For our latest community story, we are in the West Country, speaking to Azza Gasim from Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support (DCRS), who since 2000 have provided essential support to asylum seekers and refugees, with a vision of having a fair, humane and safe asylum experience for all. Luke Upton found out more about their community, development, a very special milestone and what their recent grant from National Grid’s Community Matters Fund (Fuel Poverty) will be delivering to those in need.

Luke Upton (LU): Thanks for speaking to us today, could you start by telling us some more about the community you serve in Devon and Cornwall ? And why your support is so important.

Azza Gasim (AG): No problem, Luke. With Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support (DCRS), we mainly support asylum seekers and refugees and have been doing so for over 25 years specifically in Plymouth, but also across Devon and Cornwall. We feel that it is important for us to give our clients a second chance and support with the services we provide within our organization to help them integrate into a new community and society they are not familiar with.

LU: Thanks, what’s been your particular focus in recent years?

AG: Whilst we recently celebrated our 25th anniversary last year, the organization mainly operates on two core principles of support: wellbeing and social work with immigration advice. First principle focuses on all aspects of wellbeing from having a welcoming communal area for teas and coffees, English classes three times a week, a range of activities from paddle-boarding, walking, cycling with a particular focus around bettering mental health and showing the best of the local area. We also have a range of ongoing and new projects focused on wellbeing. Social work with immigration advice. The second principle on social work and immigration advice. We have a team of dedicated caseworkers, and we work closely with health services, solicitors, local charities and partner organisations who focus on physical and emotional wellbeing, housing and finances whilst also able providing immigration advice regulated by the Office of Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) to Level 3.

LU: Great, you’ve just received funding from the Community Matters Fund from National Grid and Localgiving. Can you tell us some more about the project it will help fund and what it aims to deliver.

AG: The funding from the Community Matters Fund by National Grid and Localgiving really makes a huge difference by allowing us to continue operating our space as a vital warm hub throughout our activities we run (casework triage, Health triage, English classes, IT class, Music Group and other activities) and until our offices shut as a communal space for the community. The funding will be spent on providing some electrical work to take place to add a few plug sockets in the space, to buy some energy efficient electric heaters, as we currently use fan heaters, and to pay for the additional electricity cost with being open longer over this period. This will provide a much needed community space for our community to be together as their finances are extremely limited with a weekly income of £49.

LU: So, how important is this kind of funding to your organisation?

AG: It’s very important. By having the support and funding from the Community Matters Fund, it will further support our clients’ needs with their current immigration status, whilst also supporting their mental health needs with regards to the wellbeing services provided. So a huge thank you to National Grid and Localgiving.

LU: As we always ask, more money aside, what would help you most?

AG: The thing that would help us the most is to continue spreading awareness on who we are as an organization either in person though community events or online on social media. The more visible we are, the more people we can support around us.

LU: So, everyone needs to check your socials and give you a follow and share! And finally. Is there anything else you'd like to inform our readers about?

AG: As we mentioned previously, last year celebrated our 25th Anniversary by creating a documentary that showcases our journey and dedication. This documentary, which was directed by Megan Roberts, showcases Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support's journey since its founding by Sam and Isatta Kallon in 1999. Despite challenges, Isatta and the trustee’s perseverance led the organisation to charity status in 2009. Now in present day, DCRS continues to uphold the Kallon's vision: "Let us help each other. We are each other's keepers." We are thankful to our team, trustees and service users who were interviewed your stories will continue to be celebrated. The documentary is now available on YouTube.

LU: Thanks Azza, our readers can see the 25h Anniversary Documentary by watching the YouTube video below or by clicking here. 

---> Read more about the Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support (DCRS) by clicking here.