with asylum seekers or people who've just got refugee status) ( 989 2102. Email: elinorh@refugee-action.org.uk, website: www.refugee-action.org.uk
Background Info:
Refugee Action works to promote the rights and welfare of refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. It is a national, grass-roots organisation, working in partnership with refugee communities and other organisations to help refugees build new lives. The Bristol branch is involved in a wide range of activities supporting refugees at all stages of their journey in the UK: from the point of their arrival, through their 'reception' and resettlement, to their integration in the wider community or voluntary return home. They provide advice, support, resettlement, training, community building and awareness raising with and for refugees and asylum seekers in the area. Many of their staff are refugees themselves. The organisation seeks to empower refugees to realise their potential, and to open doors for refugees in mainstream British society.
Thanks to Refugee Action for this profile. If your group would like to be profiled in a future Voscur newsletter or on our website, please contact Darron Thevarajah at the Voscur office Tel. 909 9949, or email: darron@voscur.org