‘The Welcome Project’ at Glenthorne
Raymond Mgadzah discusses a project based in the Lakeland area
Refugees and asylum seekers face many challenges because of their experiences in their home countries and their treatment by the authorities in the UK. Many bear both physical and psychological scars and Quakers are working to help them overcome their difficulties.
That is the aim of one initiative based in the Lake District. The Glenthorne Quaker Centre’s Welcome Project offers short respite holidays to groups of refugees, asylum seekers and those made destitute when their asylum claim is turned down.
Adrian Rose at the centre said: ‘We do this by making links with church and community groups supporting asylum seekers in towns and cities in the north of England. Groups of about a dozen guests at a time come to stay with us, including befrienders from the local support group.’
Adrian said that last year, the third year of the project, Glenthorne hosted five groups, with guests coming from diverse backgrounds, including Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burma.
Adrian added: ‘Asylum seekers in the UK commonly endure great stress while going through the process of claiming asylum. Health and well-being are even more severely impacted when an asylum claim fails and the claimant is left with no state support, barred by law from working and contributing to society, yet unable to return home for fear of persecution or death.’
Visitors to the centre enjoy their weekend visits. One male guest said: ‘This trip gave me the most joy of my life, since my life I have never been in a cruise boat and if I can mention the welcome which I was given at the house when we arrived.’
A Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers group (PAFRAS) from Leeds also gave positive feedback. The group said: ‘Both the physical and psychological costs of being left destitute and forced to live below that of the underclass are severe. Many of the people that visit PAFRAS have thought about taking their lives or have attempted suicide. Many of the people we see are victims of torture.’
‘PAFRAS’s visit to Glenthorne is one we will never forget. We arrived at Glenthorne on the Friday evening in time for our evening meal. On the Saturday morning, blessed by wonderful weather, we went to Keswick and visited Derwent Water where we all went on a boat trip.’
‘As we sat in the Sunday morning sun, after two of the male asylum seekers had been up to Easdale Tarn, one of them came over to us, leaned over and said, “These two days have been the best time in my life for fourteen years.” That comment was so heartfelt that all those involved in providing such a generous respite will know the importance of such outreach.’
Many guests, particularly from Africa, on seeing the countryside and the green hills around Glenthorne, said: ‘This reminds me of home.’
The guests were able to reflect on their current circumstances. Many pointed out that the fact that they are not permitted to work is a cause for concern. A male asylum seeker from Zimbabwe said: ‘At times I think it would be better to be dead. I was a teacher for thirteen years and here I have done nothing. I feel desperate. I ran away from a life that was too dangerous into captivity.’
A female guest added: ‘It’s crazy that we’re not allowed to work. I got a cash job doing care work. I was found out. Me and my two daughters were arrested and thrown into Yarl’s Wood. Welcome to Britain.’
Another male guest said: ‘I haven’t seen my family for ten years. My sister was killed in the last fighting. The worst thing is not being allowed to work, to use my brain and my body. It makes me ill in the head.’
A support worker with guests from Sheffield added: ‘We are reminded of the pressure these people are put under by the constant threat of deportation. Then having the daily headache of funding the basic necessities of life… all of which can be mitigated by allowing them to earn a little by working, rather than only the voluntary work that many do.’
Adrian added: ‘The Welcome Project seeks to contribute some relief to this attritional stress. During the weekend visits, we make the most of Glenthorne’s beautiful and peaceful Lakeland surroundings. Going for walks, trips on the boats on the lake, and strolling round the nearby towns and villages. Our Welcome Project guests also share friendly company with other Glenthorne visitors and staff.’
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