We have recently expanded our school liaison activities, which has resulted in promising developments that have the potential to significantly impact the lives of refugee children.

Bishop Luffa
One major shift has been at Bishop Luffa School, where we recognised refugee children’s unique challenges, particularly those studying in a second language. Moving away from after-school homework assistance, we now provide in-school support. This new approach involves a team of dedicated volunteers, mainly retired and part-time teachers, who offer tailored coaching during school hours to alleviate these children’s educational burdens.

This initiative allows volunteers to work closely with students, one-on-one or in pairs, within the school’s schedule. We aim to refine this model at Bishop Luffa before extending it to other primary and secondary schools.

Chichester University Projects

In collaboration with Chichester University, we have also launched two projects. The first involves university students designing a welcome pack for newly arrived refugee children, explaining what to expect in the UK education system. The second project seeks to simplify communication between schools and the parents of refugee and asylum-seeking children, with proposals to use colour-coded emails and graphics-based signposts for clearer understanding. We expect to publish our findings and recommendations by the end of May.

Additionally, our refugee awareness-raising initiatives are set to include addressing school assemblies during Refugee Week (17th – 23rd June), aiming to foster empathy and understanding through personal refugee stories. This follows positive feedback from our Christmas charity initiative at the Deanery Schools. Moreover, in an exciting development, Goodwood Estate Trust has invited 30 of our child beneficiaries to a special event featuring forest-based activities on Saturday, June 29, 2024.

Our ongoing commitment to the educational and personal growth of refugee children in our community is steadfast. Please contact us if you are inspired to contribute or participate in any of our programmes.

• – Evie Owen, Trustee and Schools Liaison Lead