A project designed to help young refugees integrate into communities in Britain has secured £1 million in funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
‘From Surviving to Thriving’ is a joint project between the British Red Cross, the Refugee Council and UpRising.
The dream behind ‘From Surviving to Thriving’, which will launch in Luton, Birmingham and Leeds, is that all asylum-seeking children in the UK are safe and cared for and actively contribute to create a fair, well-informed and child-friendly asylum care process, allowing them to have the ability to engage and aspire to a better future.
Young refugees are among the most vulnerable groups that reach UK shores. Those at an increased risk are minors and young adults who reach the UK alone and without parents or family support.
The £1million in funding will not only benefit young refugees directly through life skills and advice, with mental health support and leadership skills, but also train professionals who will work with the children in the long run, creating a legacy that will continue to impact the lives of young refugees.
Refugee Council Chief Executive Maurice Wren said: “Globally, more children have been forced to flee their homes alone than at any other time since records began. Those who seek safety in Britain arrive bewildered and frightened, having often survived experiences most adults find difficult to imagine. This funding will help us transform the lives of these young people by enabling them thrive in their new communities instead of just surviving.”
Dream Fund 2017 offered organisations the opportunity to apply for their share of a £2.5million funding pot to bring their dream project to life.
People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador and TV presenter Matt Johnson presented the charity with their dream making cheque, “This project will, for the first time, bring support services together so that refugees can go From Surviving to Thriving and I am proud to have presented them with this incredible award.”
The announcement was made last night at People’s Postcode Lottery’s annual Charity Gala, held in Edinburgh’s Prestonfield House.
