YMCA BLACKBURN

Newsletter of New Beginnings Project, Blackburn YMCA.

Blackburn YMCA serves the asylum and refugee community in Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

The aim of the project is to enable the refugee community to help each other, and to settle into the life in the UK. The objective of the project is to provide the refugee community a sense of safety and belonging, and help them to integrate within the local society through empowerment.

Aftab Mughal, Co-ordinator, New Beginnings Project

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The community champions from our New Beginnings Project thank our key workers in this moving video.

The aim of the New Beginnings Project is to work with the refugee & asylum community in Blackburn with Darwen to enable them to help each other to settle into life in the UK.

The members of our New Beginnings are becoming active citizens who can assist other new people to settle into life in the UK, to engage with the indigenous population as well as immigrants from other parts of Europe. The project is aiming to build the groups skills and confidence, reduce the isolation that so many refugees and asylum seekers can experience, reduce the risk of members being influenced by extremist voices, and will contribute to enhanced community cohesion.

For more information on the New Beginnings Project, visit us here

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Hello, everyone,

We hope this email finds you healthy and well. We’re living in unprecedented times and it’s important that we follow the government’s instruction to stay at home during the Coronavirus pandemic.

As a local partner to the council, we are helping to raise awareness of information from the council about the services provided to assist vulnerable people in Blackburn with Darwen during the outbreak.

New Help Hub offers support to vulnerable residents

The Our Community, Our Future team is currently supporting the work of the new Help Hub, a support network for residents in need while isolating at home.

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Today is the 25th birthday of the National Lottery and is a moment to celebrate the extraordinary impact The National Lottery has had on the UK.

People across the UK will post crossed finger selfies and pics on social media to help celebrate. This is our way of saying thank you to National Lottery players for their huge contribution to charities and community groups across the UK. National Lottery players for contributing around £30 million to charities and community groups every week.

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On 11^th November 2018, trustees, staff and volunteers attended an informal service at Blackburn Old Cemetery where they took part in the two minutes silence in respect of all those who have died in wars and conflicts. They then laid a wreath on the tomb of Mr John Hayhurst who died from injuries received whist on YMCA service in the first world war.

Thank You to The Friends of Old Blackburn Cemetery and Cemsearch for all their help and support

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On 12 August 2018, Blackburn YMCA arranged a day trip for 106 men and women, including 60 children to Southport. People from Accrington, Blackburn and Darwen enjoyed the day at the seaside. The group came from 18 different nations, from El Salvador to Thailand and from Myanmar to Morocco.

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We had 4 fire walkers that took part in conquering the hot coals to raise over £1,250 for supporting the work we do.

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Congratulations to Chris Seddon, Chair of YMCA Blackburn, who won the Mohammed Khan Leadership Award and Ahlam Hasan who won the Woman of the Year Award at One Voice Annual Dinner Awards Night 2017. FIND OUT MORE

YMCA Blackburn successfully completed the National Citizen Service (NCS) Pathfinder programme this Autumn. FIND OUT MORE