Refugee Befriending Project


In addition to hosting the St Pancras Refugee Centre, HCCT also has a Refugee Befriending Project (RBP) which supports refugees and asylum seekers in Camden and surrounding boroughs in maintaining a sense of wellbeing and leading more empowered lives.

Befriendees and Befrienders have been matched from a wide range of cultural backgrounds which has allowed for both Befrienders and Befriendees to develop an understanding of each other’s cultures. The project is successfully creating mutually beneficial relationships between “Befriendees” and “Befrienders”, reducing exclusion and building new social networks in the local community

Having started the Refugee Befriending Project with Befriendees and Befrienders being matched at the centre, we are now beginning to see the outcomes and impact of the service. New productive relationships continue to be formed at the centre, but there also a range of projects and activities organised by Befrienders and Befriendees being taken out into the community.

Here is one Befrienders experience of the project:

It’s not about one person simply being paired with another. It’s a mutual learning process; where both friends are able open one another up to new perspectives, ideas and experiences. I have certainly noticed this starting to happen in my conversations with my befriendee since we’ve been paired up. I’m amazed at how quickly two hours can go as we discuss everything from getting a good deal on shoes to economic theory (I think I still have some learning to do on that one!). I look forward to continuing to get to know him through the befriending program and I am truly thankful to be a part of such a warm group.

 

 

 

If you would like to learn more about the project, make a referral for a Befriendee or apply to be a Befriender please speak to Linden on 020 7278 8687 or email linden.rennie@hcct.org.uk