Image: Jazzmany / Shutterstock.com
The stages from being uprooted to settling
Get the help you need
If you are a newcomer with refugee background or seeking asylum and living in Elmbridge we can help in a variety of ways including language tuition, provision of furniture or clothes, connecting you to other families with similar experiences, help with finding a job, and small grants (see support fund below). Please get in get in touch with us so that we can see how best we can help you. If you are from Afghanistan see Support for those fleeing Afghanistan
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Weekly meet-ups - Just drop in, no need to sign upWe are beginning to offer weekly meet-ups, open to all newly arrived Ukrainians and any other refugees living in Elmbridge:
Cobham -Monday 1:15-2:30pm- Churchgate House Centre KT11 3EJ Weybridge - Tuesdays 10-12pm at Weybridge Centre for the Community, Churchfields House, Churchfield Road, KT13-8DB Walton - Thursday 1-2:30pm - Centre for The Community -Manor Rd, KT12 2PBF Claygate - Thursday 1:30-3pm from 5th May- Claygate Youth & community hub, KT10 0EH Molesey, Hersham, Esher, Thames Ditton to be announced soon |
Ongoing support
- English Language ESOL Classes & Digital literacy, weekly (Afghan hotel only)
- 1-2-1 online ESOL and Subject Specific homework Support to existing famlies in Elmbridge
- Yoga small group weekly - (Afghan hotel only at the moment)
- Cycling Proficiency
- Digital support
- Other wellbeing support activities and events arranged on an ongoing basis
UKRAINE-SPECIFIC UPDATE April 2022
If you are a Ukrainian refugee hoping to be hosted in Elmbridge, we are not a matching service , as there are national organisations that do that (See Reset), but we are currently liaising with Elmbridge Borough Council on how best to get visibility on local hosts. In the meantime we hope these links are of use
If you are a host or if you have already arrived as a Ukrainian newcomer, we hope these links are useful, and and if you need us please get in touch with us so we can put you in touch with services relevant to your needs.
- Information for hosts from Elmbridge Borough Council
- the Ukrainian Institute London - a great signposting website of all Ukrainian supporting organisations and a step-by-step guide to visas and specifically their Guide to settling in
- We also recommend this facebook list from our umbrella organisation City of Sanctuary about how best to support the people of Ukraine at the moment.
- Cultural Guide to hosting refugees from Ukraine
- Red Cross also very useful info such as registering for a doctor, how the health system works, how the benefits system works etc.
Welcome Guides for Ukrainians:
Ukraine welcome guide from the Government - download
As above, but in Ukrainian Що у цьому документі?- download
English lessons for Ukrainians:
Surrey County Council are planning to offer English lessons for arrivals from Ukraine
Also check out the Weybridge School of English for lessons.
We also may be able to find a 1-2-1 English volunteer for you get in touch with us
Elmbridge Borough Council links:
Elmbridge Stands with Ukraine
Please visit us at the local hub Weekly Meet-ups at the top of this page for getting to know each other and sharing information.
If you are a host or if you have already arrived as a Ukrainian newcomer, we hope these links are useful, and and if you need us please get in touch with us so we can put you in touch with services relevant to your needs.
- Information for hosts from Elmbridge Borough Council
- the Ukrainian Institute London - a great signposting website of all Ukrainian supporting organisations and a step-by-step guide to visas and specifically their Guide to settling in
- We also recommend this facebook list from our umbrella organisation City of Sanctuary about how best to support the people of Ukraine at the moment.
- Cultural Guide to hosting refugees from Ukraine
- Red Cross also very useful info such as registering for a doctor, how the health system works, how the benefits system works etc.
Welcome Guides for Ukrainians:
Ukraine welcome guide from the Government - download
As above, but in Ukrainian Що у цьому документі?- download
English lessons for Ukrainians:
Surrey County Council are planning to offer English lessons for arrivals from Ukraine
Also check out the Weybridge School of English for lessons.
We also may be able to find a 1-2-1 English volunteer for you get in touch with us
Elmbridge Borough Council links:
Elmbridge Stands with Ukraine
Please visit us at the local hub Weekly Meet-ups at the top of this page for getting to know each other and sharing information.
Help to find a job
Lessons we've learned :
1. Learn English as quickly as you can - this is always the most important requirement
2. Think about what is your passion long term, and what you need in the short term for money. As much as possible, build your passions in your life somehow
3. Consider training while you are learning English or waiting to find something
4. Build yourself up with a a good cv (even if you have very little experience) , we can help you with that
5. Practice being interviewed, we can help you with that
6. Be prepared to do work experience for free, it's often a good way in to paid employment
We've tried to save you time by collecting lots of useful information to help you, either with paid work or just work experience (free work that can help you get to paid work)
1. How do I get ready for finding a job? - Employment Support organisations
2. Tools like sample cv's
3. Job searching websites - places where companies post their vacancies
4. Training opportunities, including many free ones
If you have specific questions, feel free to get in touch and we'll put you in touch with someone from the employment group.
1. Learn English as quickly as you can - this is always the most important requirement
2. Think about what is your passion long term, and what you need in the short term for money. As much as possible, build your passions in your life somehow
3. Consider training while you are learning English or waiting to find something
4. Build yourself up with a a good cv (even if you have very little experience) , we can help you with that
5. Practice being interviewed, we can help you with that
6. Be prepared to do work experience for free, it's often a good way in to paid employment
We've tried to save you time by collecting lots of useful information to help you, either with paid work or just work experience (free work that can help you get to paid work)
1. How do I get ready for finding a job? - Employment Support organisations
2. Tools like sample cv's
3. Job searching websites - places where companies post their vacancies
4. Training opportunities, including many free ones
If you have specific questions, feel free to get in touch and we'll put you in touch with someone from the employment group.
Elmbridge CAN Support Fund 200
ABOUT THE FUND
The fund provides small grants of up to £200 to refugees and asylum seekers living in Elmbridge and is funded entirely by charity donations.
Tgrants can be used for essential needs* including, but not limited to:
* Needs are deemed essential if they are necessary to provide a basic standard of living according to the standards of the majority of people in the area.
WHO CAN APPLY
Applications will generally be considered on the recommendation of Elmbridge CAN steering group members or volunteers, the representative of other local charitable organisations, health, council or social services professionals. But refugees and asylum-seekers can also make direct applications. Simply complete our online application form or download and complete the application form and return it by post to: Elmbridge CAN, PO Box 112, East Molesey, KT8 8EN. Please contact us if you would like a copy of this form in Arabic.
The fund provides small grants of up to £200 to refugees and asylum seekers living in Elmbridge and is funded entirely by charity donations.
Tgrants can be used for essential needs* including, but not limited to:
- Travel cards to access education or employment, to visit family members or to attend welcome events.
- Play therapy support for children or other activities that foster social inclusion.
- Basic household items including small items of furniture.
- Items necessary for ‘settling in’ such as specialist cooking pots.
- Clothing, including shoes, warm coats, school uniforms etc.
* Needs are deemed essential if they are necessary to provide a basic standard of living according to the standards of the majority of people in the area.
WHO CAN APPLY
Applications will generally be considered on the recommendation of Elmbridge CAN steering group members or volunteers, the representative of other local charitable organisations, health, council or social services professionals. But refugees and asylum-seekers can also make direct applications. Simply complete our online application form or download and complete the application form and return it by post to: Elmbridge CAN, PO Box 112, East Molesey, KT8 8EN. Please contact us if you would like a copy of this form in Arabic.
Please note:
- Grants should not be applied for retrospectively.
- Receipts will be required for accounting purposes.
- If an applicant is under 18, the grant will need to be paid to an adult and it is their responsibility to ensure the money is spent in accordance with the application.
DONATIONS to the support fund can be made on our donate page
