Annual Report 2004-5

Aims of sbassg

To work together as a group of locals, asylum seekers and refugees to:

·        make life better for asylum seekers and refugees

·        provide safe spaces where asylum seekers, refugees and locals can meet each other

·        develop cultural, social and educational activities

·        educate the public and those in power about asylum

·        provide practical help and support

We work with other organisations when we can, and we aim to work and learn together so that we can make each other and our group stronger.

(Summary of the “objects” in our  constitution”

OUR REGULAR ACTIVITIES

·        Two drop-ins each week.

·        Fridays 5 – 7 at Brunswick Methodist Church, St Helen’s Rd, next to the new “Exotica” supermarket. Manager Anahita Alkani

·        Saturdays 2 – 5, St Phillips Community Centre, Opposite the bus-station/Quadrant. Manager Josie Akhurst

·        “Welcome to Play” sessions at the drop-ins and at special events. Creative activities for children run by qualified play leaders and volunteers

·        Celebrations – e.g. birthday parties, Nirwooz, Eid, Winter parties.

·        Football team. Matches with local teams on Saturdays

Events

·        Publication and launch of “Soft Touch”

·        Publication and launch of “My Heart Blown open Wide” Martin White

·        Summer Barbecue

·        Visits to “Forest School” through “Welcome to Play project”

·        Vigil to raise awareness of “Section 9”

·        Presentation on our behalf  by Roger Warren Evans to the full Council on “Section 9”

·        Letter writing campaign on “Section 9”

New developments

·        Volunteer language support – informal conversation and activities

·        Newsletter – widely distributed to faith groups, schools, colleges etc

·        Anti-deportation/Awareness Group

·        Development of the Welcome to Play project, including accredited training for volunteer helpers

·        Our new list of members

·        New constitution – presented to a meeting of members on October 7^th and adopted by the Management committee on October 11th

working with other groups

Our drop-ins are places where people can meet, network, find support, and find out about what is going on in Swansea.

The following groups work in our drop-ins and strengthen what we do

·        Roger Warren Evans and his team, giving voluntary legal help

·        The SOVA mentoring project

·        STAR – the student group working with refugees and asylum seekers

During this six months we have also:

·        Been part of the Multi Agency Partnership Project (MAPP)

·        Attended meetings of the Multi Agency Group

·        Been grateful for financial help from a number of sympathetic partners

IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE

We have a lot to celebrate, but want to do more – perhaps with some paid staff time, more funding and or a few more people willing to take on the organisation of new projects.

We would like to:

·        Make our activities even better, and make sure more asylum seekers know about them

·        Perhaps start new drop-ins in places nearer to where asylum seekers live

·        Share the skills we have in the group, and help people to gain new ones

·        Have more impact on the wider community in Swansea so that asylum seekers are made more welcome where they are

·        Give more support to people who are threatened with deportation – e.g. basic information, support for campaigns

·        Run effective campaigns on the issues which matter to asylum seekers – e.g. right to work, legal issues, Section 9,

·        Have more practical information for people when they arrive (perhaps a project with our partners)

·        Become a registered charity

·        Work more closely with our membership and friends in planning our work and doing it together. 

our new constitution

·        Has charitable aims, and is based on a charitable model constitution. This is the first step in applying to be a registered charity

·        Makes it clear that no committee members can gain financially by being on the committee

·        Has clearer arrangements for membership and elections

·        Makes sure that we keep our experience and skills by allowing 1/3 of the committee to remain each year

·        Opens the committee to new people by requiring 1/3 of the committee to stand down each year. (They can stand for re-election)

·        Takes away the need to elect the chair, secretary and treasurer at the Annual General Meeting. We want to build a way of working where people discuss the best use of their skills and talents within the committee. There is plenty for everyone to do.

Committee members March 2005 – november 2006

Josie Akhurst, Anahita Alikhani, Shahid Altaf,  Amar Basim Salih, Tom Cheesman (treasurer), Cristina Cifuentes, Latefa Guemar, Shaun Gillespie, Max Kpakio, Denis Ndomba, Jackie Pani,  Nesta Steffans, Marilyn Thomas (Secretary), Tony Young

THANKS

·        To individuals and groups who have helped us financially

·        To organisations who have given us grants.

·        To our colleagues working with asylum seekers and refugees in Swansea and South Wales for their support and willingness to work in partnership. Special thanks to Roger Warren Evans and his team, SOVA and STAR who work from our drop-ins and help to provide so much more than we could alone

·        To everyone who attends or helps in any of our activities

·        To past and future committee members

·        To St Phillips Community Centre and the Brunswick Methodist Church for being helpful and tolerant landlords