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Welcome Project
The Welcome Project is open for all asylum seekers every Thursday from 10am to 1pm and is located at St. Martins House next to the Cathedral. Leicester Woman Welcome Project is open to women only every Tuesday afternoon from 12.30 to 3.30 pm.
Background
In 2000 a large influx of asylum seekers came to Leicester. Single people and childless couples were accommodated in hotels and families into houses.
The Interfaith forum started befriending asylum seekers on a Sunday afternoon once a month at the International Hotel but so much more needed to be done. The Welcome Project was established in 2001 and the Leicester Cathedral provided a venue at 21 St. Martins in the heart of Leicester. Following the opening of St Martins House in 2011, the project relocated to its current home
The Project has an office, a reception room and a large room where volunteers talk to clients in private and donated goods such as food, clothes and toiletries are distributed.
Staff at the Welcome project, help asylum seekers with the filling in of various forms in order for them to get support from NASS, getting their children into schools and registering with local GP. They also write letters, make phone calls and send faxes, advocate for them and give informal advice.
Who volunteers?
People from many different backgrounds volunteer to help, diversity is welcome in the volunteer team. Volunteers with language skills or those who are asylum seekers or refugees are also welcome. No experience of volunteering is required. All volunteers go through a simple selection process and are provided with basic training.
The Welcome project is a member of both the Voluntary Sector and Multi-Agency Forums, which enables good communication between all local agencies working in Leicester.
Contact Details
For main enquiries, volunteering and donations:
Christine Kilbourne – Chair
Tel: 0116 271 0529
e-mail : ckoadby@talktalk.net