Charity offers support to refugees and migrants hoping to settle in South London
By Connor McLaughlin
A charity is offering support to refugees and non-EU migrants in South London to settle better in the UK.
Groundwork London, with a centre in Lambeth, launched their integration programme Together South earlier this year catering specifically to south Londoners.
The programme focuses on the language, employment advice and training, and community activities to help participants to communicate, promote inter-cultural understanding and have the ability to apply for jobs.
Olha, a Greenwich resident, was a recent participant in the programme and has since grown in her abilities to better settle in London.
She said: “In my first days in London, I could not talk at all, I was panicking if I was asked anything in English.
“Getting the support from this programme, I can speak better English and understand others; I am certainly not panicking anymore.”
Olha arrived in London with her husband and young child unable to speak English and struggled to find work to support her family.
She continued: “As a family we decided to live and work in the UK, therefore I needed to urgently improve my English and secure a job.
“I wanted to learn about the history, culture, Law and regulations in the UK and I believed this programme enabled me to achieve my goals through group conversation, individual English Language support, and employment advice I receive.”
A statement by Groundwork said, “Moving to a new country can be a stressful process, with the added pressure of having to learn a new language, find work, and make friends.”
By taking part in the programme, she was introduced to a diverse community with different age ranges and cultural backgrounds, and this allowed her to connect with other people in her area.
Where once Olha had panicked speaking English to people, she can now communicate better and understand others which has helped her confidence and given her a better ability to find work.
The Together South programme runs in Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham, Bromley, Croydon, Sutton, Lambeth, Merton and Wandsworth and will continue to run until December 2022.
If you would like to refer someone to the programme or want more information go to https://www.groundwork.org.uk/hubs/london/projects/together/
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