Course of action: Georgeanne Lamont & Diana Lampen
‘We explored sources of hope.’
It is proper that most of the money donated to helping refugees and asylum seekers benefits them directly; but this means there is little provision for the needs of those who provide that help. They are often isolated, stressed, and suffering from unfeeling and shifting official policies. They are sometimes close to burnout. From 2017, Quaker Peace & Social Witness arranged a series of three retreats at Charney Manor for them, drawing on money from the Elizabeth Brown Legacy. We were asked to lead these programmes. The money was used up, but the needs and demand continued, so we decided in faith to arrange another one last year, which was fully booked and funded by individuals and two trusts. Participants came from projects in France, Greece and Britain; some had been asylum seekers themselves. Here is one typical response:
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