home   introduction   overview   report   vision   location   projects   management   news   contact
  Puppet making in a WFSWA class for children
Waltham Forest Somali Women Association (WFSWA)

Maryan Adan, chair WFSWA, explains in her own words about the work of WFSWA which is supported by Refugee Advice NOW:

"Since 1993, WFSWA has been working with Somali refugee and asylum seeker families, as well as people from other African and Arabic countries.

We try to support our community in many different ways and through activities such as:

Educational support classes for children
English for Speakers of another Language classes and practical skills (e.g. sewing) for adults
Health promotion workshops and seminars
Cultural classes and activities
Family mediation
Advice and advocacy
Outreach work and home visits

We work with families and try to focus on those most in need and vulnerable: children, the elderly, youth, single parents and those with health problems and disabilities.

Most of our clients are from the local area, but we often have contact with Somali people from all over London and beyond, who need help or advice. The project is run by women, who all work on a voluntary basis, dedicating their time and efforts to their community.

It has been very, very helpful for us to have worked with Refugee Advice NOW for the past few years. Thanks to the advice sessions, many of our service users have had invaluable support with housing and have seen improvements in their incomes. As well as that, our staff have felt the benefits of working with the project, through in- work training, where they have gained new skills and experience from the advice worker, which they can use in their own work and pass on to others."

WFSWA is based at the William Morris Community Centre, Greenleaf Rd, London E17 6QQ
   
London Development Agency London Borough of Waltham Forest
 
  Refugee Advice NOW
 
           
 


Refugees arriving in the UK face difficult, often harrowing, circumstances as they struggle to find their feet and a new direction to their lives.

The NOW funded Refugee Advice NOW project helps refugees and their families living in the NOW area to claim their entitlements and work their way through the asylum and immigration process. Successful community integration encompasses both the meeting of basic needs as well as developing every individual's potential through opportunities for further education, training and employment.

Refugee Advice NOW helps refugees reach their full potential by helping them address the difficulties they face and guiding them through the support system and the transition to mainstream entitlements and citizenship.

Members of the WFSWA and their families

Started in 1999 Refugee Advice NOW has received £257,856 of NOW funding and its work has:

Given 942 people access to community cultural facilities
   
Dealt with around 15,000 separate problems
   
In 2004 generated £276,000 of income for clients
   
Supported 25 people in voluntary work posts

The project works in conjunction with other local community organisations, running advice sessions from its offices and offering support and training to volunteers so they are better able to serve their community. Refugee Advice NOW partners include, Community Health Project, Face2Face, the Refugee Support Psychologist and EduAction.

Refugee Advice NOW operates from the William Morris Community Centre, Greenleaf Road, Walthamstow and the Citizen Advice Bureau, High Road, Leytonstone. A General Advice Session - free to all - is held every Friday at the William Morris Community Centre.

  Contact information
 
   
Contact: Andy Munton
Outreach Advice Worker: Monica Runke
Address: Refugee Advice Worker
C.A.B. Leytonstone,
547-551 High Rd, London, E11 4PB
Telephone: 020 8988 9637
Email: monica@leytonstonecab.org.uk
General Advice Session (every Friday)
William Morris Community Centre, Greenleaf Rd.,
London E17 6QQ
   
  Useful web links
 
 
Citizen's Advice
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Refugee Council
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk