A Place Called Home
Oasis is committed to providing support for Afghan evacuee families, many of whom are now safely in Britain but living in hotel accommodation. Our academies and community hubs across the country are working with the Home Office and local authorities to host and house families.
You can also register your interest in housing and supporting a family yourself, as part of a local community group. Find out more below.
You can help in two ways
Currently, we are supporting around 200 families in the Bristol and Southampton area with education, bussing them into our academies where they can access practical help and support.
We’re in it for the long haul. We want to offer not just the basics of life, but wraparound support that enables people to become part of their community. You can support Afghan evacuee families on their uphill struggle to a new life in two ways as part of the Oasis ‘A Place Called Home’ project:
Meet a need right now
You can act right now to help provide basic essentials to displaced Afghan families. We are in touch with these families day-to-day and your donation will support their practical needs. Please donate via the ‘A Place Called Home’ button above.
Set up your own group to support a family
Oasis Hubs across the country are working to support families for the long term through community sponsorship. You can also set up a project with your church or community group to house and support a family yourself, as part of the Government’s Community Sponsorship scheme administered by the Reset organisation. We can support you in this scheme, please email us to register at aplacecalledhome@oasisuk.org
Helping evacuee families in Bristol and Southampton
Oasis is working with Bristol City Council to help over 90 Afghan children living in hotel accommodation to receive education, family and community support. We are also helping other children in Southampton with places in Oasis Academies.
“Right now, these families need essentials such as phone cards, nappies, personal hygiene products and travel cards,” says Oasis Community worker, Paul Woodman (pictured above with an evacuee family).
Paul has been organising the school minibus to drive families from their hotels to induction days at Oasis schools. Some hotels are a long way out of town near airports.
“People are grateful for safety, food and clothes but now what they urgently need is cash to buy personal items, travel passes and phone cards,” says Paul.
“They are desperately worried about their relatives back home, yet most are still using Afghan phones in WiFi areas. There is no easy access to laptops either. We want to bring some comfort and dignity to these families as they struggle to start a new life.”
House a family in your local community
Your local community group could apply to support a refugee family. Oasis has wide experience of doing this and we can help you – every step of the way!
The most difficult time for a refugee family after arrival in the UK is the move from temporary hotel accommodation to ‘real life’. It’s not just housing; bank accounts need to be set up, English lessons and job skills are needed, even shopping and cooking are different. And, then there’s schooling for children and the search for jobs, all while still grieving what they have lost.
You could get together with friends, neighbours and workmates, or your place of worship. Working with your community group, we’ll show you how to raise a sum of around £9,000 (enough to support a family through the first few challenging months); partner with your local authority; and get your project started.
From then things will become largely self-funding. So it’s not as difficult as you might think and we’ll be there to guide and help you as you prepare over the coming months.
Want to know more? Register your interest with us using the button below to receive our step-by-step guide.
Got question? Email us at: info@oasisuk.org
How one family thrived
Today, Ahmed* and Tariq* are active students in their local school. Their family is learning English and studying as well as working within areas of their training.
It’s all a far cry from three years ago when the family arrived from Syria, traumatised by their experiences and with little English. They have shown incredible resolve and resilience since they arrived at the community hub run by Oasis in Waterloo.
The support offered to the family has made a life-changing difference. Oasis Debt Advice centre has provided financial help in the midst of the roll-out of Universal Credit. There were opportunities to learn English via our ‘English as a Second Language’ Course; housing was secured with help from individuals from Waterloo and beyond, and a team of volunteers have befriended and supported the family as they adjusted to a new life in England.
” The project was about meeting people where they are, building community and becoming true friends.”
Clare, who headed up the project, said, “This hasn’t been a case of a saviour complex. It’s about meeting people where they are, building community and becoming true friends.
“The family from Syria have brought much love (and amazing food!). So often, refugee sponsorship is viewed as a one-way street. But we have learned a lot, and are better people for having the family as part of our community.”
*names changed