“We are all Dreamers. When we travelled and when
things got tough it was our dreams that kept us going. We
dreamed of freedom and safety.”
‘Dreamers’ is a Leicestershire County Council Youth Work Project
for young asylum seekers and refugees. The members of this
youth project come from countries such as Afghanistan, Albania,
Kosovo, Eritrea, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Somalia. The weekly meetings
can attract up to 50 young people (aged 13 -25) and a further 40
people access the youth group as and when they need help and
advice.
A weekly programme of educational and social activities is run.
Mondays generally offer help and advice to asylum seekers and
refugees on matters of housing, employment, benefits, immigration,
legal matters, health and understanding agencies. House visits
are often made to make sure young people are coping with
independent living and are learning the skills they need to live
effectively in this country.
The whole group comes together on Wednesday mixing with
different nationalities to make new friends, eat a meal together
and have fun. It is at this time that workshops are put on to
explore issues such as sexual health and drugs/alcohol or to teach
new skills such as cooking or how to change a fuse. Visits
are made by other organisations in the town such as the police,
Connexions and educational providers, to promote strong
relationships across the town of Loughborough. Fun activities
are organised to such as rock climbing and ice-skating. This
is an extremely important component of Dreamers. It helps the
young people feel that they are in fact young people. It helps them
escape, even for a while, the very ‘adult’ circumstances they face
on a daily basis.
Fridays provide an opportunity to for the young people to
develop their skills and reflect on their experiences of England.
They are all entered for a Local Youth Work Award, which looks to
reward the young people for their achievements. This inevitably
helps their asylum cases and also gives them something to aim for.
It encourages their belief in themselves and their
futures.
The most unique element of ‘Dreamers’ is its
ethos. Dreamers’ members care about each other; they listen
and can understand each other. They know that together they
are stronger. Here are some of their comments…
“Before I came to Dreamers, I
felt alone. Now I feel a big family”
“…It (Dreamers) gave me lots of
friends from different backgrounds with different stories which
made me feel like I wasn’t the only one with a story”
“The group is the only place
where I feel that people really understand me…if it wasn’t for them
I would be lost.”
Bex Horton
Youth Development Worker (Dreamers Project)
Leicestershire County Council
Mountfields Lodge Youth Centre
Epinal Way
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 3GE
Telephone/Fax: 01509 267796