News and Events
The latest news and events from WERS:
Big WERS Weekend Fundraising Packs AVAILABLE NOW!!
(16 January 2012)
To order yours, either phone our offices on 0191 273 7482 or email us at wers@btinternet.com giving your name and address. Happy planning!
WERS is pleased to launch its biggest fundraising initiative EVER...
(24 October 2011)
Over the weekend of 10-11 March 2012 WERS hopes that dozens of fundraising events will take place all over the region and beyond! This is a great opportunity for everyone of all ages to have a great time whilst raising money for WERS' hardship fund supporting destitute asylum seekers. We are announcing this well in advance so that you can put on your thinking caps and start planning your event.
A 'Big WERS Weekend' fundraising pack will soon be available with lots of ideas and promotional materials to help you make your event a success. Your event can also be promoted on our website and in our newsletter, so start planning and spread the word!
WERS needs your vote!!
(2 October 2011)
NatWest CommunityForce is a new initiative which works with local communities to support the people, projects and charities making a real difference where you live. West End Refugee Service has registered an exciting new project for funding. The allocation of funding is decided by public vote, so WERS needs your help!
WERS plans to open a small community library specialising in books both in English and in other languages. The library will be open to everyone in the community and will provide a nice space to read, learn, listen to poetry and tell stories.
The CommunityForce website tends to run quite slowly but if you follow the instructions below the entire process should not take more than a few minutes. We would really appreciate your vote! Voting ends at midday on 24 October.
WERS Annual General Meeting
(13 October 2011)
You are warmly invited to the AGM on Thursday 13 October at 7pm
Westgate Baptist Church
366 Westgate Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 6NX
We are delighted that our guest speaker this year will be Deputy Leader of Newcastle City Council, Joyce McCarty.
Tea, coffee and cake will be available from 6.30pm
Re-accreditation for WERS Befriending Scheme
(28 July 2011)
WERS is thrilled that the application for the re-accreditation of the Befriending Scheme by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation was successful. Many congratulations to our Volunteer Co-ordinators Jo and Carol and all the volunteer befrienders! We were most grateful to the two clients and two befrienders who agreed to be interviewed as part of the assessment visit. The rigorous assessment process, although arduous, enabled WERS to review every aspect of the scheme: the recruitment and training of volunteers, the referral and matching process, evaluations, volunteer support and supervision. The assessor was clearly impressed with the scheme:
'A key strength is the way in the which the service has developed a strong and effective structure for the work, underpinned by comprehensive documentation: however this more 'formal' element of the work is handled in a way that responds effectively to the needs of the clients...'
Well done everyone!
A new grant from Greggs Foundation
(28 July 2011)
WERS has just received the news that Greggs Foundation has awarded a new 3 year grant of £31,104 for the clothing store supervisor's post. Greggs Foundation has generously funded this post since 2000 and WERS is delighted that this fantastic support of its work will continue for a further 3 years.
Thank you Greggs!
3 YEAR AWARD FROM THE HENRY SMITH CHARITY
(16 May 2011)
WERS is thrilled to announce that its Volunteer Project is to be funded by the Henry Smith Charity for a further 3 years. £32,600 has been awarded for the first year.
WERS greatly values the input of its 59 volunteers who undertake an impressive variety of work for the organisation. We couldn't manage without them!
We are currently working hard to achieve re-accreditation of the Befriending Scheme for the Approved Provider Standard of the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation and the funding news has given everyone one a terrific boost.
New Year Honour to WERS Director
(10 January 2011)
Congratulations to Lindsay Cross who has been appointed MBE in the New Year Honours List for services to the West End Refugee Service in Newcastle
Lindsay says:
'This honour came as a total shock - but a very nice one!
I am delighted that the work of an asylum seeker and refugee support organisation has been recognised in this way. It is a fitting tribute to all the staff, volunteers and supporters who over the last 11 years have helped thousands of clients.'
Lankelly Chase Foundation: a further grant for hardship
(10 January 2011)
In December, Lankelly Chase Foundation awarded WERS a new £30,000 grant over 3 years. The money is to be used for the hardship fund which supports destitute asylum seekers. A big thank-you to Lankelly Chase for continuing to support this crucial work.
Festive Week 2010 - another great success!
(10 January 2011)
WERS thanks everyone who donated chocolates, toiletries and small gifts to be distributed to clients and their families during Festive Week. Thanks too to the five Santas who gave out the hundreds of bags of presents. The photo shows the Monday Santa, Guy, with one of our clothing store volunteers Salima. Glad you can breathe with that monster beard, Guy - keep smiling!
WERS Annual General Meeting
(14 October 2010)
You are warmly invited to the AGM on Thursday 14 October @ 7pm
Westgate Baptist Church
366 Westgate Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 6NX
We are delighted that our guest speaker this year will be WERS support worker Musa Hassan Ali
FURTHER FUNDING SUCCESS!
(20 Sept 2010)
- A new 3-year grant has been awarded by Northern Rock Foundation. £105,637 will fund the support worker's post and associated costs.
- A 2-year grant of £21,000 has been awarded by Lloyds TSB Foundation towards the office manager's salary.
Once again, a big thank-you to these foundations for supporting our work!
RECENT FUNDING SUCCESS!
(5 July 2010)
Three 3-year grants have recently been secured:
- £75,000 has been awarded by J Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust to part-fund the Project Director's and Office Manager's post
- £45,000 has been awarded by Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, also for the above posts
- £30,000 has been awarded by the Shears Foundation for core costs
£1,000 has also been received from the Trusthouse Charitable Foundation towards running costs.
A big thank-you to these Trusts and Foundations for investing in our work!
Archbishop of York visits WERS
(4 February 2010)
On 4 February WERS was delighted to welcome the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, to the project.
He is seen here chatting in the clothing store with WERS support worker Musa Hassan Ali.
*NEW* Hungry WERS Recipe Book!
(1 February 2010)
WERS and its clients have joined forces to produce a collection of mouth-watering recipes from around the world.
The book is available to order directly from WERS - please click on the image for further information and how to order.
WERS Annual General Meeting and 10th Birthday Bash
(22 October 2009)
Thursday 22 October 2009 @ 7pm
Westgate Baptist Church
366 Westgate Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 6NX
Our speaker will be The Rt Revd Martin Wharton, Bishop of Newcastle.
The business meeting will be followed by the birthday party with live music and buffet.
If you would like a ticket for this event please contact our office.
LANKELLY CHASE FOUNDATION AWARDS £30,000 FOR HARDSHIP
(September 2008)
During the 2007/2008 financial year WERS gave out over £72,000 to destitute clients in weekly cash payments, food parcels and toiletries. Everyone at WERS is delighted that Lankelly Chase Foundation has given £30,000 to the fund. The grant will be paid in two annual instalments of £15,000.
WERS Annual General Meeting
(31 July 2008)
Thursday 9 October 2008 @ 7.30pm
Westgate Baptist Church
366 Westgate Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 6NX
Buffet supper from 7.30pm
Business meeting 8pm
Guest speaker: Canon Nicholas Sagovsky,
Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey will speak about his work with
The Independent Asylum Commission
All most welcome!
World Music Fundraiser a huge success!
(11 March 2008)
An amazing £3,488 was raised for the WERS hardship fund at the Cluny event on 1 March. WERS thanks everyone who made it such a success:
- Clive Davies - the mastermind behind the event
- The Cluny for waiving the room hire charge
- Colin the friendly sound technician
- Kouresh, the wonderful musician
- Pony Club for their vibrant dance music
- The businesses who donated the fabulous raffle prizes
- All those who helped on the night and ………
- EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THE EVENT!
WERS Befriending Scheme awarded the Approved Provider Standard
(6 November 2007)
The Befriending Scheme was recently awarded the Approved Provider Standard – A National Standard for Mentoring – by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation.
The Befriending Scheme, the first of its kind for refugees and asylum seekers in Newcastle upon Tyne, has been operational since 2000. When the scheme was initially established, WERS operated with 6 volunteers who were co-ordinated by the WERS support workers. Our client group at that time was around 70. WERS currently has over 800 clients and over the past 7 years our number of volunteer befrienders has reached 32 Since 2000, over 200 clients have been supported by the scheme.
Why not join the scheme and become a volunteer befriender? Click on the Volunteering page for more information.
WEST END REFUGEE SERVICE GETS THREE YEARS OF SUPPORT FROM GREGGS TRUST (23 July 2007)
WERS has been awarded a further grant from Greggs Trust which will provide funding for the part-time clothing store manager, a post which Greggs Trust has funded since 2000.
Mark Wilson, manager of Greggs Trust, said: “WERS is an impressive project, and the clothing store is an integral part of the charity’s work. It provides for the immediate needs of people who arrive in the UK with few possessions, and the project is also working to encourage integration within the community. The Trust is very pleased to continue supporting the West End Refugee Service.”
WERS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (23 July 2007)
Everyone is warmly invited to the Annual General Meeting on Thursday 27 September at 6pm It will be held at WERS’ usual venue, Westgate Baptist Church, Westgate Road, and we are most grateful to the church for letting us use their premises. A light buffet will be available after the meeting and we all look forward to catching up with friends, colleagues and supporters.
Our guest speaker will be Dr Kim Seaton, a Research Associate in the Institute for Policy and Practice at Newcastle University. The presentation, entitled ‘Immigration Policy and the Asylum System in Europe’ will focus on the dual issues of immigration and asylum in Europe with reference to three case study countries – the UK, Germany and Sweden. It will consider some of the key policy developments in the last 10-20 years, given the intention to move towards a Common Asylum Policy in 2010. Kim is a human geographer and has a particular interest in the functionality and ‘morality’ of the asylum system as it currently stands. This will be a most interesting talk and give us an insight into asylum systems in other European countries.
Many events have been organised across the country to raise awareness of the destitution situation through the ‘Still Human Still Here’ Campaign.
On 29 June, Hexham Amnesty Group drew attention to the plight of destitute asylum seekers with a sponsored sleepout outside Hexham Abbey in aid of WERS.
Alison Page one of the event organisers who took part said:
‘It was an experience I won’t forget and made me realise how awful it must be for the destitute.’
Alison was also interviewed on Radio Newcastle and the event was mentioned in the local press. Sponsorship money is coming in to WERS as I write this newsletter and WERS is most grateful to the Hexham Amnesty Group, both for supporting the hardship fund and particularly for raising awareness of the situation.
LATEST FUNDING SUCCESSES (10 May 2007)
New Big Lottery Award for WERS!
WERS is delighted about the latest award, announced on 8 May 2007, which will fund the two management posts for the next 3 years. This is the third award: WERS has been funded by Big Lottery (and its former incarnations) since 2001.
WERS’ new Northern Rock Foundation award will fund a full-time support worker’s post for 3 years.
Further awards of project funding have also been received from Lankelly Chase Foundation, Christ’s Hospital in Sherburn and Your Homes Newcastle Grant Aid Budget.
And for the Hardship fund………..
Grants have been received from GoodFund and William Moulton Charity as well as numerous individual and church donations. The Award from GoodFund will pay for all our purchases of food for the food parcels for the next 6 months.
A big thank-you to all our funders and supporters!
ROYAL VISIT (14 November 2006)
On Tuesday 14 November HRH Princess Alexandra visited West End Refugee Service and saw the innovative work the charity undertakes with refugees and asylum seekers living in the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Her Royal Highness was greeted by the Lord Mayor, the Project Director Lindsay Cross and Trustee Kate Clarke. During the visit the Princess met the staff, volunteers and some of the clients who have benefited from the services WERS provides, including several clients who have now settled in the city as refugees and are working locally.
The photograph from left to right shows HRH Princess Alexandra with Lindsay Cross, WERS Project Director, Charity Brown and Robert Tshisekedi.
Robert Tshisekedi has set up 'IT For ALL' with funding from Community Foundation and the project offers IT facilities and training to the local community. Charity works at Westgate Baptist Church.
