Hillingdon based charity, Horn of Africa Youth Association (HAYA), has expanded its social inclusion programme for young refugees, thanks to a grant of £1000 from Thames Valley Housing’s (TVH) Community Chest.
Founded in 2001, HAYA was set up by a group of professional volunteers who had arrived in the area years earlier as refugees themselves.
Rashid Jama, Centre Co-ordinator at HAYA said “Having experienced the problems associated with being a refugee first hand, we committed ourselves to becoming a source of support for new arrivals, who are often excluded from mainstream society because of their ethnicity and background.”
“Young refugees face a number of barriers; language difficulties, homelessness, high unemployment levels and a lack of social opportunities, all of which contribute to their exclusion. HAYA works to break down these barriers by providing advice, information and support.”
HAYA used the Community Chest funds to facilitate employment and crime prevention workshops. They targeted young refugees in Hayes who are depending on job seekers allowance and income support. The workshops equipped the refugees with the skills and confidence they need to secure employment, teaching them how to create and update a CV as well as how to search and apply for jobs.
Paul Augarde, Community Investment Manager at TVH said “The dynamism of HAYA and its volunteers is inspiring. Their success in building confidence in young people is leading to sustainable improvements in the local communities. I'm delighted that TVH's Community Chest fund was able to support such a worthwhile project."
Thames Valley Housing launched its Community Chest in 2007. It provides funding to TVH residents, community projects and wider community based charitable programmes working within TVH’s areas.