Bristol Refugee Rights (BRR) is the largest charity in the city to offer support to asylum seekers and refugees. We are the only organisation in Bristol to offer specialist advice to asylum seekers and refugees regarding housing, financial help, asylum claims and healthcare access. We also uniquely provide specialist support to LGBTQ+ members, care leavers and those facing complex needs.

Here at BRR, we envision a society where refugees, asylum seekers and migrants are welcomed, feel safe, live free of poverty and are able to positively build their lives. A society where everyones' rights and entitlements are respected. A society that prioritises care, compassion and support for the most vulnerable. Last year we supported 840 people from at least 53 different countries and they spoke more than 30 different languages.

One of the key services that we provide is our Early Years Project - our free crèche and family support. It is the only service of its kind available to asylum seekers and refugees in Bristol. We are extremely grateful for any contribution you can make, to help us continue offering this support during these challenging times.

The challenge:

As many of the families we support are in temporary accommodation, their children have limited or no access to outdoor space, play equipment, or opportunities to socialise. Many of the children we support have delays in language acquisition, attachment issues, problems trusting staff and other needs. These young children need, and deserve, a safe space to play, learn, socialise, relax and develop. A space to be a child.

Asylum seekers are not allowed to work and are given just £39.63 per week to cover everything from food, travel, clothes, and other necessities. Because parents are often experiencing trauma and trying to meet basic daily needs, they sometimes require additional family support. Each and every one of these families deserves our support, to help them navigate the complex asylum process and create a positive, healthy and fulfilling life in Bristol for themselves and their children.

Our solution:

In response to these challenges, BRR runs an Early Years Project that provides a free crèche to our service users two mornings a week. During this time, parents (mainly mothers) can access our free English classes, advice service and wellbeing support.

Through our crèche, our professionally trained and culturally competent multilingual staff enable children to gain confidence and to start to trust again, to access learning, play and outdoor space, and to get used to British culture, new routines and healthy food. Through stimulating and creative activities, they develop the communication, confidence, language and physical skills they need to close the gaps between themselves and their peers and to be able to successfully access nursery or primary education.

We also support parents through trauma-informed parenting sessions. These provide information and modelling around safeguarding, nurturing parenting styles and play, as well as health issues like immunisation and cookery classes. We also provide additional welfare support and make referrals to baby banks, support nursery placements and school uniform requests to support families in greatest need.

Every year we support around 115 pre-school children. For Liya, the opportunity for her children to attend the crèche twice per week has alleviated some of the stress caused by their difficult situation, and has enabled both her and her partner to attend our Welcome Centre in order to socialise and relax, and also both attend our weekly English language classes. Liya said,

We need your support:

Our crèche and family support is a lifeline to some of the most vulnerable children in our city, many of whom have suffered significant trauma. Positive interventions during pre-school Early Years can have a substantial impact on creating more positive life chances for the children who receive our support. You can transform the lives of asylum seekers and refugee children by supporting our appeal. This year we need to raise £15,000 to enable us to deliver these vital and unique services. Thank you for considering making a donation.