By Jude Clouston, Trustee and Drop-In Lead.

We had a busy and buzzing drop-in this week with our Eid celebration. 72 people came along, mainly beneficiaries, but also volunteers and a couple of staff members.

Volunteers made or bought food for the buffet, which made quite a spread and was much appreciated by all. Beneficiaries dressed up for the occasion and some children had their hands decorated with henna.

One guest made some delicious Jordanian pastries with dates, rosewater and pistachios and showed us photos of all the other dishes she’d made for Eid feasts over the weekend – a lot of hard work!

The Children’s Corner was very active this week too, with some great paintings produced and lots of Play-Doh being extruded! Children aged 1-2 years old were playing well together, running around with toy prams and building towers with wooden blocks, then screaming with delight when they toppled! One beneficiary brought her newborn baby.

Another guest, who has only just started coming to the drop-in with her little son, is moving away this week under the Asylum Dispersal scheme. She is looking forward to being in accommodation with a kitchen so she will be able to cook her own food, after 16 months in the hotel with little choice over what she can eat. We wish her well.

One young woman who was helped with volunteering applications last week was very pleased to report that she was successful in all three. Well done to volunteers Jane and Sophie, our new Employment Training & Education Team, for supporting her!