8/6/2019 DCRS Aug-Sep 2011 Newsletter

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 1To contact Geoff READ, the Newsletter Editor, please call 07745819828 ( text only ) or (01752) 563800.

Alternatively email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk. For the contact details of DCRS, please see the top of Page 1.

DEVON & CORNWALL REFUGEE SUPPORT A Private Company Limited by Guarantee

NEWSLETTER AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2011

Registered Company No. 06271122 Registered Charity No. 1130360 OISC Exemption No. N200100427

7 Whimple Street, Plymouth PL1 2DH Tel: 01752 265952 Fax: 0870 762 6228 Email: dcrsc@btopenworld.com  Website: http://dcrsc1.cfsites.org 

FOREWORD BY THE NEWSLETTER EDITORWritten by Geoffrey N. READ 

Dear Friends & Supporters,

The Chair of our Board of Trustees, Lorna SEWELL is

indisposed right now so it has fallen upon me to write

a few words for this Foreword.

It never ceases to amaze me just how much work is

achieved by the DCRS Trustees, Staff and Volunteers

during the course of one short month. And all this

work is carried out quietly, methodically, with not so

much as a song and a dance, but always with the

utmost diligence. I am constantly in awe of what

they manage to achieve.

Despite all their pressures of work the Staff managed

to take an Away Day in July 2011 where they studied

their work practices with a view to reviewing them

and improving them.

The Staff still manage to achieve their aims whilst

fighting a constant uphill battle! We learned in July

2011 that the Immigration Advisory Service has had to

close. This will affect a few of our Service Users and

has placed an increased workload on our Staff. I have

placed an article regarding this closure further in this

issue.

How many of you have read our Annual Review for2010? A copy is available on our website for viewing

and downloading. If you have difficulty with that then

there are a few hard copies available at the

Masiandae Centre or do please contact me direct.

The Review contains an awful lot of useful information

about DCRS and a lot of work and effort was put into

it.

Yours sincerely ,

Geoffrey N. READ

DCRS Newsletter Editor

EDITORIAL COMMENTWritten by Geoffrey N. READ

DCRS Newsletter Editor 

NTERNET LINKS.  If you’re reading this on-line and come

across words with blue lettering that are underlined,

then you can click on these links and be taken directly toanother site for more information on that particular topic.

Put your cursor over the link, hold down the Control (Ctrl)

Key and click! Ed.

DCRS BOARD OF TRUSTEESWritten by Geoffrey N. READ

DCRS Newsletter Editor 

OARD OF TRUSTEES’ Meetings. A meeting of the DCRS

Board of Trustees was held on Wednesday, 27th

July

2011. There will be no meeting in August 2011. The next

meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 28th

September 2011 at

7 p.m. Should anyone wish to have a particular matterdiscussed at this meeting then please contact any DCRS

Trustee. 

2011 is the 60th

Anniversary

of the UN Refugee Convention

http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49da0e466.html

B

Our Funders:

Providing

Practical 

Support 

To

Refugees

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 2To contact Geoff READ, the Newsletter Editor, please call 07745819828 ( text only ) or (01752) 563800.

Alternatively email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk. For the contact details of DCRS, please see the top of Page 1.

DCRS CLOTHING STOREWritten by Trish BAXTER

DCRS Lead Project Support Worker 

ABY CLOTHES & BEDDING. DCRS is

currently accepting donations of all types of 

baby clothes and bedding.

EN’S SWIMMING SHORTS and Trunks. As you will

see from a later article, the Plymouth Tinside Pool is

now available for use and is free to our ServiceUsers. However, they often don’t have the

necessary swimming costumes, shorts or trunks

to be able to attend. All donations would therefore be

very welcome!

OWELS. Towels of all sizes and types

would be welcomed... especially if our 

Service Users could use them to go swimming!

OLLECTION OR DELIVERY? If anyone has things to

donate then do please bring them to the Masiandae

Centre in Whimple Street. Alternatively, contact Geoff  – 

details at the foot of the page  – and he will arrange collection.

DCRS ON FACEBOOKWritten by Kanda

DCRS Webmaster 

CRS ON FACEBOOK. We opened

up a DCRS page at Facebook a few

months ago. Please also visit this

Facebook page and click Like! Thank you! 

DCRS FOOD PROGRAMME

 An update by Christine REIDDCRS Trustee & Food Programme Coordinator  

HE FOOD PROGRAMME continues to issue the same

levels of food to our destitute Service Users (SU). The

number of SU using the Food Programme has been very

high recently and this has a resulted in us running out of 

Tea Bags. One of the things we pride ourselves on at the

Masiandae Centre is that it is a social centre for our SU past

and present, to meet and greet in a safe haven. We should

therefore be most grateful for donations of the following:

  Tea Bags

  Mens Shower Gels and Body Sprays

OLLECTION OR DELIVERY? If anyone has things to

donate then do please bring them to the Masiandae

Centre in Whimple Street. Alternatively, contact Geoff  – 

details at the foot of the page  – and he will arrange collection.

DCRS HARVEST FESTIVAL APPEALWritten by Christine REID

DCRS Trustee & Food Pr ogramme Coordinator 

HAT TIME OF THE YEAR is fast approaching when DCRS

likes to remind faith groups, schools and similar

organisations that it will soon be time for Harvest Festival. 

As in previous years, donations of all types of food would

be very much appreciated. The DCRS Food Programme

does have a budget which provides for the very basic needs

but we do look upon donations to

provide a little bit of “luxury” and

change in the diet of our Service

Users (SU). Last year we issued about

1,700 food parcels to Service Users

who would have otherwise gone hungry.

We also provide toiletry packs for some of our SU and male

toiletries are especially welcome.

You can deliver your donations to the Masiandae Centre at

7 Whimple Street. Alternatively, if you would like us to

collect them from you please call Geoff on (01752) 563800

or text him on 07745819828. You can also email him on

saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk. Thank you!

DCRS HOLIDAY CLOSUREWritten by Geoffrey N. READ

DCRS Trustee & Newsletter Editor 

LEASE NOTE THAT the Masiandae

Centre will be closed all day on

Monday, 29th

August 2011 for the

Summer Bank Holiday.

DCRS VOLUNTEERS’ MEETING 

Written by Geoffrey N. READDCRS Trustee & Newsletter Editor 

HE JULY 2011 Meeting took place on Thursday, 28th

July

2011 and the Minutes are available for collection from

the Masiandae Centre. There will be no meeting in August

2011. The August 2011 Meeting is expected to be

scheduled for 2 p.m. on

Thursday, 29th

September

2011 at the Masiandae

Centre. All volunteers are

cordially invited to attend.

2011 is the 60th Anniversary

of the UN Refugee Convention

http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49da0e466.html

B

M

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C

D

T

C

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 3To contact Geoff READ, the Newsletter Editor, please call 07745819828 ( text only ) or (01752) 563800.

Alternatively email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk. For the contact details of DCRS, please see the top of Page 1.

SUMMER IS HERE

BUT WINTER IS APPROACHING!  An article by Trish BAXTER

DCRS Lead Project Support Worker 

TAFF ARE CONSTANTLY challenged by those Service

Users who have been evicted from supported housing

after receiving a decision on their legal claim to protection

in the UK.

For all refugees, the housing shortage means that they mayhave no ready provision for some weeks or months but are

not entitled to continue in the residence after 28 days of 

that decision. Becoming homeless and without financial

support is a common experience that plunges a person into

difficult and challenging times.

For a number, the experience is devastating and can cause a

renewed sense of trauma, we would seek to alleviate, with

your help.

There are a number of local individuals and groups who

have shown an equal concern for these destitute people

and as we plan for the coming weeks and months it is

urgent that we discuss the possible solutions that may be a

remedy to this problem.

If you are interested in coming to discuss these matters

with others at the beginning of September, please get in

touch.

We will announce a venue and date when we can confirm

this in our next newsletter.

THANK YOU!Written by Liz HARDINGE 

DCRS Trustee & Personnel Coordinator (Staff & Volunteers)

BIG THANK you to Eustache HABURUREMYI who left

our volunteer team at the end of June 2011 when hereturned to Belgium. Eustache was here to improve his

English and was a regular volunteer during the few months

he was in Plymouth. We really enjoyed

having him with us and appreciated his

willingness to do whatever was needed.

We will miss his smiley face and wish him

well in his future career in law.

OTHER NEWS & EVENTSCompiled by Geoffrey N. Read 

DCRS Newsletter Editor 

DISCLAIMER

Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this section

are not necessarily those held by the DCRS Board of Trustees

nor anyone connected to DCRS.

HE CULTURAL KITCHEN is having a break for August

2011 and Ramadan, and will start again in September.

The dates of future Cultural Kitchens for your diary are:  

  Friday, 9th

and 23rd

September

  Friday, 7th

and 21st

October

  Friday, 4th

and 18th

November

  Friday, 2nd

and 16th

December

  Friday, 13th

and 27th

January 2012

  Friday, 10th and 24th February 2012

We would like to thank all those who have attended the

Cultural Kitchen over the past year.

Regards

Janet, Isaac & Susie

START Management Team

Students & Refugees Together

Unit 4 HQ Building

237 Union Street

Plymouth, PL1 3HQ 

Email: isaac@studentsandrefugeestogether.com  Website: www.studentsandrefugeestogether.com 

CFA on FACEBOOK. AS A RESULT of the information

learned at the On-line Marketing

Training Day mentioned on the previous

page, it became apparent that DCFA

should be promoting itself on Facebook,

Twitter and other internet sites. DCFA

now has its very own Facebook Page. 

Please click on that link and when you get

there do please click on LIKE! You will find

the LIKE link in the column to the right of 

the page. This will help us on our way!

We also have a “Friends of DCFA” group at Facebook and

we cordially welcome you to join us there. Please find the

link to the group on the DCFA Facebook page. Thanks!

DOES YOUR ORGANISATION PROVIDE

FREE MEALS OR FOOD PARCELS?If your organisation would benefit from receiving

free food produce then please go on-line to DCFA at 

http://dcfa.webs.com , 

download the Application Form & Wish List,

complete the details and submit it to Geoff 

(details at the foot of the page).

AILED STATES INDEX 2011. This index was published by

the FP  (the Foreign Policy magazine) on Friday, 1st

July

2011:

Failed State: A state having little or no governance,

endemic corruption, profiteering by ruling elites, very poor 

Human Rights,  the government cannot / will not protect

the population from others or itself, massive internal

conflict, forced internal / external displacement,

institutionalised political exclusion of significant numbers

of the population, progressive deterioration of welfare

infrastructure (hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses) not

adequate to meet health, needs, progressive economic

decline of the country as a whole as measured by per capita

income, debt, severe child mortality rates, poverty levels.

S

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F 

Tel: (01752) 255 200

Fax: (01752) 668 826

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 4To contact Geoff READ, the Newsletter Editor, please call 07745819828 ( text only ) or (01752) 563800.

Alternatively email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk. For the contact details of DCRS, please see the top of Page 1.

Worst 20 Countries:

Click here to read more. 

MMIGRATION ADVISORY Service  (IAS) goes into

Administration.   This information was broadcast by the

BBC on Monday, 11th

 July 2011:

The IAS, which employs 200 people, has closed its branches

across the UK.

One employee told the BBC that staff 

had been told to clear their desks and

that administrators were already in

the central headquarters in London.The free service is one of the leading charities giving legal

advice and representation to immigrants and asylum

seekers in the UK.

BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny SHAW says the

reasons why the charity is in administration are unclear,

but cuts to the legal aid budget and to fees for doing

legally-funded work are thought to be contributory factors.

Alternative Advice 

The Legal Services Commission (LSC ), which runs the Legal

Aid Scheme in England and Wales, said the IAS's decision to

go into administration was "theirs alone".

A spokesman said: "During recent stewardship activitiesLSC raised concerns around financial management and claims

irregularities which prompted IAS trustees' to conclude that

the organisation was no longer financially viable.

"Our priority now is to work closely with IAS and the

administrators to ensure clients of IAS continue to get the

help they need, whilst safeguarding public money.

"We are now identifying alternative advice provision in the

areas affected and arrangements for case transfer will

follow as soon as possible."

Click HERE for further information and related stories.

And please click on this link if you would like to see a BBC

News Video regarding the Closure of the Bristol Offices. 

ILLIONS IN LEGAL Aid for Asylum Seekers was

Misspent by Collapsed Immigration Charity.

This article was published in  the Daily Mail  by    Jack Doyle  on

Tuesday, 12th

July 2011.

Millions of pounds in legal aid for immigrants and

asylum seekers was misspent by a Government-backed

charity, it emerged last night.

The Immigration Advisory Service has collapsed into

administration after auditors uncovered the financial

irregularities.

The charity received £15million a year to pay for lawyers and

legal advice for 27,000 migrants trying to stay in the country.

The Immigration Advisory Service homepage on its website

advises would-be users that it is in administration.

But an internal audit revealed hundreds of cases where

funding went to ineligible applicants.

Auditors were shocked to discover that in other cases there

was no paperwork to show money was properly spent.

The charity’s bosses also said some recipients had claimed

money ‘in error’ because of complex Government rules.One successful asylum claimant was granted funding to

which he was not entitled to help bring his family into the

country.

However, there is no suggestion of any deliberate fraud.

Critics said the revelations showed tighter checks were

needed.

Sir Andrew GREEN, Chairman of the think-tank

Migrationwatch UK, said: ‘This is a shocking abuse of 

taxpayers’ money. Huge sums of public money have been

given to the asylum and immigration industry  –   tens of 

millions every year.

‘It is time that the controls on that expenditure weretightened up to prevent the taxpayer being taken to the

cleaners again.’

Responsibility: Damian GREEN, Minister of 

State for Borders & Immigration.  → 

The IAS was the largest legal immigration

charity in the UK and funded 13,000 asylum

and 14,000 immigration cases last year. It

had more than 300 staff in 14 offices across

the country.

It raised £500,000 annually from clients and donations, but

most of its spending last year came in a £15million grantfrom the Legal Services Commission, a  Ministry of Justice 

quango.

IAS bosses pulled the plug last week after failing to agree

how to repay the money. They said they had ‘no

alternative’, blaming Ministry of Justice cuts to legal aid

funding.

To read more on this topic please go to this link. 

LYMOUTH TINSIDE LIDO. The following information is

especially brought to the

attention of our Service Users

because the use of this facility is free!

Opening dates and times for 2011:

Open until Sunday, to 18th

September:

  Mondays to Fridays: 12 noon to 6 p.m. (until 

Saturday, 4th

September the pool opens at 10 a.m.).

  Weekends: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  Late swimming on Tuesdays and Thursdays until

7 p.m. until Thursday, 1st

September:

Please note: Opening of the pool is weather-dependant.

I 

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Somalia,

Chad,

Sudan,

Democratic Republic Congo,

Haiti,

Zimbabwe,

Afghanistan,

Central African Republic,

Iraq,

Ivory C oast,

Guinea,

Pakistan,

Yemen,

Nigeria,

Níger,

Kenya,

Burundi,

Burma,

Guinea-Bissau,

Ethiopia.

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 5To contact Geoff READ, the Newsletter Editor, please call 07745819828 ( text only ) or (01752) 563800.

Alternatively email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk. For the contact details of DCRS, please see the top of Page 1.

Admission prices:

Admission to Tinside Lido is free. During busy periods, sessions

will be introduced.

How long can I stay?

During busy times a session system will be in use which may

limit the swim to two hours.

Can unaccompanied children visit the lido?

All children under eight years old must be supervised in the

water by a responsible adult (aged 16 years or over ).No more than two children per adult or one child under five

per adult are allowed.

Is there access for people with a disability?

A new lift to enable disabled people to access the lido is now

available.

A hoist into the pool is also available.

Can I hire a sun lounger?

There are a limited number of sun loungers and deckchairs to

use on a first-come-first-served basis free-of-charge.

Are there lifeguards?

The Council employs a team qualified lifeguards to helpensure you have a safe and enjoyable visit to the lido.

Are picnics allowed?

Food is allowed into the complex, but glass bottles and alcohol

aren't allowed.

There are vending machines with sweets and drinks and

limited poolside catering.

Are pets allowed?

No pets are allowed with the exception of guide dogs.

Where can I park?

Parking is limited nearby.

The nearest car parks are in Pier Street, Lambhay Hill and the

city centre.

There is some on road (meter ) parking on the surrounding

roads.

What differences will I notice between when the lido closed

in 1992 and now?

While the Lido has been restored as closely as possible to its

original form, the operation has changed slightly.

You no longer need to wear swim hats! In line with modern

practice, there is now one mixed changing room with cubicles

so families can change together.

The former male changing rooms on the first floor are to beconverted into a restaurant.

Are there any water features?

The original water features have been restored with some

modifications.

The central fountain has a mushroom effect as well as a jet.

The two edge fountains are smaller with water coming from a

round grille.

What can I buy at the lido?

There are vending machines with sweets and drinks.

How safe is it?

There are qualified lifeguards on duty at all times who are alsotrained in first aid.

No alcohol is allowed and children must be supervised by

adults at all times.

There is very little shade on poolside so it is advisable to bring

sunscreen and hats.

For further information please click on this link. 

EFUGEE WEEK 2011: Different pasts, shared future! 

This is a report from the national  Refugee Week website: 

Refugee Week is a unique opportunity to discover andcelebrate the contributions refugees bring to the UK.  

Thank you everyone for making

this year's Refugee Week a

success. A lot of exciting events

happened all across the country.

We shall be posting some images

on the site from different events.

If you organised an event and

would like to share some of your pictures with us please

email them to us and we shall try to have them on the site

at some point. You can also share photos with us via Facebook

www.facebook.com/RefugeeWeek  We're still collecting stories and case studies about the

contributions that refugees have made to Britain over the

last 60 years. If you have any interesting stories or

photographs on this subject to share, we'd very much like

to hear f rom you!

Join us on Twitter and Facebook via the links below!

http://twitter.com/RefugeeWeek 

www.facebook.com/RefugeeWeek 

QUATTERS RIGHTS LAW That Grants Illegal Immigrants

Right to Stay After 14 Years To Be Scrapped. This

article was published in  the Daily Mail   by   David Wilkes onMonday, 18

thJuly 2011.

A rule which rewarded immigrants with

the right to stay in the UK after living here

illegally for 14 years is to be scrapped.

The ‘Squatters’ Rights’ law, passed by

Labour in 2003, allowed thousands of 

migrants to live here permanently, work

and claim benefits simply because they

escaped detection for so long.

Up to 2,000 visa over-stayers, failed

asylum seekers and illegal entrants

exploited the loophole every year andwere granted permanent residency.

Other beneficiaries were illegal workers

employed in the black economy who have

never paid tax or national insurance.

Critics branded the law a ‘slow motion amnesty’.

Worryingly, the numbers taking advantage have increased

by 120% since its first full year in operation.

Now Home Office ministers are set to abolish the law... to

ensure migrants who do not play by the rules are not given

the ‘privilege’ of settlement. 

Immigration Minister Damian GREEN  said: ‘I am

determined to take steps to close the loopholes that havebeen exploited for too long.’ 

R

S

Determined: 

Immigration

minister

Damian GREEN

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 6To contact Geoff READ, the Newsletter Editor, please call 07745819828 ( text only ) or (01752) 563800.

Alternatively email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk. For the contact details of DCRS, please see the top of Page 1.

‘The right to a family life is not abso lute and the interests of 

the British public must be taken into consideration when

deciding who can enter and remain in the UK.

‘Those who enter the country illegally or overstay their visa

should not be automatically rewarded with the privilege of 

settlement just because they have avoided detection for

years.’ 

There are fears the numbers taking advantage of the law

could spiral in coming years as thousands of illegal migrants

who arrived in the last decade apply for permanentresidency.

In 2003 the law was changed to allow anyone living here

illegally for 14 years or more to apply for indefinite leave to

remain.

Since then a total of 8,948 illegal migrants have taken

advantage of the failures of the immigration system to

remove them to stay.

The year after the law was introduced just 781 illegal

migrants used it but by 2009 the number increased to

2,061. Last year the total was 1,774.

Once their application has been approved, the immigrant

will be able to claim the same benefits as Britons... and is

eligible to apply for citizenship and a UK passport.

Each application is decided on the basis of the applicants

‘good character’ and knowledge of the UK. 

Official estimates put the number of illegal immigrants in

the country at up to 570,000. However unofficial

calculations put the total as high as 870,000.

In opposition, the Tories branded the rule ‘disturbing’, and

criticised it for ‘rewarding illegal behaviour’. 

In its document on proposed changes to family immigration

published last week the Home Office said: ‘Those who wish

to settle in the UK on the grounds of private or family life

should be up-front about their intentions and make an

appropriate application to the UK Border Agency. 

‘Settlement in the UK is a privilege. It should not be

achieved simply by evading our detection for a number of 

years.

For more information please click on this link. 

HE NEW GEOGRAPHIES 0f Racism: Plymouth. The

 following Press Release was issued by the Institute of Race

Relations (IRR) on Thursday, 30th June 2011:

Research published today by the IRR

investigates how geographies of racism

throughout the UK are changing in a

wider climate of economic austerity,

shifting patterns of migration and

settlement and against the backdrop of 

new forms of racism exacerbated by national policies.

The IRR's firs1

investigation, part of an ongoing examination

of the changing characteristics of racial violence

throughout the UK, is based on detailed research into the

history and political economy of Plymouth. It draws on

interviews with key individuals working on issues relating

to racism and racial equality in the city and is

supplemented by statistical data and information.

According to the report's author, Dr. Jon BURNETT2, 'This

research emphasises the ways in which specific patterns of 

racism are becoming entrenched in smaller cities within theUK. It shows how forms of racism fostered by national

policies and practices are re-interpreted and manifested

through the prism of specific local contexts. As these new

geographies of racism emerge, there needs to be an

emergence of new anti-racist strategies which both

understand and adapt to these local realities.'

The research highlights how, within Plymouth:

  Historically, there has been a comparatively small

Black Minority Ethnic (BME ) population. However,

the demography of the city has changed

significantly over the last decade. Certaincommunities have been left isolated and

vulnerable to racist attacks. There have been

vicious attacks against asylum seekers, students

from BME communities, Gypsies and Travellers

and workers within particular sectors such as

catering and mini-cabbing.

  The decline of the dockyards has devastated the

local economy and underpinned persistent

inequalities within the city. Particular wards are

classed as some of the poorest areas in the

country and the current economic climate, as well

as the political responses to this, has the potential

to entrench these inequalities further.

  There is an intrinsic, historical, naval infrastructure

and despite the decline of the dockyards the city

still has active naval and military barracks. Far-

right groups have attempted to mobilise locally by

capitalising on the issues raised by the war-footing

which the UK has been on over recent years.

1This briefing on Plymouth is the first of three investigations

into areas which have experienced increased levels of racist

attacks over recent years. These investigations will explore new

geographies of racism which are emerging within the UK and will

culminate in a report, drawing together findings from each of 

the areas, in a report later this year. This project developed from

a briefing paper published by the IRR in 2010 entitled Racial 

violence: the buried issue (download here).

Read the IRR's research, The new geographies of racism:

Plymouth here (PDF file, 198kb).

2Dr. Jon BURNETT is a researcher at the IRR working on a three-

year-project on racial violence in the UK.

T

Left:

Fears: The numbers taking

advantage of the law could

spiral in coming years as

thousands of illegal

migrants who arrived in the

last decade apply for

permanent residency. 

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 7To contact Geoff READ, the Newsletter Editor, please call 07745819828 ( text only ) or (01752) 563800.

Alternatively email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk. For the contact details of DCRS, please see the top of Page 1.

  There has been a lack of local and national political

will to address the causes and manifestations of 

racist attacks, with a commitment to projects aimed

at fostering community cohesion diverting focus

away from racial violence. At the same time, the

current economic climate has forced certain key

agencies providing support services to close.

  The official response to racism has historically

been one of denial and the severity of racial

violence has, in the past, consequently beendownplayed.

To see the full version of this report,  please click on this

link. For further information please call the IRR on 020

7837 0041 or 07753 741 129 or email:  jon@irr.org.uk. 

EBRA COLLECTIVE: Host Homes & Volunteer Work 

Placements Required. If you haven't already heard,

Zebra Collective  is now the official Plymouth partner of 

Global Xchange, and we are now embarking on our first

international cultural exchange project.

Global Xchange is a partnership between VSO UK,  The

British Council and other partner organisations around the

world. Working directly with the UK Department for

International Development  (DFID), Global Xchange is part

of the pilot year of  International Citizen Service (ICS).

In the Autumn we will begin our six-month programme

between Plymouth and a cluster of villages near Surkhet, 

Nepal. Ten volunteers from the UK and ten from Nepal, all

aged between 18 and 22, will spend three months inSurkhet then three months in Plymouth, living, working and

learning in these communities.

The volunteers will live with host families in Plymouth from

January to April 2012 (13 weeks), and the Zebra Collective

is now looking for expressions of interest from people

willing to be hosts. We are also looking for Volunteer Work

Placements throughout the city. In both cases a UK

volunteer and a Nepalese volunteer will be placed

together, to live and work as partners.

There will be two Programme Supervisors living and

working in your community who are responsible formembers of the team throughout the exchange and are

available to provide support to host homes and Volunteer

Work Placements. They will visit host homes and volunteer

placements regularly. The UK Programme Supervisor is

Marc GARDINER of the Zebra Collective.

Host Homes: What you need to know.  You will need to live in Plymouth or within the travel to

work area. It’s important that the volunteers can easily get

to their work placements so there must be a regular bus

route into the city.

  Eligible areas are Plymouth ( including Plympton and 

Plymstock ), Torpoint and Saltash.

  Each host home will be asked to have two volunteers, one

from Nepal and one from another part of the UK.

  As far as possible, live-in volunteers will be of the same

gender and will therefore only need one bedroom as they'll

be expected to share.

  Volunteers must not share a bed and we can provide an

extra camp bed for the duration of the volunteer's stay.

  Ideally volunteers will live in the same host home for the

duration of their three-month stay, but if you are only able

to offer a home for a short time (minimum of two weeks)

then we would still like to hear from you.

  The most important thing to us is that you’re open to taking

the volunteers in and sharing your life and community with

them.

Host Homes: What you get in return  Previous host homes have said they have benefited from

the experience of having guests from a different

background and culture staying with them.

  It is a great opportunity to learn from the volunteers about

their life in Nepal and other parts of the UK.

  The current allowance for host homes is £100 per pair week

(£50 per volunteer).

  The allowance aims to cover the extra food, water,

electricity etc. the volunteers will use during their stay.

Volunteer Work Placements:  Volunteer Work Placement must take place in community

and voluntary organisations.

  Based in Plymouth ( including Plympton and Plymstock ).

  Volunteer’s work on placement 3 – 4 days a week.

  Each organisation will be asked to have two volunteers, onefrom Nepal and one from another part of the UK for three

months.

  The volunteers will be working in the organisation around a

theme which is likely to be Health & Well-being, for

example:

Sexual health promotion,

Mental health awareness Campaigns,

Befriending services, Alcohol abuse,

Fitness projects... cycle to work schemes,

community integration services etc.

  We are also looking for organisations who contribute to a

wider variety of Plymouth’s development for one-off 

projects or events such as the volunteer’s Community

Action Days (CAD).

Expressions of Interests for Host Homes & Volunteer Work

Placements. If you are interested in being a host family or

a volunteer placement for two volunteers please contact:

Liza PACKER,

Programme Organiser

liza@zebra.coop 

Tel: (01752) 847442 or (01752) 395131

Once you confirm your interest a Programme Supervisor

will arrange to meet you and you can talk through what’s

involved with them. There’s no obligation to commit !

Z

8/6/2019 DCRS Aug-Sep 2011 Newsletter

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/dcrs-aug-sep-2011-newsletter 8/8

 8To contact Geoff READ, the Newsletter Editor, please call 07745819828 ( text only ) or (01752) 563800.

Alternatively email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk. For the contact details of DCRS, please see the top of Page 1.

DIARY DATESWritten by Geoffrey N. READ

DCRS Newsletter Editor 

All the dates are shown using the Gregorian ( Western) calendar. The

calendar is accurate, but some dates may vary regionally because they

are determined by the lunar calendar. Jewish festivals usually begin at

sundown on the previous day.

If you have access to the internet, just click on the faith links for

further information.

Monday, 1st

August 2011

Lughnasadh - Lammas (Pagan). 

A harvest festival and one of the Pagan festivals of Celtic origin

which split the year into four.

Ramadan (start ) (Muslim)

Ramadan is the Muslim month of fasting.

Saturday, 6th

August 2011

Transfiguration (Christian). 

Orthodox Christian feast commemorating the sudden emanation of 

radiance from the person of Jesus that occurred on the mountain.

Tuesday, 9th

August 2011

Tisha B'Av ( Jewish)

A solemn day that commemorates a series of tragedies that have

befallen the Jewish people over the years, many of which have

coincidentally happened on this day.

Saturday, 13th

August 2011

Raksha Bandhan (Hindu). 

Raksha Bandhan is the Hindu festival that celebrates brotherhoodand love.

Raksha Bandhan means a thread for protection.

Monday, 15th

August 2011

Dormition of the Theotokos (Christian). 

An Orthodox festival that commemorates the death, resurrection,

and glorification of Christ's mother.

Dormition means   falling asleep.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Christian)

A largely Roman Catholic festival celebrating their belief that Mary,

the mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven.

Wednesday, 17th

August 2011

Birthday of Marcus Garvey (Rastafari ). Commemorates the birthday of Marcus Garvey, the Jamaican

politician born in 1887 who predicted the crowning of a King in

Africa, and instigated the Back to Africa movement.

Friday, 19th

August 2011

Jamshedi Noruz (Shenshai ) ( Zoroastrian). 

Zoroastrian New Year's Day in the Shenshai calendar.

Monday, 22nd

August 2011

Janmashtami - Krishna Jayanti (Hindu). 

The Janamashtami festival marks the birth of Krishna, the most

highly venerated God in the Hindu pantheon.

Wednesday, 24th

August 2011

Khordad Sal (Shenshai ) ( Zoroastrian). 

The birthday of Zoroaster, celebrated on this date in the Shenshai

calendar.

Tuesday, 30th August 2011

Eid-Ul-Fitr (Muslim). 

The end of Ramadan when Muslims celebrate the end of fasting and

thank Allah for His help with their month-l ong act of self-control.

Thursday, 8th

September 2011

Nativity of the Theotokos (Christian). 

Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary.

Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Christian). 

Roman Catholics celebrate the birth of the V irgin Mary.

Feast of the Birth of Mary (Christian). 

Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches celebrate the

birth of Mary, mother of Jesus.

Sunday, 11th

September 2011

Ethiopian New Year (Rastafari ). 

The start of the New Year in Ethiopia is recognised because

Rastafarians believe Ethiopia to be their spiritual homeland, and a

place to which they want to return.

Friday, 23rd

September 2011

Autumn Equinox (Pagan)

This day is celebrated when day and night are of equal duration.

Wednesday, 28th

September 2011

Navaratri (start ) (Hindu). 

Navaratri (nine nights) symbolises the triumph of good over evil andmarks the start of autumn.

Thursday, 29th

September 2011

Michaelmas / St. Michael, St. Gabriel & St. Raphael's Day

(Christian). 

A feast day in honour of the archangel Michael.

Michael is one of the angels named in the Bible (along with Gabriel 

and, in some traditions including Roman Catholic, Raphael.)

Rosh Hashanah ( first day ) ( Jewish). 

Jewish New Year.

A two-day festival during which work is not permitted.

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