Here are some fantastic community projects working with refugees in the region and further afield. Edge Hill staff and students volunteer with these groups in a range of roles. 

Skem International – working with West Lancs CVS, include a range of opportunities  to support refugees placed in West Lancashire. Everyone is welcome to come along to the weekly drop-in held at Skelmersdale Library on a Friday, 2.30-4.30pm, an informal session where you can meet some of the refugees currently living in West Lancashire. Help a non-native speaker to make sense of a form, maybe practice some English or just have a cup of tea, a chat and make refugees feel welcome.

Buses run regularly from Ormskirk bus station to Skelmersdale Concourse, a short walk from the library, and there is ample parking available at the Concourse.

Other activities include craft, shared meals, ESOL classes and gardening. For more info see the Skem International facebook page.

Care4Calais have many opportunities to donate and volunteer to support refugees living rough in the Calais area.

Mike Stoddart, who has visited their Calais base several times, comments:

Staff and students from EHU have supported the charity by 

making donations, fundraising and by spending time working with C4C in northern France. All have reported on the value of being able to do something positive to help.

 

More information is available via the Care4Calais website. (EHU Contact Mike Stoddart)

Hello Preston!
Hello Preston! runs a family learning project every Monday evening 6-8 o’clock at UCLan in Preston city centre.

TEFL-trained volunteer teachers run a programme tailor-made to the families. For the adults:

We follow a self-designed curriculum that is fun, interactive and optimises people’s opportunity to practice speaking English with a number of regular volunteers passionate about helping refugees. This part of the year, it was about JOBS: giving a self-introduction, recognising different skills, applying and interview techniques.

Experienced and passionate volunteers including an early-years practitioner, teacher and a librarian lead a well-run playgroup alongside this.

We give children the opportunity to improve their reading and writing skills whilst helping with homework research skills. Younger children are read to and take part in art and craft activities. Children range from babies to teenagers, usually up to fifteen in total.

If you’d like to contribute or take part in any way, please contact Ruth or Jen. We have volunteers who attend weekly or fortnightly.

Jen Rankin
Ruth Crowder Playgroup Volunteer

SWAP Wigan 
Support for Wigan Arrivals Project supports asylum seekers and refugees who are living in the Wigan Borough. “Our vision is for everyone living in Wigan to feel welcome, to be given an equal chance to build a decent life, and to know where and how to access support when necessary.”

Volunteer opportunities with SWAP include:

If you have any questions about different roles, please contact Emma, the Development Officer or speak to her when you come into the centre.

If you know of a project looking for volunteers, please email [email protected] and we will include them here.