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Building confidence and community: Jamila’s journey with Voices

28th February 2025NewsTagged ,

At Voices in Exile, we strive to provide a welcoming space where refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants can build skills, gain confidence, and feel settled in their new communities.  

One of the people we have recently supported is Jamila, a single mother from Afghanistan, who arrived in Brighton early last year with her fourteen-year-old son, Farid. Facing isolation, language barriers, and the challenges of adapting to life in a new country, Jamila was referred to Voices in Exile by her resettlement caseworker. Over the past year, she has accessed a range of activities and support services, helping her to settle, develop independence, and look towards the future. 

Jamila’s initial challenges were significant. She struggled with limited access to services and activities, financial constraints, and the emotional toll of past trauma. Depression and loneliness made it difficult for her to engage with others, and she worried about Farid’s education and integration into his new school. 

Through Voices in Exile’s group activities, Jamila was introduced to local events and services. She attended cultural events at the Jubilee Library, dance sessions at Dance Space, and informal conversation groups, helping her feel more engaged with her community. To support Farid’s wellbeing, he was encouraged to join the Global Social Club, where he was able to connect with peers and build friendships in a supportive environment.  

To improve her independence, Jamila attended IT skills training at Jubilee Library, learning how to navigate digital services and develop essential computer skills. Her English also improved through structured language-focused group sessions at Voices in Exile. These sessions included games, role-play, and practical exercises designed to build confidence and familiarity with everyday interactions. 

Beyond practical skills, Jamila engaged in wellbeing activities, including drama, Qi Gong, and art therapy. These sessions helped her manage stress, connect with other group members, and develop a sense of belonging. As her confidence grew, she began participating more actively in group discussions and social interactions. 

A year on, Jamila is an enthusiastic member of our group activities and is eager to continue learning. She hopes to further improve her English, gain new skills, and eventually return to work as a hairdresser so she can support herself and her son independently. 

At Voices in Exile, we believe that no one should have to face these challenges alone. Jamila’s journey is just one example of how access to the right support can empower people to rebuild their lives with confidence and dignity. 

Finding a new passion in supporting others: Rahmat’s story

27th February 2025NewsTagged , ,

Our volunteers play a vital role in supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants as they navigate life in the UK. From language lessons to practical advice, their dedication makes a real difference in helping people build new lives. In this blog, Rahmat, one of our incredible volunteers, shares his journey—from moving to the UK himself to now supporting others in their own resettlement. 

“I’m a retired Finance Director. I am married with two daughters and four grandchildren. I was born in Iran and came to England in 1970 to go to university before training as a Chartered Accountant. We lived and worked in and around London until 1997 when we moved to Brighton, where my wife is from—well, Hove, actually!

The first few years after retirement I was busy travelling, helping with the grandchildren and gardening, but I was increasingly aware of the serious problems migrants faced on arrival in the UK and thought that I might be able to help in some way.  

When I arrived in England, I spoke English and was well supported in many ways and yet I found it quite difficult to settle in a new country on my own, away from friends and family. I could only imagine how much harder it was for new migrants some of whom had arrived here under very difficult circumstances, had little or no English and had minimal resources available to them. That is when I offered to volunteer with ViE. 

I spent the first few weeks at ViE helping with the food bank before I was asked to help an Afghan couple who’d arrived here after many months of hardship via migrant camps in Pakistan. They’d had to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban arrived and the UK forces withdrew from the country. 

After all these years, I still remember some of my mother language, Farsi and the migrant couple spoke Dari, a dialect of Farsi, so it seemed that I might be able to help. My role was mainly to teach them English, act as liaison between them and the Voices in Exile case workers and as an informal translator when required. 

I use free ESOL resources available on the internet to prepare a weekly lesson plan, to help them with English vocabulary, speaking or grammar, but we also find time to discuss their day to day life here, address problems they might have with utilities, the banks, their landlord, etc. for their case worker to deal with, as well as their old lives and family they have left behind in Afghanistan.  

It’s now just over two years since I started working with them and I hope that they are a little better prepared to manage their lives independently.”

A photos of a man, Rahmat, wearing a t shirt, shorts and a cap smiling at the camera

Voices in Exile volunteer, Rahmat

Paula’s mentoring story: Could you be a Voices in Exile mentor?

2nd November 2024NewsTagged ,

Paula joined us as an Admin volunteer and has also recently acted as a mentor to Voices in Exile service users. We recently spoke to Paula to ask how her background as a GP enabled her to help refugees find work in the NHS, and what she enjoys about the mentoring experience.

Hi Paula, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m a retired GP and moved to Brighton from Manchester 10 years ago. I’ve also worked in Public Health where I ran immunisation programmes and investigated outbreaks, and I used to teach at both Brighton and Sussex and Manchester medical schools.

Voices in Exile Admin Support Volunteer and Mentor, Paula

What made you join Voices in Exile?

Some of my patients in Brighton were refugees and I saw how hard it was for them. I wanted to do something useful when I retired and when I saw Voices in Exile was recruiting, it felt like a good fit. My husband and I are both children of immigrants.

What does a day in the Admin office look like?

I offered to support admin as both primary care and Public Health involve a lot of admin these days, and also my hearing isn’t great so it’s easier to do office work. Susan always finds me interesting things to do – digitising records, updating resources on the Voices website, or helping to organise events. It’s different every week! And everyone here is so supportive, it’s such a nice place to work.

Your professional career has enabled you to mentor some clients looking for employment, could you tell us more about that process?

It’s difficult for someone with a profession to change countries – even moving across the country can be difficult, as I found when I moved from Manchester. It’s even harder if you come from outside the NHS – you may have excellent knowledge of your specialty and a wealth of experience, but the recruitment process may be unfamiliar.

I have done my best to support two healthcare professionals in their search for work in the healthcare sector. They have a lot to offer and will be an asset to the NHS.

A Voices in Exile service user who recently found work after being supported by Paula said:

“Paula is very helpful and patient. When she sent me an email she sent all the details I needed and if I asked her to do anything she completed everything efficiently. With her help, I applied for a health care assistant role and got an interview and the job.”‘

Reunited in Brighton: A new start for Mohammed and Lana 

2nd November 2024NewsTagged ,

Here, Mohammed explains how support from Voices in Exile has helped him to settle in the UK since he left Sudan in 2019, and how he’s recently reunited with his wife, Lana, after 5 years apart.

A photo of Voices in Exile service user, Mohammed, volunteering at the food bank. A man stands in front of a shelf full of food smiling

“I came to the UK five years ago after fleeing conflict in my home country of Sudan. Voices in Exile have been supporting me here in Brighton.

I go to their English classes and they have helped me with applying for refugee status, getting a job, and helping me to reunite with my wife. I had to leave my wife behind in Sudan and I didn’t see her for more than five years. But she recently got her visa to come to the UK and now she is living here with me.

I volunteer in the food bank at Voices in Exile every week. I enjoy volunteering here because I can help other people in the same way that I have been helped and that makes me happy.

Everyone here is so friendly. Anytime I need help — with contacting the council, or the doctor, anything I need, I can talk to anyone here and I know they will help me.”

 

If you’d like to donate to Voices in Exile to support our food bank or the other work we do to support refugees and asylum seekers, visit our donate page.

Seasonal harvest from Goat Grid boosts the Voices in Exile food bank

28th October 2024NewsTagged ,

Our food bank relies on the generous donations we receive from individuals and funders. We recently received a visit from local farmer, Casper, with boxes of freshly picked seasonal produce including potatoes, beetroot, courgettes, herbs, and freshly laid eggs. Learn more about Casper and his farm, Goat Grid, below – including why he wanted to support Voices.  

Can you tell us a bit more about Goat Grid?

Goat Grid is a regenerative farm in Plumpton and started 5 years ago after me and my twin brother, Josh, came back to our home in Sussex after we’d travelled and volunteered on farms in Nepal and India.

It started off as Food Forest planting lots of fruit trees and berry bushes and herbs. Josh is a chef and now we want to grow everything here, for the restaurant (Bayte, in St Leonards), so we have upped our vegetable and egg production this year.

How did you first hear about Voices in Exile and why did you want to support us?

My fiancé, Eliza, volunteered at another farm project Common Ground where they hosted members of VIE on the farm. We really loved the idea of this, sharing the farm and cooking outside together.

Casper from Goat Grid is stood behind a selection of fresh produce at the Voices in Exile food bank with two other volunteers

Can you tell us about your visit to the Voices in Exile food bank?

I love my visits to the VIE food bank – seeing the work goes in to making sure the necessities are there for people that really need it. Everyone is so friendly and curious about the produce and the farm, always fun to chat and find out what the VIE members thought of the different produce we’ve given them.

What’s your favourite dish to cook using products from your farm?

My favourite food from the farm is boiled pink fir potatoes with a lot of chives and Mexican tarragon. My favourite fruit tree from the farm so far is Mulberry.

A big thank you to Casper and the Goat Grid team for their continued support. As well as donations of food items, we accept financial donations via our Crowdfunder: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/food-for-destitute-refugees-and-asylum-seekers