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OCTOBER 2009
NEWSLETTER
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10thAnniversary "Man Can Tell" Editorial Comment Birthdays, Meetings Volunteers Clothing Store Food Programme Men's Group To the Editor
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DEVON & CORNWALL REFUGEE SUPPORT COUNCIL
NEWSLETTER
October 2009
FOREWORD
BY THE
CHAIR OF THE DCRSC BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
BY THE
CHAIR OF THE DCRSC BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
Unfortunately, the Foreword has not reached the Editor in time for publication. It's hoped that one will be provided for the next edition. Ed.
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF DCRSC
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AISING THE PROFILE OF DCRSC. Throughout this anniversary year attempts have been made through various outlets of the advertising media to raise the profile of DCRSC.Have we succeeded? Only time will tell! The latest press feature relating to Sarah Kallon below this article has been picked up by the local radio and by the time you read this, Christine R. will have undertaken a recorded interview for Radio Devon.
Harvest Festival Appeal. Promises of donations have already been received and Christine R. will undertake a further recording at Heart FM (formerly Plymouth Sound) in due course. Heart FM have decided that DCRSC is a worthy cause to promote.
What of other events? We will again be promoting DRSC at this year's Respect Festival with our display boards etc., and the key fobs and goodies that Christine R. has been making this year. This will all help to advertise the work of DCRSC in the community.
In answer to the first question... Yes, I think we're beginning to raise the profile of DCRSC and we should all continue to play our part in this... no matter how big or small.
Written by Christine R.
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AN CAN TELL CARING IS IN THEIR NATURE. The following special article was published in The Herald as part of a full-page spread on Thursday, 17th September 2009. We are most grateful to Dominic Jeff, the author and a key reporter with the Herald. Ed.WHEN she was a child in Sierra Leone, Sarah Kallon learned to put food aside for 'Man Can Tell.'
Sarah fled her war-torn homeland nearly 20 years ago – but it was the values learned in an African village that led to her setting up the Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support Council with her late husband Sam.
She said: "Where I come from in Sierra Leone we always cooked more than enough. Whatever we cooked we put some aside for Man Can Tell – that meant for the unexpected."It was just as well, because Man Can Tell often showed up in the shape of a hungry child or neighbour.
Sarah said: "Mum would say, go and fetch the Man Can Tell food. That's how I was brought up and I still do it. Sam was raised the same way as well."
Sarah and Sam met in Russia and came to Britain as their country descended into civil war in the early 1990s.
The difficulties they encountered as refugees led them to set up the Reading and Berkshire Refugee Support Council. Then Sam moved to Plymouth in 1997 to study for a Masters degree, and found that there was work to be done here too.
At first, Sarah stayed in Reading with their baby Mariama, now 12.
She said: "Sam told me Plymouth was a long way behind on migrant issues. He said 'we need to set something up here'."
For their first two years in Plymouth, the Kallons simply did their best to help those who needed it.
"There were always people sleeping on my living room floor, and I was always cooking big pots of food for lots of people," Sarah recalls.
It wasn't easy, as Sam was a student and money was tight. But Sarah said that, as refugees, it was important for them to show unity with others in a similar position.
She said: "When I was growing up we never had enough but we still saved something for Man Can Tell.
"You can't wait until you get rich to help others. It would never happen. Just share what you have. Man Can Tell can't go without food because you are thinking of tomorrow."
The difficulties they encountered as refugees led them to set up the Reading and Berkshire Refugee Support Council. Then Sam moved to Plymouth in 1997 to study for a Masters degree, and found that there was work to be done here too.
At first, Sarah stayed in Reading with their baby Mariama, now 12.
She said: "Sam told me Plymouth was a long way behind on migrant issues. He said 'we need to set something up here'."
For their first two years in Plymouth, the Kallons simply did their best to help those who needed it.
"There were always people sleeping on my living room floor, and I was always cooking big pots of food for lots of people," Sarah recalls.
It wasn't easy, as Sam was a student and money was tight. But Sarah said that, as refugees, it was important for them to show unity with others in a similar position.
She said: "When I was growing up we never had enough but we still saved something for Man Can Tell.
"You can't wait until you get rich to help others. It would never happen. Just share what you have. Man Can Tell can't go without food because you are thinking of tomorrow."
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Gradually they started running a more organised relief effort, appealing for, and getting, donations of food and clothes.
"The Plymouth community responded very well," Sarah said. ""I must say a big thank you to all those who took what we were saying on board."
In November 1999, and with several other key figures involved, the Kallons set up the Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support Council, started putting funding bids together and gained charitable status.
It was a timely arrival. The following year the government introduced the dispersal policy for asylum-seekers, which meant that they were sent all over the country.
"We then realised that this was not going to be a small project," Sarah said.
Plymouth became the main city for receiving asylum-seekers in Devon and Cornwall, and the DCRSC became a centre to provide support, advice, guidance and information to asylum-seekers and refugees.
The organisation also set out to tackle the hostility that refugees and asylum-seekers faced from some elements of the community.
Sarah said that one of the reasons she and Sam set up the charity was to make a stand against racism.
She said that when they moved to Plymouth, they sometimes faced open racial harassment.
Now, she says, things have improved, but the majority of refugees still feel that they face discrimination.
Sarah called for more opportunities for asylum-seekers, who are currently not allowed to work until their cases are resolved, to use their skills through volunteering.
She said: "People don't become asylum-seekers by choice, but through circumstances beyond their control. We need to make people feel welcome and safe.
"Many asylum-seekers have degrees and transferable skills. They don't want to just sit around."
She added: "Plymouth is a beautiful city and migrants have added to the richness.
"I think most people have now accepted that these people are here to stay and we need to work together to build this city."
Sam died, aged 39, in 2002, but the charity he founded has continued its work.
The DCRSC has two paid caseworkers and about 50 volunteers, who give up their time to staff the centre.
Basic items of food are issued to some clients on the advice of the caseworkers, and the clothes store helps kit out recent arrivals for the unfamiliar British winter.
The centre also has an Internet suite to help clients keep in touch with their families and carry out research into their cases.
Sarah said: "Sam may have died, but his spirit has lived on through the work of the DCRSC.
"We can only do this thanks to all the wonderful volunteers, and we are always short of funds, so if anybody has anything to donate we would be very grateful."
Now 41, Sarah still has cooking pots of a size more usually seen in restaurants in the kitchen of her Devonport flat, and is always ready to feed an unexpected visitor.
She recently returned to her village in Sierra Leone for the first time in 18 years, working there with the Plymouth-based ARROW project to foster reconciliation between the former warring factions. Since Sam' death, relatives in London and Reading have asked her to go back and live with them, but she says she wants to keep working here to make Plymouth an even better place for everyone.
"The Plymouth community responded very well," Sarah said. ""I must say a big thank you to all those who took what we were saying on board."
In November 1999, and with several other key figures involved, the Kallons set up the Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support Council, started putting funding bids together and gained charitable status.
It was a timely arrival. The following year the government introduced the dispersal policy for asylum-seekers, which meant that they were sent all over the country.
"We then realised that this was not going to be a small project," Sarah said.
Plymouth became the main city for receiving asylum-seekers in Devon and Cornwall, and the DCRSC became a centre to provide support, advice, guidance and information to asylum-seekers and refugees.
The organisation also set out to tackle the hostility that refugees and asylum-seekers faced from some elements of the community.
Sarah said that one of the reasons she and Sam set up the charity was to make a stand against racism.She said that when they moved to Plymouth, they sometimes faced open racial harassment.
Now, she says, things have improved, but the majority of refugees still feel that they face discrimination.
Sarah called for more opportunities for asylum-seekers, who are currently not allowed to work until their cases are resolved, to use their skills through volunteering.
She said: "People don't become asylum-seekers by choice, but through circumstances beyond their control. We need to make people feel welcome and safe.
"Many asylum-seekers have degrees and transferable skills. They don't want to just sit around."
She added: "Plymouth is a beautiful city and migrants have added to the richness.
"I think most people have now accepted that these people are here to stay and we need to work together to build this city."
Sam died, aged 39, in 2002, but the charity he founded has continued its work.
The DCRSC has two paid caseworkers and about 50 volunteers, who give up their time to staff the centre.
Basic items of food are issued to some clients on the advice of the caseworkers, and the clothes store helps kit out recent arrivals for the unfamiliar British winter.
The centre also has an Internet suite to help clients keep in touch with their families and carry out research into their cases.
Sarah said: "Sam may have died, but his spirit has lived on through the work of the DCRSC.
"We can only do this thanks to all the wonderful volunteers, and we are always short of funds, so if anybody has anything to donate we would be very grateful."
Now 41, Sarah still has cooking pots of a size more usually seen in restaurants in the kitchen of her Devonport flat, and is always ready to feed an unexpected visitor.
She recently returned to her village in Sierra Leone for the first time in 18 years, working there with the Plymouth-based ARROW project to foster reconciliation between the former warring factions. Since Sam' death, relatives in London and Reading have asked her to go back and live with them, but she says she wants to keep working here to make Plymouth an even better place for everyone.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
I am a Nobody.
Nobody is Perfect.
Therefore I am Perfect.
C
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, gossip, information, notices, advertisements, photographs… anything will be considered for inclusion! Ed.Deadline for the November 2009 issue:
Friday, 23rd October 2009
Friday, 23rd October 2009
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ISTRIBUTION. We would like to publicise our monthly Newsletters far and wide.
Unfortunately, due to financial constraints and to avoid postal charges, we can only send copies to those on email.
A few spare copies will be available at the Reception Desk at DCRSC. The layout is designed so that it can be printed back-to-back, so do please print off a copy
and pass it to your friends. If you are reading this and not already receiving a copy then please get in touch with the Editor. Ed.M
ASTER CONTACTS LIST. Friends and Supporters will know that I lost some vital information recently. I very much appreciate those of you who sent me information to rebuild my list. With your help it is now back to where it should be! This information is safeguarded and not for general distribution. If anyone has changed address or telephone number recently, then do please get in touch with me so I can keep our list up-to-date. Ed.M
ONTHLY EDITIONS. It is our intention to publish these Newsletters on a monthly basis. None were published in July, August or September because the Editor was undergoing hospital treatment. Geoff would like to express his sincere thanks to all those who sent him their best wishes. They were very much appreciated.
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M
OVE ALONG THE BUS PLEASE! Someone sent me this photo... I have no idea where it is or when it was taken but I hope it's going the right way! Ed.
GREETINGS & BEST WISHES!
H
APPY BIRTHDAY Lorna SEWELL for Monday, 5th October. Lorna is the Chair of the Board of Trustees for DCRSC ... have a lovely day!W
ISHING A HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Hayley KEMP for Tuesday, 6th October. Hayley is a former Volunteer and Trustee of DCRSC and remains a good Supporter. Thank you for everything Hayley... have a lovely day! B
EST WISHES to Sally MULFORD for Tuesday, 3rd November. Sally is one of our Volunteers and a keen Supporter... have a lovely day Sally! B
IRTHDAY GREETINGS for Tuesday, 3rd November to Sue TURNER. Sue is a former Volunteer and still a keen Supporter. Thanks for your support Sue! B
EST WISHES to Sarah BESONG for Wednesday, 4th November. Sarah is one of our Volunteers... have a lovely day Sarah!C
ONGRATULATIONS to Heather Sable and Ali for Tuesday, 17th November on the occasion of their Wedding Anniversary. Heather is a former Manager of DCRSC and still a keen Supporter.B
EST WISHES to Alicia SMITH for Monday, th November. Alicia is one of our Volunteers... have a lovely day!T
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.
DCRSC GENERAL MATTERS
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OARD OF TRUSTEES' MEETINGS. The August meeting was held on Thursday, 3rd August. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 22nd October. I
NTERFAITH SERVICE. This article was submitted by John Shinner, a Co-opted Member of our Board of Trustees:
An Interfaith Service was held at Sherwell Church during the afternoon of Sunday, 14th June. Many faiths were represented and the theme of the presentations was 'Welcoming a Stranger'.
Each faith emphasised that one of the most important characteristics that believers could demonstrate to strangers was one of kindness. One of the presenters who had met the Dali Lama had asked him for his basis of faith and he had said kindness.
DCRSC was very well represented with over a quarter of those present having some connection with our organisation. The deputy Lord Mayor was in attendance and showed a keen interest in all that was said. He was very sympathetic towards the whole idea of Refugee Week and the care that it displayed to Asylum Seekers and Refugees.
We were delightfully entertained by a guitarist and her daughter whose contribution to the event was quite delightful.
Written by John ShinnerDCRSC was very well represented with over a quarter of those present having some connection with our organisation. The deputy Lord Mayor was in attendance and showed a keen interest in all that was said. He was very sympathetic towards the whole idea of Refugee Week and the care that it displayed to Asylum Seekers and Refugees.
We were delightfully entertained by a guitarist and her daughter whose contribution to the event was quite delightful.
P
LYMOUTH ASYLUM SEEKER & REFUGEE CONSORTIUM (PASRC). The Consortium held a meeting on Monday, 21st September. Should anyone wish to have further information please contact a Trustee of DSCRSC.R
EFURBISHMENT OF DCRSC (7, WHIMPLE STREET). The Centre will be repainted on Friday, 2nd October. The Reception Area will be cleared and the carpet lifted after closing time on Thursday, 8th October and new vinyl flooring will be laid on Friday, 9th October.
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ALKS AND PRESENTATIONS. • Do you know the correct definition of an Asylum Seeker?
• Do you really know what a Refugee is?
• Do you know what happens to an Asylum Seeker when they arrive in the UK?
• Are you aware of any support and / or assistance given to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the counties of Devon & Cornwall?
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Are you a School, Group or Organisation that wouldwelcome a
Talk about the work of DCRSC?
Please get in touch with the Editor in the first instance.
Talk about the work of DCRSC?
Please get in touch with the Editor in the first instance.
V
OLUNTEERS.Roster Changes. Volunteers are requested to please try to telephone if you they are unable to attend for a duty they have volunteered to do. They should also feel free to amend the roster in the kitchen if they know in advance of any changes - it is there to be scribbled on!
Attendance Times. There are still some difficulties caused by volunteers not sticking to attendance times for sessions:
Morning Sessions run from 9.45 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
Afternoon Sessions run from 12.15 to 3 p.m.
Timing Flexibility. There is obviously a bit of flexibility required, e.g. dependent on bus times, but Volunteers are requested to be as punctual as they can.
V
OLUNTEERS IDENTIFICATION BADGES. This is a new idea that will allow our Volunteers to be readily identifiable... especially to our Service Users. Christine R. would like the names of any Volunteer who would like to have a badge produced with their name on. They really are smart! Ed. V
OLUNTEERS' MEETINGS. The September meeting was held on Thursday, 24th September and the minutes are available in the Centre. All volunteers are requested to attend the October Meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, 29th October. Volunteers who find they are unable to attend should, as a matter of courtesy, inform our Volunteer Coordinator (Liz H.) prior to the meeting.V
OLUNTEERS NEEDED URGENTLY! DRCSC is currently seeking new volunteers who can give up one day a week or even one hour! No previous qualifications are required. We particularly need help in our Clothing Store at present but there are other voluntary opportunities such as: • The Food Programme
• The Information Technology Suite
• The Men's Development Group
• The Reception Desk
Think you would like to help?
Please call in to the Centre and ask for Liz H., our Volunteer Coordinator.
Alternatively, please contact the Editor for further information.
• Double duvet covers,
• Blankets,
• Towels,
• And Kitchen Items.
If you can help out then please bring them along to the Centre or contact me to arrange collection. Ed.
Alternatively, please contact the Editor for further information.
V
OLUNTEERS' POLICY DOCUMENT. Our Volunteer Coordinator, Liz H., has been working on an advisory document that encompasses all aspects of volunteering within DCRSC. Trying to keep the document simple whilst attempting to encompass every aspect is a challenge in itself. It is thought that this document is nearing completion and should be ready for publishing within the next month or so. THE DCRSC CLOTHING STORE
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HECKOUT. All Staff and Volunteers who see and would like items from the Clothing Store must fill in the usual ticket, as do our Service Users, and have it checked out by either Liz H., Pat J., Trish B. or Margaret S. before they leave the store. Cooperation is essential for the fairness and smooth running of our services. M
ONTHLY UPDATE. I did email the Clothing Store Coordinator for an update but unfortunately I've not received a response. Perhaps we'll hear something next month? However, I have heard on the grapevine that the Clothing Store is desperate need of:
• Double duvet covers,
• Blankets,
• Towels,
• And Kitchen Items.
O
PENING TIMES. The opening of the Clothing Store could be delayed on Wednesday mornings if there are backlog of donations to be sorted. Volunteers will do everything in their power to keep delays to the minimum.S
LEEPING BAGS. An Appeal! We would welcome the donation of any Sleeping Bags that are no longer needed. Winter will be fast approaching and we are once again preparing Rough Sleeping Kits. Any assistance would be very much appreciated. 4
THE DCRSC FOOD PROGRAMME
D
ONATIONS. Donations in cash and kind have been dwindling ever since the recession began to bite. According to John S., our erstwhile Assistant Accountant, on top of this, funding from LankellyChase for the Food Programme will cease in January next year. We are finding it difficult enough now to provide our destitute Service Users with weekly Food Parcels... life will be so much harder next year! I urge you please to support us and to please donate items of dry food or cash to us for our Service Users. Every little helps! If you are unable to deliver then we can arrange collection... just contact Geoff the Editor! Thank you.F
OOD PARCELS are still being distributed at a steady rate, with no signs of any decrease in numbers. The budget allocation can still be maintained, but some modification in food purchases has had to be made in order to keep within that figure. One thing that has happened in recent months is the decrease in food donations. We rely heavily on these to supplement the food parcels and thereby give our Service Users a bit of variety in their diet.H
ARVEST FESTIVAL APPEAL: Food Parcel Collections. THE DCRSC appeals for food donations every year at the time of the Harvest Festival, when churches collect food for charity.
Christine Reid, assistant food programme coordinator with DCRSC, said: "Receiving gifts of food will help to supplement the food parcels that are given out each week to our needy asylum-seekers and refugees who would otherwise go hungry, as they have very little to provide for themselves. "We also supply toiletry packs, so donations for these are welcome."The DCRSC distributes basic, non-perishable food as well as small luxuries such as tea and coffee to asylum-seekers and refugees from its drop-in centre in Plymouth, based on carefully assessed needs.
For further information regarding donations, please contact Mrs. Reid, either by telephoning DCRSC or contacting her on 01752 567631 or mobile 07792292353 or by email:
For further information regarding donations, please contact Mrs. Reid, either by telephoning DCRSC or contacting her on 01752 567631 or mobile 07792292353 or by email:
L
OVE FOOD – HATE WASTE! I came across this delightful website the other day and recommend it to you all. It gives some good suggestions about this that and the other! Ed.S
UBSTITUTE ITEMS. There has recently been some concern over the cost of our Basic Items, e.g. Corned Beef so substitutes have been found. With costs increasing we do our best to provide the best we can whilst remaining within our budget! T
OILETRY PACKS. These are still being given out on a cyclical basis to our permanent Service Users. There is no budget for this and so we rely heavily on donations. We are currently in need of:
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ELCOME TO FOOD. Welcome to the fabulous, free, food magazine for the South West of England. If you love good food and drink - from shopping, to cooking to eating out - you'll find your appetite whetted here. The September-October issues are out now and they are all about Celebration of Food. Celebration of Food is our own festival and the biggest of its kind in the UK with over 240 events taking place in Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Devon & Cornwall throughout October 2009. From cookery master classes to a foodie fun for kids to an Eat Out for £10 promotion, there's something for everyone. The new issues of the food magazines have nearly all of the listings, but as new events are being added all the time, to see just what's going on, and where and when, visit the Celebration website:
www.celebrationoffood.co.uk/ To get your free copy of the Food Magazine please visit: www.food-mag.co.uk/index.php
Enjoy!
Jo Rees
Editor
Jo has promised to mention DCRSC in a forthcoming issue of her Food Magazine. Ed.
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ELCOME TO THE FIRST CELEBRATION OF FOOD ENEWSLETTER! The month-long festival starts on 1st October and for the next five weeks we'll be bringing you weekly round-ups of what's going on so that you can get your diary crammed full for the whole of the month!
Take the train. The Celebration is a great reason to get around the South West on your personal foodie tour and one of our sponsors, First Great Western, has some good deals on to encourage you to use the train for your tour. To find out more about the Freedom Travelpass and Ride Cornwall pass, click here.
Gourmet get-away. If you fancy making the Celebration your excuse for a mini-break, then check out the lovely cottages and holiday homes from Marsden's Cottage holidays which would be the perfect base for a week of good autumnal eating. Find out more here.
Less crunch with your lunch. There'll also be some great Eat Out for £10 offers going on throughout the month. To see what's available, visit the Celebration of Food website here and choose Eat Out for £10 from the Pick & Click menu.
Below is our first pick of the crop for the start of October (click on the links) - enjoy!Gourmet get-away. If you fancy making the Celebration your excuse for a mini-break, then check out the lovely cottages and holiday homes from Marsden's Cottage holidays which would be the perfect base for a week of good autumnal eating. Find out more here.
Less crunch with your lunch. There'll also be some great Eat Out for £10 offers going on throughout the month. To see what's available, visit the Celebration of Food website here and choose Eat Out for £10 from the Pick & Click menu.
Jo
Jo Rees, editor, food
T
HANK YOU! In the absence of the Food Programme Coordinator, his Assistant wishes to thank those who have given their time in the recent months and have supported her during the past few months or so.THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUITE
M
ONTHLY UPDATE. I did email the IT Coordinator for an update but unfortunately I've not received a response. Perhaps we'll hear something next month? Ed. S
TATISTICS. An average of 15 Service Users per day used the Internet Suite users during August.
THE MEN'S DEVELOPMENT GROUP
G
YM SESSIONS. Gym sessions are held every Tuesday at 10.30 a.m. at the HQ Building, Union Street, Stonehouse, ( YMCA ). Further information can be obtained from Bill B. at DCRSC. THE
WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT GROUP
WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT GROUP
D
CRSC are not currently operating this Group. However, we do have plenty of information regarding other Ladies Groups. Please contact the Ed for further information.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
From: Who?
To: Geoffrey Read
Sent: Undated
Subject: Re: DCRSC NEWSLETTER: June 2009 EDITION
No-one, but no-one has written to me. It's awfully lonely here!
Ed.
D
O YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? Do please write and tell us. Ed.
NEWS, GOSSIP & ADVERTISEMENTS
THIS SPACE COULD HAVE BEEN USED
TO PLACE YOUR NOTICE!
Why not contact the Editor ?
B
ONFIRE & FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR. Thursday, 5thNovember on the Hoe.
B
RITAIN MUST TAKE MORE WAR REFUGEES AS BRUSSELS WANTS US TO OPEN THE DOORS TO THOUSANDS. The following article was published in a national newspaper on Thursday, 5th eptember. Britain will be asked to accept thousands more refugees a year as part of moves by Brussels towards a single immigration and asylum policy across the EU.
Many will come from war zones such as Somalia and Sudan under plans for a 'Joint EU Resettlement Programme'.
In an attempt to reduce public concern about the cost, Britain will be offered 4,000 Euros (£3,500) for every refugee it accepts.
The EU wants to force European countries take more asylum seekers and share the load more equally. The project, launched by European Commission vice-president Jacques Barrot yesterday, is widely seen as the first part of a Brussels blueprint to roll out a common immigration and asylum policy across the EU.
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