To provide relief, advocacy and social and educational activities to refugees and asylum seekers, in particular Somali women and children. This focus group meets weekly in women's homes to discuss issues including access to ESOL classes, their children's education, and ways in which they can access support. It provides a bridge to mainstream voluntary sector services. In the early stages of this process it is important that parents are supported and encouraged to understand how things work.

Somali refugees and asylum seekers often experience the effects of depression, anxiety, trauma, low self- esteem and mental health issues; caused by the experiences that they have undergone prior to fleeing from their homes in a war torn and highly hostile environment, which in many cases has resulted in the sudden loss of husbands and fathers. This further creates barriers in their lives which normally involve poverty, destitution, social exclusion, isolation, family break-up and deprivation.

Therefore the difference our project will make, will be to tackle the isolation, mental stress and communication faced by Somalis. 2-300 Somali families report an improvement in their life skills. 3-200 isolated refugees and asylum seekers report an improvement to their health. 4-50-Somali children have improved their English. 5-10 volunteers have improved their skills.