2020 was a bumpy ride for all of us. Our CEO, Andrew Jackson, shares his reflections on how Upbeat Communities had to adapt to the challenges presented by COVID-19, in order to keep supporting refugees and asylum seekers rebuilding their lives.

I think back to the first week of January 2020. The year started with hope, anticipation, and busy-ness. We were recruiting a new finance manager to cover Louise who was going on maternity leave; we were preparing for our annual staff retreat where we get to spend a few days together as a team to rest, reflect and get re-envisioned for the year ahead; and we were starting to think about how projects would develop and adapt in the coming months – new activities starting and new ideas forming.

Looking back on the year now, I know none of us could have anticipated the impact of an invisible virus on the lives of so many. The lives of refugees are no exception. In fact, perhaps, their lives have been more significantly impacted than most.

At the start of the year we were getting ready to welcome around half a dozen families through the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme in both Derbyshire and Lincolnshire. The government paused the scheme due to the pandemic, and only one family arrived this year, with many more stuck in limbo in refugee camps or insecure accommodation across the Middle East.

We hope to see the restart of this scheme this year, but future lockdown restrictions may influence when arrivals take place.

Community and relationships are a big part of who we are as a charity. Much of our service provision centred around creating a safe and welcoming place for asylum seekers and refugees; with food, a cuppa and conversation being a significant reason why people chose to attend our activities.

From March onwards this all changed. No more face-to-face activities or English classes. No community meals. No opportunities to sit together and share lives.

We had to think quickly and respond to the needs of those who engage with us whilst adhering to the lockdown conditions. This meant pivoting to online provision, with daily English classes and a women’s coffee morning being delivered digitally. One unexpected but positive outcome for us was that we saw people attending our classes not just from Derby but across the UK – students from as far away as London, Bristol, Newcastle and Glasgow!

So far, we’ve delivered 474 hours of online classes and activities, and provided 3550 session places for asylum seekers and refugees.

Our Welcome Boxes project had to adapt too. Rather than visiting new families with a welcome box, we worked with our incredible volunteers to begin a fortnightly grocery delivery service, providing much needed items to those who are living below the poverty line. We’ve been grateful to partner with a number of organisations to make this happen including The Food 4 Thought Alliance and The Hope Centre.

Since March we have been able to deliver a total of 1178 grocery packs to 120 families and individuals.

“Thank you guys for everything you are doing for the refugees community. Thank you for looking after us during this awful time and even during the normal times.” — Upbeat Participant

Not only did the grocery items help with the physical needs of those we work with, it also meant we could stay in touch with some very vulnerable people who had limited support networks (with some arriving in Derby just as the first lockdown started). Staff and volunteers gave assistance with things like getting children registered for schooling, finding a GP and accessing our online English classes.

“There was nothing random about your act of kindness. I want to tell you thank you for all of your help and kindness for my wife and my daughters and me. During this sad time, you made my family very happy. You're a blessing to me and my family.” — Upbeat Participant

I am so proud of the Upbeat team (both staff and volunteers) who have been magnificent in the face of constant change, working on risk assessment after risk assessment, and adapting to new roles and responsibilities.

I am also extremely grateful to the continued support of our funders – both grant givers and those giving one-off or regular gifts (including individuals and churches). Without this support we wouldn’t have been able to respond to the needs of those fleeing war and persecution arriving on our shores.

We got to end the year well, delivering Santa sacks full of Christmas presents to over 100 children from some of families we work with, all thanks to a partnership with Derby City Mission.

A message from one family who received presents read: “Thank you very much for Upbeat for the Christmas presents it was very kindness from you.”

As we reach the milestone of 15 years of working to welcome and support refugees, I look back on this year with both sadness, for the way many lives have been negatively impacted, but also grateful for the way we have been able to journey with those seeking sanctuary in new ways and continue to make a positive difference.

— Andrew Jackson, Chief Executive

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Thinking Back And Looking Forward