- Meet Laura, our new Refugee Support Worker
My name is Laura Schubert and in March 2024 I began working as the new Refugee Support Worker employed by Horsforth Chaplaincy Project and I hope to continue the brilliant work Rose McCarthy has been doing in this role over the last 2 years. I have lived in Leeds for nearly 7 years and love this city for its cultural vibrancy and all the friendly and welcoming people. I am part of Mosaic Church and you’ll often see me on my bike. I got involved in volunteering to support refugees 5 years ago through a Refugee Council project which Rose was leading. I am often inspired by theRead More → - Urgent Need of clothes for Men Seeking Sanctuary
With an increase in the number of men arriving at the local hotel and a faster turnover, the stocks of clothes and essential items have almost all been used up! Please do help us provide ‘Welcome Backpacks’ filled with essential items as pictured. Why not see if you have an unwanted/unused backpack lurking in your cupboard and fill it with as many as you can of the following items: Also desperately needed are UNWANTED PHONES please! You can take them to the Horsforth Community Cafe on a Monday or drop off at Holy Name Church Tues – Fridays 9.30 -11.30am, or drop off at CraggRead More → - Fascinating Talk on Refugees and Faith by Inderjit Bhoghal
You can access all our Lent Talks 2024 on THIS PAGE We gathered with anticipation on Weds 28th February for our first Lent Talk and were inspired and challenged by Inderjit Boghal, both the man and the message. He shared gently but passionately about his own experiences, way of living, theology, and how we can challenge the current policies, all with a disarming authenticity and clarity. If you missed the talk you can listen to it here: Afterwards we enjoyed chatting, meeting new friends and discussing the issues raised in the talk.Read More → - Volunteering Opportunities with Horsforth Town of Sanctuary
At the moment we have 3 main volunteering roles available: Volunteering at the weekly Monday conversation group at the Parkway hotel from 11-1pm Volunteers to help collect, sort and give out clothing to men seeking asylum every 6 weeks at Holy Name Church Hall (Otley Old Rd), usually on a Saturday. The next proposed date being Saturday 13th January from 12-3.30pm Volunteers to help run a monthly Horsforth Town of Sanctuary social at St Margaret’s Church on the second Friday of the month. The first one being Friday 12th January. You are not expected to volunteer every time, just according to your availability. All theRead More → - The Great Get Together -sharing a meal and stories
On 22nd Sept St Margaret’s Parish Centre was a buzz of chatter as 65 people (refugees and local Horsforth residents) enjoyed getting to know each other over international food. Four men seeking asylum hailing from Namibia, Sudan, and Yemen put together their traditional dishes for the guests to savour the taste of their homeland, including – Lamb soup, Aubergine salad, Namibian beef soup, Moroccan roast vegetables, breads and Couscous rice. Sri Lankan Dal was a vegan option cooked by Ian Kemp, volunteer on the Horsforth Town of Sanctuary committee. Mohammed Almuhandes who hails from Yemen migrated to the United Kingdom from Malta a couple ofRead More →
If you want to help or find out more, please contact our Refugee Support Worker Laura Schubert on laura@horsforthchaplaincy.org
Update July 2023
Here is a summary update from Rose McCarthy our Refugee Support Worker on what has been happening in Refugee Support from January to July 2023 – from our team newsletter.
You can see more details of what we did at this event HERE
Lots going on in Refugee Support – Dec 2022 Update
There has been lots going on to support and encourage the refugees known to the friendship group, and to progress discussions about Horsforth becoming a Town of Sanctuary – see below for an update!
FIND OUT MORE about this visit in a lovely article on the Headingley Cricket Foundation website HERE
Cricket Ground Tour and Practice
A group of asylum seekers really enjoyed a tour of Headingley Cricket Ground and learning how to play cricket, which was a new experience for most of them!
Coppicing Volunteering in Nidderdale
Five asylum seekers were not sure what to expect but had a great time in the outdoors coppicing as part of sustainable woodland rejuvenation, and made products such as stakes, weaving rods and bean poles.
FIND OUT MORE in an article about this on the website of Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Beauty HERE
More volunteer events are planned in the New year including hedge-laying and dry-stone walling, and some have already made sure their names are on the list!
Volunteering with Christmas Card Delivery in Horsforth
Nine asylum seeker men were paired up with Horsforth church volunteers to get some exercise on a very cold but mainly sunny day delivering cards across Horsforth! This made a real difference to the ground covered on the day and afterwards we had games and Thai curry together!
Bikes, Bike accessories and safety training obtained
The asylum seekers came with nothing and only have £8 a week. Through the hard work of a volunteer and generosity of businesses and individuals, nearly 30 bikes have been provided to allow the men at the hotel to gain some freedom in travel around the area and to get some much-needed exercise.
Bikes have been donated by Boston Spa Bikes, Meanwood Valley Farm and individuals.
An appeal was put out for bike accessories such as sturdy locks, helmets, warm cycle clothing, tools, pumps, and lights, which was met with very generous responses including:
- monetary donations from Headingley Rotary Club, Otley Cycle Club, the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust and individuals,
- donated accessories from members of the Otley Cycle Club, Valley Striders Cycle Club (Roundhay), Chevin Cycles and people from local churches.
To help in understanding the rules of the road, Otley Cycle Club and Bikeability have provided classroom and practical cycle lessons.
The men at the hotel are delighted with the bikes. One said:
“We are really grateful for the bikes. We live far from the local shops and city and the bikes enable us to go out. We can smell the clean air and it feels free. Some of us use the bikes just for exercise. It is the best type of medicine”
Lots of Christmas gifts donated, plus cards made by school pupils
Rose and volunteers will be busy being Santa delivering lots of presents! This includes toys from pupils at St Mary’s primary school going to various refugee groups in Leeds, chocolates and biscuits for the Refugee Maternity group, and lots of gifts donated by Lawnswood school, Woodhouse Grove school, and churches in Horsforth for the refugee mens group. In addition, 100 Christmas Cards have been made by pupils at the Co-op Academy to give to the refugee men.
Many thanks for your generosity!
Prayer Mats, copies of The Quran and Bibles
Through one of the volunteers, a mosque in Keighley have kindly donated 36 prayer mats, prayer beads and copies of the Quran which have been given out to men at the hotel who are Muslims; at the request of some of the men, Bibles in English and other languages are being collected to be given out too.
Town of Sanctuary exploratory meetings
Three meetings have taken place so far with up to 22 people attending – people who are interested in learning more about refugees and asylum seekers and how we can be more welcoming and supportive. We have met and listened to ‘experts by experience’ telling their story, discussed ideas for what Horsforth can do more of, and heard a bit about the nationwide City of Sanctuary movement. Further meetings will look at how Horsforth can work towards becoming a Town of Sanctuary.
Many thanks to so many who have volunteered and donated items – this could not be done without you and your enthusiasm!
If you want to help or find out more, please contact our Refugee Support Worker Laura Schubert on laura@horsforthchaplaincy.org