Thursday 12 December 2024
Welcome to the Multicultural Devon Network Newsletter
Welcome to the Multicultural Devon Network Newsletter, the quarterly newsletter of the Migration and Resettlement Team at Devon County Council (DCC). Our newsletter shares information about cultural events and celebrations, learning English, anti-racism initiatives, No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and much more. It is also an opportunity to celebrate Devon’s multiculturalism and to emphasise that DCC is here to support all residents of Devon. We recognise that many in our community face barriers, challenges and discrimination due to their race, religion, ethnicity, first language and/or immigration status, and we are working to break down these barriers and improve information sharing and access to services in Devon.
If there is anything you think our team can do to support you and our communities, or if you have any information that you would like to share in our next newsletter, please email ESOL@devon.gov.uk.
Updated Directory of Services for Ethnically Diverse Communities in Devon
Featured Organisation: Sunrise Diversity
In each newsletter, we feature an organisation from our directory of services for ethnically diverse communities in Devon to give a deeper insight into the amazing work these organisations do.
When did you launch your group and what was your motivation?
Sunrise started as North Devon Sunrise in 2009 as a community and volunteer-led group and became a CIC in 2013. We became a charity in 2020 and renamed ourselves Sunrise Diversity.
What is your group’s vision?
Sunrise Diversity is a charity dedicated to creating community cohesion and ending discrimination. Our services are designed to promote equality, diversity and social inclusion throughout North Devon. By challenging prejudice and discrimination and actively celebrating our differences, we help change attitudes and make everyone feel welcome in North Devon.
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What do you most enjoy about the work you do?
Supporting the most vulnerable in society is important to the team and the organisation and to see the difference we can make in people’s lives is really impactful. We meet people from all backgrounds and to acknowledge and understand their lived experiences is a real privilege. To be able to celebrate the cultures and lives of people from all over the world and to help them navigate life in the UK – which can often be challenging – is something Sunrise is proud to be able to support.
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Can you share a story about how your support has benefited the families you work with?
We have helped people who identify as LGBTQ+ find their community and helped them deal with issues of social isolation, mental health and safety against homophobia, transphobia and hate-crime. We support people with navigating debt and financial issues, housing, employment, domestic abuse and education.
We support people who don’t speak English through our weekly ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes. One great example was supporting a refugee family who had been moved to a remote and rural town in northern Devon with limited transport links. The family were given a car and the father had to take his UK driving test, which was difficult for him as his English was minimal and he struggled with the theory test. He came to additional classes focussed on the language for the theory test, which enabled him to pass the test.
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What are your plans for the future?
We want to be able to continue helping people in North Devon and raise awareness of the work we do and how we can support people who may be struggling. Our ESOL classes are going from strength to strength with more people attending every week and we’d like to continue growing that. We want to continue working with the lived experiences of needs and barriers in the community and support our beneficiaries so they can live safe, productive and happy lives in North Devon. We couldn’t do the work without the time and expertise of our volunteers, so we will be looking at how we can engage more volunteers to support the work we do. We have lots of projects coming up to help our beneficiaries engage with the wider community of North Devon and feel safe while they continue to make this beautiful part of the South West feel like home.
To find out more about Sunrise Diversity, please visit their website or if you'd like to speak to someone, phone 01271 328915.
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Winter Support and Wellbeing
Winter can be difficult time, due to the cold weather and darkness. If you or someone you know are struggling with the cost of living, there are different types of support available to help those who are eligible, from the Household Support Fund to energy vouchers and free school meals. Make sure you check if you are entitled to any extra help. See more details about the support available here: Winter Support in Devon.
Dates for your Diary: cultural events and activities January - March 2024
The new year brings many opportunities to celebrate and connect with the diverse cultures and communities in Devon. Below are a selection of some upcoming important dates, celebrations and festivals.
19th January is World Religion Day, which aims to promote understanding and peace between all religions.
25th January is Burns Night, a celebration of the life and poetry of Scottish poet Robert Burns. Haggis is traditionally eaten on this day.
27th January is Holocaust Memorial Day. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex, and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.
29th January is Lunar New Year, which is celebrated in many Chinese and East Asian communities. Hongkongers in Devon CIC will be organising a celebration in Exeter.
February is LGBT+ History Month, an opportunity to celebrate the rich history and achievements of the LGBT+ community.
3rd to 9th February is Race Equality Week, an annual UK-wide movement to address barriers to race equality in the workplace.
28th February or 1st March is the expected start date of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset every day for a month.
1st March is St David’s Day, a day to celebrate the culture and language of Wales.
14th March is Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colours, Love and Spring, celebrated with colourful gatherings where people throw paint at each other.
20th March is Kurdish Newroz, a new year celebration for Kurdish communities. The Kurdish Community Devon will be organising a celebration in Exeter.
30th or 31st March is the expected date of Eid al-Fitr, a celebration marking the end of Ramadan. Families gather for prayers, meals and gift-giving.
Arriving in Devon
Experiences of Dr. Omid Afghan, currently working with Migration and Resettlement on a 6 month work placement
As a migrant and sociology professor, my journey to Devon has been a rollercoaster of challenges and opportunities. Arriving here was like stepping into a new world filled with promise, but I quickly realized that adapting to a new culture and language wouldn’t be easy. Thankfully, the warm welcome from the Devon community and the West Devon Borough Council team, and my subsequent involvement with Devon County Council, has made the transition smoother. This has been more than just a fresh start for me; it is a chance both to share my knowledge and to learn from the diverse perspectives around me.
Like many migrants, I have faced hurdles in adjusting to the new culture and language, and it took more time than I expected to navigate the job market. Trying to find positions that matched my skills was challenging, and the initial feelings of isolation were tough to shake off. To ease this transition for others, I believe we need more comprehensive support systems in place, like enhanced English training and cultural orientation, along with more initiatives to promote social interactions between migrants and locals.
So, I was delighted to secure a 6 month work placement with the Migration and Resettlement Team at Devon County Council, a role with a specific focus on exploring how we can improve employment opportunities and open up more career pathways for refugees arriving in Devon. Our first step has been to put together an in-depth survey, to gather information about the experiences of job-seeking migrants arriving in Devon. If you are interested in taking part in our survey, or know someone else who might be interested, please email us.
Final Spaces Remaining: Free Anti-racism Training for Schools
The “Anti-racism in Devon Schools” Training Programme, initiated in November 2023, has been delivered to 20 schools across North, East and Mid Devon, Exeter and Teignbridge, reaching approximately 1600 school staff and governors. There are still a few places for training sessions before the programme ends on 31/03/2025. For more information, please email us.
Supporting Emotional Wellbeing
Mental health and emotional wellbeing are key areas of concern for the Community Bridging Team in our work supporting people seeking asylum. The monotony of daily life for those accommodated in hotels with little access to services can have a significant negative impact on wellbeing. As a team we have been looking at how we can support individuals and families.
We have recently teamed up with Westbank Community Health and Care Centre to facilitate a garden renovation project with a group of highly skilled and enthusiastic volunteers from a hotel in Exeter. The Westbank community allotment had become overgrown, inaccessible and of little benefit. The team of volunteers have worked incredibly hard on a weekly basis to transform the space. The plan is to grow vegetables that can then be used within the centre’s Community Kitchen and Community Larder. The volunteers are having a great time and have really benefited from being outside in nature whilst putting their skills to good use!
With no facilities at the hotel to cook and relying on the catering of others, food has always been an issue in the hotel. We have linked up with Whipton Family Hub (formerly Whipton Children’s centre) who have provided us with the use of their kitchen. We take individuals or families to cook a special meal, maybe for a child’s birthday or just to share with others in the hotel and enable them to have a taste of home. Thank you to Samanatha Brunskill and the staff at the centre for being so accommodating and supporting us.
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Weekly craft activities at the hotel continue, thanks to generous donations of materials. These activities are an opportunity not just for people to try new activities and show off their amazing skills, but it opens up those conversations about family, life, worries and successes. |
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Multilingual Choirs
We’re pleased to introduce a new choir initiative in Devon! With support from local musicians and vocal coaches, we’ve started two multilingual choirs in Barnstaple and Tavistock, with two more planned for Exeter and Teignbridge.
These choirs welcome all speakers of other languages, whatever your English level or musical experience. It’s a great chance to connect with others, enjoy singing, and have fun. In the coming year, our choirs will be performing across Devon, and the Barnstaple choir already has some festive singing planned at the Queen’s Theatre in December.
If you’d like to join, just email ESOL@devon.gov.uk, and we’ll help you get signed up!
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ESOL News
We recently contacted providers, from all sectors – from FE colleges to local charities - to take a snapshot of the ESOL landscape in Devon. The picture the numbers paint is a lively one which reveals positives but also challenges: the fact that more than 1400 learners are currently participating in English language classes across the county shows how much the sector has grown in recent years, but with many providers stretched to the limit and waiting lists growing, the need for further investment and capacity building is clear. Improving collaboration and building expertise and infrastructure in rural Devon remain two of our key priorities.
You can find information about all the English classes available in Devon, where they are, at what time and how to enrol, on our interactive map. We’ll be updating the map for the new year but here’s a preview of some of the 2025 offer from Learn Devon
Improve your English for 2025
If you want to improve your reading, writing, speaking or listening, Learn Devon offers a number of free, online courses for you to access.
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Fast track Speaking and Listening for Speakers of other Languages – Entry: Mondays & Thursdays from 6 January 2025, 2.30pm – 3.30pm. Book here
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Reading for Speakers of other Languages – Entry Level: Wednesday 8 January 2025, 12.30pm – 3pm. Book here
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Fast track Writing for Speakers of other Languages – Entry Level:
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 25 February 2025, 9.30am – 12pm. Book here
County of Sanctuary
The City of Sanctuary movement is a grassroots initiative aimed at creating a culture of welcome and inclusion for those seeking sanctuary across the UK and Ireland. The movement encourages cities, towns, and communities to become places of safety and hospitality. Since 2005 the movement has grown, expanding to encompass local groups from various sectors including schools, faith communities, local governments, and the arts.
The overarching aims of the movement are to promote understanding and inclusion to build a society where everyone feels valued and included, regardless of background or circumstance. The City of Sanctuary network offers awards to organisations that demonstrate commitment to these values.
Here in Devon, a group made up of local authorities have been setting in motion the first steps towards becoming a County of Sanctuary. The group is currently carrying out a needs assessment and exploring what is currently offered to those seeking sanctuary in Devon. From here, the group aims to improve this offer to make Devon a more welcoming and inclusive County for all.
If you would like to know more about the County of Sanctuary group here in Devon, please contact Angela Welch via email at angela.welch@devon.gov.uk.
Be Seen: Embedding EDI Culture in Schools
An increasing number of children in our settings and schools are ethnically diverse. Over 290 ethnically diverse children are on the persistent absence list.
This online, half day seminar will support you to have a better understanding of the barriers that ethnically diverse children and their families face.
Our event will bring together experts to share their insights in supporting ethnically diverse children. The seminar will include stimulating presentations on a combination of research-based best practices and approaches, as well as opportunities for discussions and networking.
Join us on 27th February from 9.15-12.30.
Supporting People with No Recourse to Public Funds
Can you imagine a victim of domestic violence being turned away from a refuge or being advised by the local authority that they will have to sleep rough over the weekend until their assessment can be completed? Many of us would find these scenarios hard to believe, but both have happened, here in Devon, because of the NRPF condition.
A No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition applies to people on temporary immigration statuses, and prevents access – in most cases – to state-funded welfare. This is a reality for many Devon residents – and more than 2 million people across the UK - and it increases their risk of destitution and economic vulnerability. In our work in the Migration and Resettlement team, we have seen an increase in the number of people who are negatively impacted by NRPF conditions and, supported by partners from the charitable sector, and by advice from other local authorities, we have been building our knowledge and putting together guidance and protocols to try to make sure that all residents of Devon, irrespective of their status, get the support they are entitled to.
We welcome input and participation from partner organisations and, provided it is safe, from people with lived experience. Contact us at ESOL@devon.uk.gov
Skills Bootcamps
Discover new opportunities with Train4Tomorrow Skills Bootcamps in Devon!
Are you looking to build a new career or enhance your skills? Our free, flexible Skills Bootcamps are here to support you. These courses are designed to help you gain valuable skills and industry-recognised certifications, to boost your career opportunities.
Whether you’re seeking employment, considering a career change, or wanting to improve your skills, Train4Tomorrow has something for everyone. From early years education to digital marketing, hospitality to live event production and more!
Just take it from Rachel, who secured a job at Quince Honey Farm after completing the Ecology and Conservation Skills Bootcamp. “[The Skills Bootcamp] has given me the confidence to go out and actually meet people and discuss what we’re doing. Life has taken a very good upward turn for me.”
We have lots of courses starting in January, so don’t miss this chance to grow your skills and open new doors. To browse courses and apply, visit www.train4tomorrow.org.uk/bootcamps/
Note: to be eligible, you must
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live within Devon or Cornwall
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have right to work in the UK or have been living in the UK for 3+ years.
Global Migration Data Portal
Disasters, such as floods, wildfires or storms, forcibly displace millions of people every year within their countries. Extreme environmental conditions and accompanying challenges, such as destroyed crops through extreme droughts or floods, force many to leave their homes in search of new livelihoods. It is expected that by 2050 climate change could lead up to 216 million people to move within their countries if no urgent action to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions is taken (Clement et al. 2021).
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