Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum
Hockley Hustle is supporting local charity Nottingham & Notts Refugee Forum (NNRF), a service that covers issues such as housing, debt management, immigration, employment, education, benefits and health. Formed back in 2000, this fantastic project provides support for local people in the Nottingham area, helping out a substantial 8,000 people annually.
Like many local charities within the Nottingham community, they rely heavily on the support of volunteers, with over 120 people helping this cause each year. They have supported people from 53 different countries and are able to provide interpreting in 25 different languages, providing relief for people facing the punitive rigours of seeking asylum within Britain. Support like this is truly priceless for refugees, and the continued backing of the local community is indispensable in order to sustain such a service.
Many of us go on in our lives without realising how lucky we are to have a roof over our head and be able to go about our lives every day with minimal concerns. However, for some, simply being able to eat every day and sleep in a warm bed is not guaranteed.
Nottingham and Notttinghamshire Refugee Forum
These are people who may have suffered persecution, imprisonment, war or displacement within their homelands. They come to Nottingham to seek a better life, a life without fear and violence, and it is these people the NNRF is attempting to provide a lifeline to. The generosity of the Nottingham people themselves is what has kept this charity running for over 14 years but it continues to warrant your generous support in order to sustain the service it provides.
The past few years in particular, due to cuts from the government, have seen 2 other refugee support projects being forced to close, meaning the NNRF is the only organisation of its kind within the local community. The current political climate, with recent legal aid and welfare provision reforms mean that the demand for the assistance of the charity is now higher than ever, and they need your help.
The money raised during the weekend will help to support the Anti-Destitution Support Service, which provides food and cash for 100 destitute asylum seekers monthly and relies on money funded from the Nottingham community. NNRF manager, Stuart Brown, explains how important such a project is to asylum seekers.
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum offices
He says, ‘Refused asylum seekers become homeless within 3 weeks of their claims being refused and are not entitled to work or receive any public funds or benefits of any kind. In effect, they are in limbo while they either submit a fresh asylum claim or wait for the authorities to return them back to their country of origin. In some cases this is not possible, as the country is deemed unsafe for them to be returned to. Many find themselves either ‘sofa surfing’, or end up destitute on the streets. All need guidance about their options, legal advice and practical support.
The NRRF offer people a way out when they think there is nowhere to turn. One testimony comes from a lady called Tamara.
She says ‘I was surviving with my two children on £5 per week- we could only afford bread, sugar and tea. I could manage on one slice of bread per day, my oldest son on two. For my youngest son, I used to boil the bread in water to make a porridge so that it would last longer’.
Thanks to NRRF, Tamara was provided with support and direction to relieve her of these dreadful living conditions.
Hockley Hustle
It is these people that we can help this weekend. Not many of us can empathise with such a life, but if you just reflect on the trauma and desperation these people have gone through, understandably a little really does go a long way.
If you want to help people like Tamara and support the work of the NRRF, they are always looking out for more enthusiastic volunteers. You can simply email Barbara@nottsrefugeeforum.org.uk and ask for a volunteer application form. Look out for volunteers over the weekend collecting for NRRF, and donate to this admirable project.
Whilst we are all celebrating the music community within Nottingham, take some time to think about these people, the lives they lead and how we can provide relief with just a small donation.
Like all of us, Stuart believes that the Hockley Hustle is a fantastic way of boosting the already uplifting communal spirit within the Nottingham area, as well as showcasing some of the finest musical talent in the city.
‘It’s brilliant! A great way to have fun, see lots of different bands and support local charities. A win/win situation for everyone’.
Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum website
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