Three of the BWR team are off to Calais on the 20 March with Emma Naysmith’s brilliant organisation RefYouMe. They will be working with Care4Calais and the Refugee Kitchen and taking as many donations as they can fit in the cars. 

If you would like to donate any of the following items before the 20 March, please contact Amanda on 07805 459760 to arrange to drop them off.

Clean men’s and boy’s waterproof coats in small and medium, sleeping bags, jogging bottoms size 26-34, unlocked mobile phones with chargers, rain ponchos, new boxer shorts, hats and gloves, lemons, paprika, coriander powder, fennel seeds, tea, chocolate, dried fruit and nuts, apples, oranges, fresh herbs. Thank you!

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We need volunteers to join the rota for our creche in central Bath on Tuesdays from 11:45-2:15. The creche cares for children while their parents attend English classes. 

Attendance at the creche varies from week to week but can be up to 5 children at a time. Volunteers would not need to commit to every Tuesday – they will be added to a WhatsApp group and can help when they are available. 

Volunteers will need to have completed BWR’s Induction training and have an up to date DBS check – we can arrange this if needed. They will need to be able to work in accordance with our safeguarding procedures and Behaviour Code. 

If you are interested or would like to find out more please contact Alex at [email protected], or on 07759753072.

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Bath Welcomes Refugees currently needs volunteers to fill the following roles: 

Tuesday afternoons in central Bath

This volunteer will support our work at the venue of our ESOL classes and creche on Tuesday afternoons from 11:45 – 4 (with an opportunity for a break during the afternoon). 

The role will include:

• Helping to set up chairs, tables, creche and refreshments for our ESOL classes
• Welcoming learners, including those new to BWR
• Preparing weekly electronic registers and logging attendance at ESOL classes and the creche 
• Adding new learners to our database
• Logging any other queries our clients bring to their teachers and referring these to BWR staff and volunteers as appropriate
• Helping with other duties as and when needed – this could involve serving teas and coffees to ESOL learners and teachers, being an extra pair of hands in the creche, and washing up!

The volunteer will need to:

• Be reasonably confident with IT and willing to learn how to use our database (training will be given)
• Be warm, friendly and welcoming, and enjoy interacting with people
• Enjoy working with people from different backgrounds, in a multicultural setting
• Be able to work within BWR’s confidentiality and safeguarding policies and Behaviour Code of Practice
• Be flexible and willing to lend a hand where needed
• Be reliable and able to attend most Tuesdays, and let BWR know in advance if they are not able to 

This post could be shared between two volunteers to allow them to cover alternate weeks, and sickness/holiday absences. 

Ukraine Social Group – Art and Craft Table Leader

This volunteer will lead the art & craft table at our monthly Ukraine social group. This is a vibrant group of all ages, including parents and grandparents with young children, which meets monthly on a Saturday in central Bath. The art table is a key part of the group and the main activity for children who attend. 

This role needs someone who:

• Can be responsible for planning and leading art and craft activities for children aged 4-11 (expenses will be reimbursed)
• Can be flexible and adapt activities according to the ages and interests of the children present
• Is reliable and able to attend most of the social groups over the year, and will let the group coordinator know in plenty of time of they cannot attend a session
• Enjoys working as part of a team and is a good communicator
• Is friendly, warm and approachable
• Can work within BWR’s confidentiality and safeguarding policies and Behaviour Code of Practice

Afghan Social Group Volunteers

We are very excited to be starting a new social group for Afghan families, which will take place in central Bath. Dates are TBC but the first meetings are will be on 12 April and 7 June from 12-2 (volunteers will be needed from 11:30 – 2:30, approximately), and the group will meet every second month on a Saturday. 

We need a team of enthusiastic and sociable volunteers to support the running of the group. Roles will include:

• A coordinator to assist with planning and running of each session. You will be supported by existing BWR volunteers and staff. This role will require attending most of the social group sessions, as well as some planning, liaising with volunteers and occasionally attending meetings in between sessions. 
• 2-3 volunteers to plan and lead children’s art and craft activities and games
• 2-3 volunteers to provide general support, such as setting and tidying up, registering attendance, organising refreshments, washing up and helping out where needed. 

All of these roles require volunteers who are friendly, sociable, reliable and enjoy working as part of a team. We hope that the group and activities will be largely shaped by its Afghan participants and that volunteers will assist with this. As with all BWR roles, volunteers must respect cultural differences and enjoy working in a multicultural, multilingual environment. 

Volunteers must have completed BWR’s Induction training, or be able to attend the next Induction on 29 March, and be able to work within our safeguarding policy and Code of Conduct.

If you are interested or would like to find out more please contact Alex at [email protected], or on 07759753072.

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What does it mean to be a refugee? Does that identity stay after finding safety in a new home? These were some of the questions explored at Beyond Bath’s latest event, an evening dedicated to understanding migration through the voices of two incredible women who have rebuilt their lives in the UK.

This event wasn’t just about listening; it was about reflecting, connecting, and expanding our understanding of identity, belonging, and the lifelong journey of integration.

The stories of Noya and Sasha

Two guest speakers, Noya and Sasha, shared their journeys, challenging common perceptions of what it means to be a refugee.

Noya’s connection to food began in a refugee camp in Hong Kong. At just seven years old, she took on the responsibility of cooking for her four siblings while her parents worked to create a future for the family after fleeing Vietnam by boat. These early experiences shaped her love of cooking. Today, she shares the cuisine of her heritage at her award-winning Bath restaurant, Noya’s Kitchen.

Sasha arrived in the UK as an asylum seeker during the Yugoslavian war. Adjusting to life in a new country as an adult, she found strength and belonging through her passion for working with clay. This creative way helped her form meaningful connections and build a sense of community. Teaching others about clay has become her greatest passion, and Sasha sees teaching as a shared experience where everyone learns and grows together.

Noya and Sasha’s journeys highlight the resilience of migrants and refugees, and their contributions to their communities. Whether through Noya’s Vietnamese cuisine or Sasha’s work in education and clay, their stories show the power of finding purpose, building connections, and creating a sense of belonging.

What’s Next?

Missed this event? Don’t worry, there’s more to come! The next Beyond Bath event will be held on 9^th April. These gatherings go beyond storytelling; they are about building bridges, inspiring action, and reimagining the narrative of migration.

Sign up here and join us for another evening of powerful stories and meaningful connections!

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