Our work in Yorkshire
The need for our services
There is a great need for the services of AAA in Yorkshire. This is because, apart from AAA, there is no other specialized African organization that provides services to the African community in the region. It is true there are a number of organizations in Yorkshire that are established to serve the needs of various African groups. However, these organizations are restricted in their activities as they are established only to cater for the needs of people from a specific country, region, religion or ethnic group from Africa.
To determine the needs of the African community, in 2003 the Association carried out research in Leeds.
According to the research, 89% of the people living in Leeds did not have their own community organisation and
90% of the respondents felt an organisation dedicated to providing a service to their community needed to be established.
The Association is providing its services across the Yorkshire region to address these needs.
As a result of the UK Government's Refugee and Asylum seeker dispersal program, these needs have greatly increased.
Services provided by the Association within Yorkshire:
- Offering free and confidential first stop advice and information (i.e. sign posting), representation, translation and interpreting services (in limited African languages) and orientation to service users.
- Providing a drop-in service and emotional support.
- Accompanying service users during emergencies, for example, to health centres, legal firms and housing associations. The support includes on-site translation and interpreting services.
- Providing a meeting space in the Association's office to smaller African community organizations and individuals.
- Providing volunteering opportunities and references to a limited number of young asylum seekers and refugees in an effort to create for them routes to employment and give them stability in life.
- Providing first stop English language and computer training to asylum seekers and refugees to enable them to gain basic skills and help them with integration.
- Identifying the skills and experiences of newly arrived asylum seekers and refugees to help them better utilize their skills in their new home.
- Organizing social events, especially for asylum seekers and refugees who are isolated and lonely to meet others who may be in similar position. The events are also aimed at bringing together people from the local community and asylum seekers and refugees in a social environment to create community cohesion and promote integration.
- Providing limited emergency assistance.
The Association will expand its services to cater for the growing other needs of its service users, depending on the availability of funds.
Will the service provided cost me anything?
The service provided by the Association is free of charge.
Working with other organizations
The Association currently networks with similar community and other organizations and relevant local government departments to develop its work.
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