Refugee hotel residents discuss mental health
August 24, 2023
As part of our Community Connectors project, as well as Cumbria Development Education Centre (CDEC)’s pilot project for ‘Connecting Communities – People Enabling Change’, a team of voluntary sector groups recently put on an event to bring 15 women residents of Carlisle’s refugee hotel together to discuss mental health.
Our Area Engagement Worker, Kate Rees, supported Community Connector Mina to put on and hold the event, and also taking part were Sarah from PERN, Sarah from Happy Mum’s Foundation, with support from Gabi from CDEC, and involvement of Sam from PiNC and Kirsty from Woman Up!.
The event, at Holme Head House in Carlisle, saw a Mediterranean feast provided by Emmy, who owns and runs the venue, and is herself a former refugee. None of the participants spoke English as their first language, although all who came attend intermediate or advanced English classes.
A welcoming, safe space was created, where everyone could feel that they belonged, if just for that afternoon, with ‘welcome’ written in everyone’s language – including Tigrinya, Amharic, Farsi and Georgian – and a space for prayer and if anyone needed ‘time out’. No-one was compelled to speak but many powerful first-person accounts were given of the journey these women had made to Britain, what life is like in the hotel, and the impact on their mental health.
Although there were moments that were distressing for all involved, there was a positive atmosphere, where people felt safe talking about very raw emotions. As well as the learning from planning, setting up and hosting the event, all the team appreciated the impact of the event, and the connections made, and want to work to find a way to host similar events for this group of women.
