A not-for-profit organisation that helps socially isolated refugees find a way into society has received £1,500 In funding from Karbon Homes.
HostNation NE brings people from diverse backgrounds together in friendship. Through careful match-making with local residents, they aim to give refugees a positive experience of Newcastle, Gateshead and Tyneside, a pathway into the culture of the North East and an informal space for practising English.
The grant from Karbon Homes Community Investment Fund will help support two years of delivering the project, including recruiting and matching 50 volunteer befrienders with 50 socially isolated refugees in Tyneside per year.
HostNation’s North East Hub Manager, Hannah is thrilled that Karbon have been able to support their work: “Demand for refugee services in the north east has increased dramatically with many new arrivals and insufficient integration projects.
“HostNation NE is all about creating strong inter-cultural relationships in communities. We tackle social isolation head on through face-to-face interactions. HostNation and our volunteer befrienders also help newcomers to Tyneside rebuild their lives by connecting them with further support, active signposting and to training, work and volunteer opportunities in the region. We provide further social opportunities to connect over food, music, dance and nature walks in the area.
“The funding from Karbon Homes is going to make a huge difference to refugees across Tyneside and create happier and friendlier communities. The matches we make are often transformative and lead to genuine, long-lasting friendships. They generate greater community integration and cultural understanding as well as contributing positively to our refugee friends’ health, well-being, sense of belonging and conversational English (or Geordie!).”
Community Investment Manager, Paul Moralee said:
“A big part of our work at Karbon is to bring people together to create strong relationships in local communities. The work HostNation NE does is a fantastic example of community cohesion, helping people who may feel like outsiders, who may be victims of abuse and discrimination to meet other local residents, take part in activities together and create a sense of belonging.
“The project received a great deal of support from our Residents Grants Panel who could see the benefit HostNation NE’s work has, not just for refugees but for the community as a whole, creating a greater understanding between residents from different backgrounds and finding positive ways for people to integrate into society.”
The project has already supported one local Karbon Homes customer, a young man from South Sudan, now living in Wallsend. His befriender has become a bit of an "older brother" to him, which he appreciates as he lives alone. They have played tennis, visited Segedunum and the BALTIC and been to see Newcastle United women play at St James Park. His befriender also helped him prepare for a presentation he had to give in English at college:
"It has helped me so much". I enjoyed it because I saw new places and I feel like I can find my way around Newcastle and Wallsend better now. We went to St James Park for a match - it was amazing."
To find out more about HostNation NE and how you can get involved, either as a befriendee or a volunteer befriender, visit their website.
You can also find out more about our Community Funding opportunities over on our Your Community page.
A not-for-profit organisation that helps socially isolated refugees find a way into society has received £1,500 In funding from Karbon Homes.
HostNation NE brings people from diverse backgrounds together in friendship. Through careful match-making with local residents, they aim to give refugees a positive experience of Newcastle, Gateshead and Tyneside, a pathway into the culture of the North East and an informal space for practising English.
The grant from Karbon Homes Community Investment Fund will help support two years of delivering the project, including recruiting and matching 50 volunteer befrienders with 50 socially isolated refugees in Tyneside per year.
HostNation’s North East Hub Manager, Hannah is thrilled that Karbon have been able to support their work: “Demand for refugee services in the north east has increased dramatically with many new arrivals and insufficient integration projects.
“HostNation NE is all about creating strong inter-cultural relationships in communities. We tackle social isolation head on through face-to-face interactions. HostNation and our volunteer befrienders also help newcomers to Tyneside rebuild their lives by connecting them with further support, active signposting and to training, work and volunteer opportunities in the region. We provide further social opportunities to connect over food, music, dance and nature walks in the area.
“The funding from Karbon Homes is going to make a huge difference to refugees across Tyneside and create happier and friendlier communities. The matches we make are often transformative and lead to genuine, long-lasting friendships. They generate greater community integration and cultural understanding as well as contributing positively to our refugee friends’ health, well-being, sense of belonging and conversational English (or Geordie!).”
Community Investment Manager, Paul Moralee said:
“A big part of our work at Karbon is to bring people together to create strong relationships in local communities. The work HostNation NE does is a fantastic example of community cohesion, helping people who may feel like outsiders, who may be victims of abuse and discrimination to meet other local residents, take part in activities together and create a sense of belonging.
“The project received a great deal of support from our Residents Grants Panel who could see the benefit HostNation NE’s work has, not just for refugees but for the community as a whole, creating a greater understanding between residents from different backgrounds and finding positive ways for people to integrate into society.”
The project has already supported one local Karbon Homes customer, a young man from South Sudan, now living in Wallsend. His befriender has become a bit of an "older brother" to him, which he appreciates as he lives alone. They have played tennis, visited Segedunum and the BALTIC and been to see Newcastle United women play at St James Park. His befriender also helped him prepare for a presentation he had to give in English at college:
"It has helped me so much". I enjoyed it because I saw new places and I feel like I can find my way around Newcastle and Wallsend better now. We went to St James Park for a match - it was amazing."
To find out more about HostNation NE and how you can get involved, either as a befriendee or a volunteer befriender, visit their website.
You can also find out more about our Community Funding opportunities over on our Your Community page.
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