Upbeat's Work Welcoming Asylum Seekers in Long Eaton

We asked Shelagh to share her experiences of welcoming refugees in Long Eaton, offering English classes and games so that community can be built among the most isolated.

I first heard about volunteering sometime last year when a friend thought I might be interested in supporting the asylum seekers with their English language. Once I knew a bit more about it, I was keen to get involved.

I first started volunteering at one of the hotels in Long Eaton that accommodates asylum seekers who have fled war and persecution. Straightaway I met some delightful people and we often had a good laugh, despite not knowing each other’s languages! We invited them to join our English class and improve their English.

Before long, I heard about the training delivered by Upbeat Communities and was keen to attend and further my knowledge. The session was so interesting; I learnt a great deal about the asylum process and the barriers that individuals face.

Then came the interview with the lovely Lauren (Upbeat Volunteer Coordinator). That went well and I then became part of the satellite Upbeat hub set up in Long Eaton. We established a 2-hour session on Tuesday afternoons, offering a social space for the asylum seekers from the hotels there.

Word spread, and each week more and more participants came along to chat, have a drink and some snacks, and play a range of board games. I love board games anyway, so it was fun to challenge folk to Connect4 or Jenga – again, lots of laughs!

The 1:1 conversations I had with guys were often an opportunity for them to talk about whatever was on their mind. This could about their experience in the hotels, or just a general chat. Some of the participants told me about how they were missing family and about their journey to the UK.

One person in particular had travelled from Ethiopia via several countries, with horrendous experiences along the way. He had then been kept in Gatwick airport accommodation which was extremely unpleasant. The most stressful part was the fact that he was never informed about how long he would be there and he was constantly fearful that he would be put on a flight back to his country. I never asked anyone about their specific experience, but I like to think this safe place to talk was of real benefit to everyone who came along. We got to know some of the chaps quite well and it was lovely to see their smiles as they arrived each week.

Perhaps the highlight since I started volunteering with Upbeat was the Christmas party. We played all sorts of games, had lots of delicious food, and were able to give each of them a present. My abiding memory is of playing Musical Chairs – the guys absolutely loved it and were quite competitive!

Overall, I feel privileged to meet the participants and get to hear their stories. So many of them have a huge amount to offer this country and I very much hope that each one will find peace of mind in the UK. For the time being at least, the Tuesday sessions are perhaps a small step towards that goal.

— Shelagh Roberts, Upbeat Volunteer

If you would like to support Upbeat’s work with asylum seekers in Derby and Long Eaton, you can make a donation today: upbeatcommunities.org/donate

Update 4th July: the Upbeat satellite hub has now stopped in Long Eaton as the hotels there no longer accommodate asylum seekers. We are so thankful to amazing volunteers like Shelagh who helped to create community at a vital point in many of these guys’ journeys. Thank you!