CTSA are working with the council and others to look at ways people can help refugees. Look out for an upcoming forum. This page is intended to marshal, in brief, the things you need to know, so together we can make a big difference.
Refugee Information Exchange
Click here for our Summer Forum on refugees
Pray
Here is a hymn for Prayer for Ukraine set to music.
Asylum Seekers in St Albans
There are a number of asylum seekers at hotels in St Albans. They get almost no income and are not allowed to get jobs. They could be moved somewhere else in the country with very little notice, or even sent abroad.
Spare Rooms
There are currently over a million refugees from Ukraine and this number is likely to multiply. If the UK takes in, say 200,000 refugees then St Albans should be taking in hundreds. As many may come in to Luton Airport, we are in a key position. Do you have a spare room that is available for at least 6 months? The government has launched it’s Homes for Ukraine website.
Everyone applying to the UK Government to sponsor a person or family will need to name the people they would like to welcome. If you do not know someone looking for safety, Reset, who are the UK’s Community Sponsorship learning hub, will be providing a matching system that will be in place to carefully introduce you to someone who you may be able to welcome.
Teaching English
Speaking English can key to refugees prospects. Your church could help with conversational English, or you may be able to help at another church.
Here are some English Conversation groups:
at Greenwood URC on Wednesday mornings 10-12 (but not in August),
Contact Anna Barrett, 07805306258, poppyana57@hotmail.com
at St Bartholomew’s Church hall on Thursday mornings 10-12,
Contact Teresa Clarke, 07817411078, clarkefamily2004@yahoo.co.uk
ESOL English Courses
West Herts College Watford May be easier to get to and from by (30 mins by bus) bus from the hotel
Oaklands College St Albans – ESOL Skills for Life – Daytime
Oaklands College St Albans – ESOL Skills for Life, Evening
Asylum Support Group at the Cathedral Abbey
Contact Helen Bishop, 01727730825, helen@bishopal4.plus.com
Ukrainian Support
Please post and communicate on this Facebook page and join other groups. Fantastic support system.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/511009797042632/
Great website for information :
https://www.cambridge4ukraine.uk/
Welcome centre at the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on Binney street in London and we have two AUGB (Assoc of Ukrainians in Great Britain ) in Luton and Waltham Cross. https://www.augb.co.uk/about-us-and-our-community/branches
There is a massive gathering at Tarasivka which is a camp just outside of Nottingham – see Facebook and buses are going from London.
Hope Summer Camp for displaced Ukrainians 25-28th July 2022
Other Organizations
StAR St Albans for Refugees a registered charity aimed at helping refugees in St Albans
Herts Welcomes Refugees welcoming and supporting refugees in Hertfordshire
Refugees at Home is a UK charity which connects those with a spare room in their home to refugees and asylum seekers in need of somewhere to stay. So far it has been responsible for placing 2,597 guests with a total of 199,513 placement nights.
St Albans City of Sanctuary is a new and emerging group with a vision that St Albans district will be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution. The three founding members of the group are Irene Austin, Judy Jacques and Jagat Chatrath – all long-term residents of St Albans. They are members of the City of Sanctuary UK network.
Donations
The Ukrainian Catholic Church in the UK is making an emergency appeal
By donating to via the government’s Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) charities provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to refugees and displaced families.
The Ukrainian Catholic Church in the UK is making an emergency appeal