Stand with Survivors

Hello friends, 

I hope this finds you well, we're cosying up now it's getting cooler. We're so excited to share what we have been up to with you. We would also like to thank you for your support and allowing us to provide recovery support to survivors of human cruelty. Thank you! 

In this update we're focusing on the amazing integration work the Helen Bamber Foundation has been doing over the past few months. 

We help survivors to access employment and education through advice and tailored support. This year, HBF has supported 228 clients through eight Creative Arts and Skills Programmes. We have also supported over 250 vulnerable refugee and asylum seeking mums and their babies to feel safe, build their confidence and integrate with the community.

Creative arts programme

Our Creative Arts Programme provides vital opportunities for HBF clients to engage in activities unrelated to their trauma and to develop confidence, self-esteem and positive peer relationships. 23 skilled volunteers deliver this programme along with HBF staff members. Some of our achievements include:

• 32 survivors attended HBF’s popular and in-demand music group, Woven Gold
• 29 survivors attended English skills group;
• 25 survivors attended HBF’s football group;
• 12 survivors attended HBF’s long-running knitting group;
• 128 survivors attend HBF’s photography group;
• 9 survivors attended the computer skills group;
• 19 survivors attended the art group;
• 10 survivors attended textile / arts and crafts group.

 The Creative Arts Programme has continued to be popular amongst clients. A recent evaluation showed:

• 72% of clients reported feeling more confident since coming to the group;
• 85% of clients felt they had made friends in the group
• 72% of clients reported they had learned new skills in the group
• 65% of clients felt less lonely since coming to the group.

Life SKILLS

The life skills initiatives are part of the integration programme aimed to provide interventions for clients to learn vital technical and professional skills. The activities delivered under life skills include:

• Weekly English group dedicated to supporting clients who have very little or no English skills including clients who have never engaged in any formal education.
• English language mentoring programme.
• Weekly Computer group delivering essential digital skills for clients who have never used a computer before.
• Financial Skills training programme
• Health Education Programme

Education and employability

HBF has been supporting clients to help them access education, as well as to prepare for and enter employment. HBF runs education clinics where volunteers help clients who are interested in pursuing education to research options and make relevant applications. Clients attended a workshop on CV skills, interview techniques, and job-hunting. The clients gave us a positive feedback after the workshop and said they now feel more confident in looking for employment. 

Befriending

Many of our clients suffer loneliness and find it hard to integrate. We facilitate befriending which pairs up local people with our clients to meet up every couple of weeks to help our clients integrate and feel at home and welcomed in London. 

 

Thank you once again for your support and we look forward to sharing more of our work with you in our next report.

Our warmest regards

Helen Bamber Foundation