Celebrating community support in Hounslow’s Refugee Week

During Refugee Week in June, over 900 residents, refugees and people seeking asylum attended a variety of events hosted by various voluntary groups and charity organisations including The Holy Trinity Church, Feltham Town Football Club , Care4Calais , Refugees Welcome Hounslow, Creative Mile, The Ukrainian Social Club, Hope Church Hounslow and St Mary’s Ukraine School. 

Funded by the Council and with the Communities Support Team (Refugee and Asylum Seekers), the week showcased of the borough’s support for those forced to leave their home countries, with activities ranging from arts workshops, gardening, football tournaments, multi sports for children to community lunch. 

A free public event hosted by the Holy Trinity Church on 22 June, marked the finale of Refugee Week in Hounslow where hundreds of families and children took part in arts and crafts, henna designs and enjoyed music and dance performances. 

The Ukrainian Social Club played their part, performing traditional dance, singing and drama in the finale event. Alina Luts, who co-founded the club in April 2022, migrated to the UK with her family 20 years ago. She recalled how desperate she was when she arrived, and how she barely spoke English language and was unemployed. 

She said: ‘I want to use my experience living in the UK and my knowledge to help Ukrainians who flee from war to the UK through the Government’s visa scheme. Hounslow is home to a large Ukrainian community traditionally, so many Ukrainians have joined them and settled with their families living in the borough.’ 

The Club has been offering support and consultations for Ukrainians of all ages living in Hounslow and Richmond, ranging from legal support and consultations on housing, education and social benefits. It also organises English language learning, mental health support, and music and dance benefitting thousands of families. 

Alina has observed some amazing changes for the club members after they have taken part in community activities. She said: ‘I have encouraged our members to volunteer. They are very active, and they really want to give back. For example, in our art project, we have a professional chamber squad called “Zinco”, where most of the singers are refugees.’

Shelagh Allsop, Chair of Refugees Welcome Hounslow (RWH), said the group, with about 15 active volunteers, has been supporting families from Syrian, Sudan and Afghanistan and asylum seekers arriving in the UK since 2017. The group was set up by members from The Hounslow Friends of Faith to support the local authority in delivering the Resettlement Scheme for Syrian refugees and to be the face of friendship, socialising and integration in the community. 

The group delivered food during the pandemic to hotels where the refugees were staying, advocating for asylum seekers about conditions in Home Office hotels. It also organises weekly English classes, social gatherings and community outings alongside local historic house and community groups. In addition, the organisation hosted a community lunch serving hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers during Refugee Week. 

She said refugees and asylum seekers feel more confident and competent in the society when they take part in community activities including volunteering. 

‘I remember Sanaa when she first came to us. She was lost at that time. Now, she has become a translator for families and a ‘media star’. This gives her the confidence to try and believe in herself. The same goes for Afghan women. Because of their culture, they can’t go out alone and communicate with others a lot. But by meeting them every week, we are making relationships with them, and we are becoming friends.’ 

Sanaa Haloul said she wants to give back to the community through volunteering. She has completed a Level 3 certificate in community interpreting. 

‘With the help and love given to me and my family, I can’t forget that favour from the RWH, and it’s time to repay. Language is essential in communicating with others. I feel sorry for refugees who can’t express themselves. They feel comfortable when someone can interpret for them.’

Sanaa has moved to a new neighbourhood where she has helped improve hygiene by contacting the Council to provide more rubbish bins. She said all the neighbours thanked her for doing this. She added. ‘I want to be very helpful in this society and understand people living here better. I hope I can always help others as much as I can.’