Help refugees & asylum seekers learn in Norwich

Situation

When asylum seekers arrive in Norwich they often find themselves lonely, isolated and without a community to approach for support. Having fled their homes because of war or persecution, they must navigate a new culture and complex legal processes, often with limited English. Making a new life here is even harder with next to no financial resources and while suffering the after-effects of traumatic experiences.

Solution

New Routes runs a weekly programme of skill-building and isolation-busting activities and provides one-to-one support for housing, education and wellbeing through casework and mentoring and befriending. At the heart of our activities is our 3x weekly English class and shared lunch, delivered by trained volunteers, providing a space for communities to gather and new cross-cultural friendships to be formed. The trusting relationships that are formed here pave the way for further targeted support.