Volunteering with asylum seekers and refugees

[Lemniscate8]

There is so much said on MN about asylum seekers and refugees, and often it is speaking about them as a block, rather than by people who know any as individuals.

AIBU to suggest that some of you who currently feel fear and hostility have a go at some volunteering to get to know one or more individuals and see if your feelings change?

There are lots of ways to get involved in helping welcome a refugee to the country, and maybe more people extending more welcome will help with intergration, which seems to be one of the main concerns of some posters.

Many places have volunteers facilitating english conversation sessions, or literacy support. Many councils look for volunteers to support refugee and asylum seeker children in schools, you can ask your local council, or one of the main refugee organisations what volunteering opportunities are available in your area.

Also volunteering with any homeless charity is ineviatably going to bring you into contact with refugees, as so many are sleeping rough

You can find out about people first hand, rather than through the right wing press. Personal relationships can only help people understand each other better

If you vote IABU, please explain why you think it is unreasonable to get to know someone from this group that people seem to fear so much, and build up an individual relationship to get to know the situation from someone else's point of view? As well as supporting someone with a need that you can help out with, which is very satisfying in itself. Why would you not want to do that?

Patronising much, OP? 🙄
Im sure there are immigrants out there with horrendously traumatic backgrounds and stories, but perhaps people are already busy volunteering for people already in the UK in need of help and support eg. Children and families in poverty, disabled people, ex convicts, people with health issues struggling with poor NHS support and waiting lists, stroke survivors, substance abuse…..the list goes on.

why is it patronising? Please explain what is patronising about the suggestion? it would help people get to know each other. It just seems a way to break down the barriers. personal relationships and working towards a shared goal benefits everyone. It doesn't have to be either/or, does it? Some people do very little voluntry service, and could start with this, some people already do a lot, but could perhaps extend a little, and as I said, some areas of voluntry work such as helping run night shelters for the homeless help both the local population, and refugees, many of whom are sleeping rough

Because some people have formed their opinions after rather a lot of exposure/experience with "refugees", "asylum seekers" and economic migrants. The assumption otherwise is just daft. You need to take your own advice and spend some actual time with people who have had serious issues with particular groups of society and try to understand where they're coming from and why, to "break down the barriers" as you put it, instead of assuming they're all living in all-white enclaves and getting their news from the DM.
HTH.

I've worked alongside some asylum seekers and refugees, although they volunteered for us. Incredible people, all with very different but equally horrific stories to tell. Unfortunately after being with us for 9 months, they were packed up and moved on from their accommodation with 6 hours notice. We have stayed in touch and thankfully all 5 now have indefinite leave to remain, and all working, including one as a nurse, one as a mental health nurse and one as a midwife.

Honestly the bravest people I have ever met and totally changed my outlook on things (and I was pretty liberal to start with!)

Yes, that's why the refugees came here, to help white people achieve personal growth.

Thank you magical foreigners.

But I dont think they have formed these opinions after getting to know individuals. That has to be the way forward, surely? I do know some people who have these opinions ( not many) and they certainly don't know any individuals. I am trying to see where they are coming from. We don't want a divided society, noone does. (except a few far night facists) Surely building bridges has to be a good thing? Why wouldn't it be?

I'm just saying, the benefits flow both ways, I have gained so much through friendships with individual refugees - satisfaction at being able to help them is only one aspect of it.

Because I don’t speak Arabic, Pashtun, Somali or any other non European language, and judging from the few interchanges I have heard Very few of the arrivals speak more than a few words of English or any European language . So I would have to have an interpreter, which would render my involvement rather expensive and probably ineffective.

Mumsnet is riddled with anti asylum seekers attitudes now, and sadly I'm not surprised at the response you're getting nor at the way the poll is going.

I worked with asylum seekers overseas OP and yes there are truly incredible people with amazing stories, far more people like these than sleazy males who have been brought up with the idea that western women are easily available with low morals or lazy people out for an easy life on benefits. BUT our country is dealing with many, many problems providing basic services to its own citizens currently. We have no capacity to help these people and they should be sent back until we are in a position to provide.

I do think it’s a jolly good idea that asylum seekers that have arrived here do voluntary work.

well, no, if you speak English, then you can help someone else learn English, that is the whole point, and don't forget that most asylum seekers cannot communicate with each other.

Really, it is like bring 10 objects and say their names, and ask them to say their names, object theme changes each time, so it could be stationary one day, like pencil, pen, paper, etc, then basic food another day, like bread, water, egg, and printing off a few sheets with the pictures on, and the names written underneath, and giving the student a chance to write something underneath for themselves, to help them remember the pronunciation, and practice writing the names in english, like hold up an object, get the name spoken or written down, feedback ( thumbs up or correction) then next object - no interpreter needed at all

If people already know a lot of english, then obviously you pitch it much further along, reading a newpaper article, discussing it, etc

No thanks.

Again, it takes people who are prepared to take them on, but it can work out brilliantly if those people are forthcoming - then the asylum seekers can enjoy that satisfaction of supporting someone, too, as well as having references available for if they get refugee status and look for a job

I posted something similar recently, people did not like it! Be prepared for some disgusting comments. I still need to go back and reply to it now I’m not sick or running around after a sick toddler but it’s overwhelming now with a lot of hate.

Absolutely agree though, working with refugees has changed my life and made me want to do as much good as possible for them. I own a ‘deport the racists’ T-shirt that probably makes a lot of people quite furious but makes the young people smile. I really can’t imagine doing anything else.

Being pro immigration, and an advocate for refugees, is rare in this horrible political climate but so so necessary. People seem to forget they aren’t a talking point or statistics but complex people with families.

You are being patronising as you're assuming that people are mistaken and just need to be enlightened.

Much of the anti-asylum seeker sentiment is due to the fact that however nice they are, they are extra bodies needing public services. Another big factor is due to increased risk of sexual assault. More men equals more risk of sexual assault however many decent men you happen to meet while volunteering.

The "extra bodies" are contributing to public services, once they have refugee status, to the point where they are helping some services avoid total collapse

Good for you! I volunteer already so the only contribution I make is doing one load of laundry for the refugee centre once a week. The clothing donated to the centre isn't always the cleanest.

Your post brings up 2 points in my mind -

1. You refer to refugees but many of the arrivals are economic immigrants chancing their luck with asylum claims (not saying we wouldn't all try but it is a fact and annoys people)
2. Actual refugees have often endured very traumatic experiences/torture etc which can lead to behavioural issues (I know this from my own volunteering with them). This puts further strain on public services.

Sorry, my bad. I forgot they were all doctors and engineers.

Can I suggest a look at Refugees at Home and their many success stories? Integration happens much more quickly when people have a home, temporarily, with local people.

Thanks for the positive thread OP.

Asylum seekers are not overwhelmingly men, however the media portray them. Men have a small majority, as you would expect. Lots of women and children to, but I dont really think a civilised society is going to deny asylum to a persecuted person based on thier sex?

It’s absolutely fine if local,councils want them to volunteer picking up litter or road sweeping. I don’t think mumsnet is going to organise it though.

Most refugees actually speak English as a second language though, in fact they're likely to speak many more languages. In many countries worldwide they learn English in school.