ONTENTS.   I do listen to the comments made about the Newsletter.   Really I do!   Some like a short newsletter, others prefer a longer version.   Some like to read it straight from their PC screen, others like to print it off and read it in bed!   It’s a case of some of the people some of the time...!   This edition is quite long.   As my health has been slowly picking up so I have managed to include items that I missed earlier in the year.   Because of the length of this edition I have introduced a List of Contents.   If reading this on-screen... simply click on one of the underlined links and you will be taken directly to that paragraph.   I hope it works for you.   Do please keep your comments coming in!   Ed.

CONTENTS

Foreword	Page 1
Editorial Comment	Page 1
Letters to the Editor	Page 2
Greetings & Best Wishes	Page 2
10th Anniversary of DCRSC	Page 3
DCRSC General Matters	Page 3
The Clothing Store	Page 4
The Food Programme	Page 5
The Internet Suite	Page 5
The Activities Group	Page 6
News, Information & Advertisement	Page 6
Diary Dates	Page 12

ONTRIBUTIONS.   We welcome all contributions from anyone to our monthly Newsletters.   Do you have something to include?   Please pass your article or comment to the  Editor whose contact details are at the foot of each page.   News, information, notices, advertisements, photographs…   anything will be considered for inclusion!   Ed.

ONGRATULATIONS.   Heartfelt congratulations to Hadi and Danaih AL-Z. on the occasion of the birth of their second child on Thursday, 29^th October.   The new baby girl is called Lana and she and Mum are both doing well!

APPY BIRTHDAY to Monica YUNNIE for Saturday, 12^th December.   Monica was a former Volunteer with us and is still a very keen Supporter.   Have a lovely day Monica!

ISHING A HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Rachel GREAVES for Friday, 1^st January...   New Yea's Day! Rachel is one of our volunteer's on our Reception Desk but also helps out on the Food Team is a Supporter.   Happy Birthday and Happy New Year Rachel!

EST WISHES to Charlie TAYLOR for Saturday, 2^nd January.   Charlie was formerly our Clothing Store Coordinator but is still a Supporter... have a lovely day Charlie!

APPY BIRTHDAY to Melanie COYNE for Friday, 8^th January   Melanie works with Refugee Action. Have a lovely day Melanie!

ISHING A HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Aferdita ALIMAHDI for Sunday, 10^th January.   Aferdita is a member of our Food Team but she always busies herself on so many other things.   A really hard worker!   Happy Birthday Aferdita!

APPY BIRTHDAY to Bill BUDGE for Saturday, 30^th January.   Bill is the mainstay of the Reception Desk and the Coordinator of the Men's Development Group. Have a lovely day Bill!

EST WISHES  to John SHINNER who is scheduled to be admitted to Derriford Hospital on Wednesday, 2^nd December for an operation to his knee.   Hurry up back John... we will miss you at the Centre.   Stop malingering!
HANK YOU to each of you for all the work and support you"ve given.   We hope you'll all enjoy your special day!  By the way... have we missed anyone?   Do please let me know!   Ed.

Normal opening times will resume on Monday, 4^th January 2010.

LYMOUTH ASYLUM SEEKER & REFUGEE CONSORTIUM (PASRC).   PASRC was set up in order to provide a unified voice for three Asylum Seeker & Refugee organisations, namely DCRSC, START, and Refugees First.   The Consortium has regular meetings to discuss matters affecting us all, and has been essential in obtaining a Service Level Agreement with Plymouth City Council.   It provides a more powerful influence than if we acted separately, although we each retain our individuality.   For the coming year (starting in October) the Chair of the DCRSC Board of Trustees (Lorna Sewell) has taken the Chair of PASRC.   Next year it will be the turn of Refugees First.

Written by Arnold Melhuish

The Consortium held a meeting on Monday, 9^th November 2009.   It is not yet known when the next meeting has been scheduled for.   Should anyone wish to have further information please contact a Trustee of DSCRSC.

RIVATE LIMITED COMPANY.   On 1^st January 2010 DCRSC will become a Private Company Limited by Guarantee, and will then be called Devon & Cornwall Refugee Support.   We will be dropping the word 'Council' as there are complications if we wish to continue using it.   In any case, the title 'DCRS' is less of a mouthful than DCRSC.   In terms of what we do, the way we work, and life in general at the Centre, there will be no change.   It is a legal thing which means broadly that should we run into financial difficulties the Trustees will not be liable for crippling debts.   All this will mean we will need to alter our Letter Heads and other documents and this will of course be done in due course.   Although rather tiresome, it is a move which brings us into line with the vast majority of other charities.

Written by Arnold Melhuish

The Board of Trustees will be receiving a professional briefing on Thursday, 17^th December where they will learn more about the formation of DCRSC as a Public Limited Company.   We hope to be in a position to pass on more information in our January edition.   Ed.

OLUNTEERS' MEETINGS.   The October meeting was held on Thursday, 26^th November and the minutes are available in the Centre.   All volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend the January 2010 Meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, 28^th January.   There will be no meeting in December.   Volunteers who find they are unable to attend should, as a matter of courtesy, inform our Volunteer Coordinator (Liz H.) prior to the meeting.


EPORT.   We are so very grateful to all our supporters for the donations made to our Clothing Store.   It just comes rolling in!   The other day someone came in desperate for pillows.   Within five minutes a supporter came in with ten!   We also had a request from Penzance via Refugee Action and we were able to arrange a delivery that delighted the recipient and all the clothes fitted.   We are truly bursting at the seams and wishing for a bigger storage area.
Single and double duvets and pillows   (in good condition of course)   go very quickly so they are our greatest need at present.   Apart from these items and because we have a real storage problem we are asking supporters to withhold further donations until after Christmas and then to check with the Centre to see if we have the space.   We hope you will understand our dilemma.
Our present needs are:


Margaret is still searching for a permanent Coordinator to manage the store.   Many thanks to everyone who has so generously donated items of clothing, etc., to the Store over the past few months.   Thank you all for your ongoing support.

Written by Margaret Shinner

IS FOOD.   We also had an unexpected bonus with a large donation of goodies, that was shared with other agencies in Plymouth, from a Charity called HIS Food.   A lorry with pallets full of tinned and packaged food was unloaded at a central location and we could help ourselves to what we required.   Needless to say our store is now full and the surplus is stored elsewhere on a temporary basis.   This has indeed helped our reserves of food and also our Food Programme Budget.

HANK YOU.     Thank you to all who have given food this past month, it is greatly appreciated.

HANK YOU.     Thank you to all the Food Team Members who have given of their time these past few months.

OILETRY PACKS.   Our permanent Service Users still receive a Toiletry Pack each month.   Donations of items for these packs are always welcome.   We are currently in need of the following:

The above articles, apart from the first two, were written by Christine Reid



ONTHLY REPORT.   The Internet Suite continues to be in constant use (when supervisors are available) and Service Users have half-hour sessions, or longer if there is no queue.   The three computers are a great improvement on the previous ones, and provide the means by which contact can be maintained with home countries, news items listened to, national music played, or information on governmental websites accessed.   They are of vital importance and of great comfort to those far from home and their own familiar culture.   It is hoped that we shall obtain earphones for all three computers so that music can be listened to without disturbing the next door user.   In October there were 86 users for a total of 66 hours.

Written by Arnold Melhuish

NEVER-ENDINGSTORY!   Last year we related the awful reality of those service users who have nowhere to stay, due to untimely circumstances in their seeking sanctuary in the UK.

We see the same faces coming onto the Food Programme from one year to the next, whilst they wait for the UK government to recognise their need for protection.   Some find some members of their own community compassionate enough to allow them floor space to sleep, shared meals to sustain life and companionship when wandering the streets could be a 24/7 lifestyle.

In 2006 one of our Darfurian service users was granted a positive decision on his claim for asylum but the Home Office respondent challenged that by arguing that he could be safely returned to Khartoum.   That relief of knowing he was finally safe to live without fear brought joy that was suddenly and swiftly robbed away by the determination of the UK Border Agency to guard our borders and remove those who should not be here in the UK.

Last year the newspapers reported on one Sudanese who was returned to his country and was shot dead in his village soon after arrival.

Last month the UK government finally acknowledged the risks for those Darfurians returning to Khartoum and altered the guidelines provided to those who make decisions on these cases.

Last week a Solicitor hoping to represent our service user to challenge the delay in their recognition of his need to stay, waited in vain for his appointment to show because such is the deep disappointment that settled in his heart in 2006, he cannot face the prospect of going through the whole procedure again.

We have lost touch with him now.   Homeless and vulnerable, the agencies in our city that are there to provide shelter for the rough sleepers were helplessly denying this man a place of safety.