Sithule Mguni, founder of Levelling the Playing Field specialist partners Young Minds Together, has highlighted the plight of refugees who have been sidelined due to the influx of new applicants from Ukraine.
Sithule is an Immigration Adviser for Rotherham Ethnic Minority Alliance (REAM) and is supporting over 200 refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea and elsewhere who are currently awaiting the result of Visa and asylum applications.
Those refugees are currently living in hotels eight miles outside Rotherham town centre and surviving on £8 per person per week. The hotel rooms do not have fridges or any cooking facilities. Some of the refugees are being given food by the hotels, while others are not.
Most have already been waiting for over a year for their applications to be processed. The Home Office have now told them that applications from Ukrainian refugees are now being prioritised so theirs will be delayed indefinitely.
Sithule is appealing for anyone who can offer support of any kind – whether as a ‘befriender’, someone who speaks their languages, can provide toys or entertainment for children or sport and physical activity sessions to relieve stress and offer exercise.
A group of young people form the hotels visited Sithule’s Levelling the Playing Field session at the dance and performing arts group Young Minds Together on Saturday mornings (pictured above), but the cost of transport to and from the venue has proven to be a barrier to them visiting again.
“What these people need is some hope,” said Sithule. “It is so frustrating for them not knowing what is going to happen. Now that uncertainty is going to be extended even more. These people are in the same situation as those from Ukraine of fleeing violence and needing protection.
“They have no idea when they will be able to begin a normal life and earn income. People are feeling very sidelined and the situation is really bad. They have gone through traumatic experiences before they got here and now being confined to one small room makes it worse.
“They are stuck in their rooms with nothing to do. Many of them are too stressed to even think about going out. We are seeking anyone who can help them with activities that will give them a welcome change.”
Anyone who can help out in the Rotherham area, please email Sithule: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact the Rotherham Ethnic Minority Alliance (REMA) via rema-online.org.uk/