Who is fleeing persecution and seeking sanctuary?

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Please join Restore, a project of Birmingham Churches Together supporting refugees and asylum seekers, for 3 information and training sessions for those interested in asylum issues or in training to become befrienders ofrefugees and those seeking sanctuary

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EVENING COURSE
on Thursdays 26th January and 2 & 9 February 2012

from 7.30pm - 9.30pm

at the

Faithful Neighbourhoods Centre
10/12 Court Road
Sparkhill
Birmingham
B11 4LX

(Court Road is one-way and accessed from Stratford Road. There is a car park 50metres past the Centre on the left which is open until 10pm)

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Restore’s training is offered to all those who are interested in becoming volunteer befrienders of asylum seekers and refugees. Anyone wishing to gather further information on asylum and refugee issues is also welcome. (NB There is no obligation to volunteer with Restore at the end of the course!)

Week one:
introduction to Restore and an overview of asylum issues, exposing some of the media myths about asylum, introduction to befriending and hearing the personal experience of a befriender

Week two:
introduction to the asylum application process and hearing the first-hand experience of a refugee or asylum seeker

Week three:
the practicalities of befriending including guidelines, qualities, boundaries, cross cultural issues and the support offered to volunteers

All sessions include interactive elements

“Befrienders are excellent at providing the invisible things like just showing you around, being a friend, providing company, giving you a feeling of normal life.” - Quote from an asylum seeker

Further details are available from Jeremy Thompson (Befriending Co-ordinator of RESTORE) — 0121 236 0069 or befriend@restore-uk.org

Training in January / February 2012

The training is offered to all those interested in becoming 'befrienders' of asylum seekers and refugees or anyone wishing to gather further information on asylum and refugee issues is also welcome.

Sessions will focus on:

• the current situation and needs relating to asylum seekers and refugees
• the asylum application process
• how individuals and churches across the city are responding to the needs of asylum seekers and refugees
• befriending matters including motivation behind our action, boundaries, and cultural and religious sensitivity.

Befrienders and asylum seekers will share their stories.

“Befrienders are excellent at providing the invisible things like just showing you around, being a friend, providing company, giving you a feeling of normal life.”
An asylum seeker

We are looking for volunteers who are compassionate, volunteers with good listening skills, volunteers who can stand alongside others, volunteers who can develop trust, volunteers who will be friends and volunteers who will, when necessary, take initiative and action. Please consider volunteering as a befriender, so that together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of asylum seekers and refugees.

If you are planning to attend could you please contact the RESTORE office so we have an idea of numbers.

Further details are available from:
Jeremy Thompson(Befriending Coordinator of RESTORE)
0121 236 0069