Welcome to your monthly Resettlement Project update.
October has arrived, so you will now be experiencing a bit of Scottish Autumn weather! The leaves will be starting to change colour, and there will be more wind and rain than we saw over the summer months; make sure you have your cold weather clothing ready! You might also have noticed lots of Halloween themed things in shops and other local spaces. Halloween is now celebrated in many places around the globe, but it has its roots in an ancient Scottish and Irish celebration called Samhain.
We have plenty of information for you this month, as well as news about some upcoming events which might be of interest to you.
As always, we want to hear from you! If you have a story you’d like us to feature in this newsletter, news about a celebration or cultural event you want us to cover, or pictures to share from your time at a local event, please write in to us. You can reach us at any time by sending an email to ResettlementProject@dumgal.gov.uk.
Cultural days in October
Black History Month, October
Black people from African and Caribbean communities have been an integral part of British history and society for generations, and Black History Month is a time where we make space for celebrating these contributions, as well as for sombre reflection about how we can continue to make sure that black people’s contributions are heard and respected.
There will be a range of events happening in many of the major cities across the UK, as well as online resources, forums, and support available if needed. Locally, DGMA will be holding an African culture event on Saturday 7 October to celebrate the contributions of black people to the local region – find out more later in this newsletter!
You can learn more about what is happening to mark Black History Month in the UK in the button below.
National Coming Out Day, 11 October
National coming out day is an opportunity to celebrate the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in Scotland and around the world. ‘Coming out’ is the term used in Scotland to signify that someone is publicly acknowledging their LGBTQ+ identity, which can be an incredibly daunting experience.
In some places, ‘coming out’ is not something which is safe to do due to the risk of persecution, prejudice, or penalty; so 11 October is a day to celebrate the bravery of all LGBTQ+ people, including those who are unable to come out yet.
Scotland strives to be a safe and inclusive country for all people regardless of their sexual preference. You can find dedicated support and resources for the LGBTQ+ community in Dumfries and Galloway in the button below.
National Hate Crime Awareness Week, 14 – 21 October
Hate crime is something which is taken very seriously in Scotland, and refers to criminal actions with their roots in prejudice. Being a victim of hate crime, or witnessing it happen, can be debilitating and leave a lasting impact, so it’s important to know where to go to report hate crime or to access support if you need it.
During ‘Hate Crime Awareness Week’ you might see local organisations like the Police or some services posting awareness information online, or you might receive information on how to identify, report, or prevent hate crime from taking place.
In partnership with Police Scotland and the Scottish Government we sent out a dedicated post about hate crime awareness last week which gives more detail on what hate crime is, and what you can do to report it. You can read our blog post about hate crime in the button below.
Show Racism the Red Card – Wear Red Day, 20 October
Friday 20 October is Show Racism the Red Card’s annual ‘Wear Red Day’. Show Racism the Red Card is an anti-racism education charity which was started by former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop. After experiencing racism in his local community first-hand, Shaka realised he could use his platform as a footballer to raise awareness of the issue of racism in British communities. Since then, the charity has seen support from a number of high profile footballers and other sports-stars, and has helped to deliver educational workshops to thousands of people.
Wear Red Day is an opportunity to show your support for the anti-racism message championed by Show Racism the Red Card, as well as to participate in some of the fundraising efforts. You can learn more about how you can get involved, donate, or show your support in the link below.
Halloween, 31 October
Halloween is now celebrated in many countries, but it has its roots in an ancient Scottish and Irish celebration called ‘Samhain’, and it remains popular to this day.
It was believed that during this time of year it was easier for spirits to come back from the afterlife for a night, so people would disguise their children so they could not be recognised and ‘spirited away’. This is why today we see people dress up in costumes at Halloween!
Generally at Halloween in Scotland children dress up in fancy costumes and go ‘guising’ around their community. Guising is similar to the concept of ‘trick-or-treat’, where kids knock on their neighbours doors and tell a joke or recite a poem in exchange for some sweets; so make sure you have some sweets at home in case of visitors! Older kids and adults might instead choose to attend a Halloween party, which are fairly common both in private among friends, and in local pubs, clubs, and organisations.
The Resettlement Project Team wish you all a safe Halloween however you choose to spend it… and caution you not to eat too many sweets!
News and events
An update from Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service
This is a short update from Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice about Universal Credit. There have been an increased number of queries about this subject, so the below information might be of use to you if you are in receipt of Universal Credit.
If you have more than £6,000 of capital it will reduce your Universal Credit payment. The DWP will take off £4.35 a month for each £250 (or part of £250) of capital between £6,000 and £16,000.
You will usually no longer be eligible for Universal Credit if you have £16,000 or more in capital. Capital includes things like savings, interest, property and shares.
For example:
- cash
- money in bank accounts (yours or your childrens’ current or saving accounts)
It doesn’t include:
- personal possessions
- business assets
- a home you own
Some benefits like Best Start Grants and Scottish Child Payments are disregarded for 52 weeks from the date they’re received.
The rules to determine what counts as capital are quite complex, if you have any question you can contact Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service on 0300 303 4321 or info@dagcas.org; or contact the Displaced Persons Project Adviser, Lucile Giriat at lucile.giriat@dagcas.org
Open Doors Recruitment Event at The Bridge
DYW Dumfries and Galloway are back with another ‘open doors recruitment event’ at The Bridge in Dumfries.
This is an opportunity for you to meet with employers who have jobs to offer, and will be looking to recruit people on the day – this means the idea is for you to leave the event with an offer of employment or a job interview!
The event is open to all aged over 16. Please make sure to bring along any proof of right to work in the UK, as well as a CV and covering letter.
Taking place between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm on Wednesday, 11 October at The Bridge, Glasgow Road, Dumfries, DG2 OAW
Feature: Syrian ESOL learner Sarab, in her own words
Sarab is a regular attendee at ESOL classes. Her kind nature and extensive support for other Arabic speaking ESOL learners on the programme make her a valuable member of the ESOL community. The Resettlement Project Team asked Sarab to tell us about her ESOL journey in her own words. Here is what she had to say…
ESOL is a learning program that allows foreigners to learn and improve their English. The ESOL experience with Lifelong Learning Service has been very fun, interactive, and educative to me. ESOL tutors are very committed teachers that prioritize teaching students with passion and delivering the learning outcome in an enjoyable and interactive way. I also have been an attendee at DGMA for this year and it has been a wonderful experience for me that allowed me to meet a lot of nice people. Because of ESOL my English has improved, and life is so much easier for me; for example when shopping and communicating with people. I also got the chance to be a volunteer at MOOL charity. I was able to engage with other volunteers and was involved in a variety of charitable activities. Overall, ESOL has been very helpful to me, and it allowed me to live my daily life smoothly in the UK.
An update from the Resettlement Project Social Work Team
You may have worked with the Resettlement Project’s dedicated Social Work Support Team in the past.
This team were previously called the ‘Social Work Ukrainian Support Team’ as the team was initially formed to support displaced people from Ukraine, but in order to better reflect the hard work they undertake supporting people right across the Dumfries and Galloway Resettlement Project, the team will now be called the ‘Social Work Resettlement Support Team’. This better reflects the work the team are currently undertaking in providing long term support for resettled people in the region.
Host Support Group dates
The Social Work Resettlement Support Team hold support sessions for those who have signed up to host resettled guests in their homes locally – whether currently hosting or waiting for a suitable match. Please see the below programme for support group sessions over October and November.
October
Moffat: Town Hall 16 October, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Dumfries: The Bridge 31 October, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Annan: Victor Hall Complex 25 October, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
November
Newton Stewart: McMillian Hall 27 November, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Dumfries: The Bridge 28 November, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Annan: Victor Hall Complex 29 November, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Christmas events in December
The Social Work Resettlement Support Team are looking to put on some Christmas Events in Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Annan – times and venues TBC.
Events will be ticketed – first offered to hosts and guest staying with hosts before extending to the community. The aim is to bring people together and share culture and customs for the Christmas period.
Ideas on what kind of event people would like to see would be very welcome, and the team are also looking for volunteers who would like to lead ceilidh dancing or traditional Ukrainian dances, volunteers who might want to help in the planning and organisation process, and individuals who might want to preform (singing, dancing or playing a musical instrument).
If you would like to give your ideas, or would like to register to volunteer, please reach out to the team at socialworkukrainiansupport@dumgal.gov.uk.
Meet some of the Resettlement Project Team
Michelle and Jordain, Youthwork
Hi! We are the trained Youth Information Workers in Dumfries and Galloway Council who young people can talk to. You will recognise us in our blue hoodies. We have created multiple groups that young people aged 12-25 are more than welcome to join. Our groups provide a safe and friendly atmosphere for young people to socialise, make new friends and share food.
We also offer support to young people individually to deal with life challenges, understand their feelings, build relationships, deal with loss or change, develop coping strategies and support them to join in with other Youthwork groups across the region. Young people can be referred to meet with us on a 1 to 1 basis.
For all contact details and project information please contact the Youth Enquiry Service on 01387 251322.
Alison Donnelly, ESOL
Hi! My name is Alison Donnelly and I have been working with the Lifelong Learning Service for six months. As a Lifelong Learning Assistant, my main role is teaching ESOL classes in the community. I also work a little at HMP Dumfries and support the Youthwork team during the summer. I have a career background in children’s librarianship and elementary school education in the United States.
I enjoy a lot of aspects of my job; before you can teach people English, you have to build trust and rapport with them, so I work hard to provide a friendly and welcoming community environment to help people feel ready to learn. It is really rewarding to see people progress in their learning journey with us and to see their confidence grow. The most important skills for me at work are showing kindness and respect to people, having empathy, and being non-judgmental. Although I am here to teach English, this job means so much more than just that.
When I’m not at work, I love to visit other countries on holiday! I also enjoy being outside in nature. When the weather doesn’t cooperate with me, I enjoy cooking vegetarian food, reading, art, making jam, and spending time with my family.
African Community Event with DGMA, 7 October
Join DGMA for their African community event in Dumfries!
Following the success of last years’ Kenyan community event, DGMA are hosting an evening to celebrate African culture. There will be performance from local African community members, as well as traditional African food, songs, dance, and plenty more!
There will be halal food options available, as well as African face-painting and art for kids.
Taking place 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm Saturday 7 October at the DGMA Building, 179 – 185 Dumfries High Street, DG1 2QT
Tickets cost £5 and must be booked in the link below. Kids under 12 can attend for free if accompanied by an adult.
Cake Craft event – spaces limited
The Resettlement Project Lifelong Learning Team are holding a ‘cake craft’ session over two days this month.
Join them on Tuesday 17 October and Wednesday 18 October at The Bridge, Dumfries, DG2 OAW between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm each day.
This event is free and open to all adults, though spaces are very limited so please book by sending an email to alison.murgatroyd@dumgal.gov.uk
Resettlement youth groups
The new Resettlement Youthwork Team have planned a special series of events which resettled young people (and their friends) can join in each week. These weekly groups are a safe place for young people to come together to participate in activities whilst also making friends, sharing food, and learning about each others’ cultures – whilst also helping others to learn about your culture! See below for the programme.
Groups at the Youth Enquiry Service, DG1 Leisure Centre, Dumfries
Cooking Group: Thursdays 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Take part in cooking recipes from around the world.
Connect: Thursdays 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Take part in celebrating cultures and traditional games, with arts & crafts, dance and music.
Girls Group: Saturdays 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Take part in fun and self-care activities including jewellery making and decorating bags.
Groups at the Oasis Youth Centre, Newall Terrace, Dumfries
Activate: Tuesdays 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Take part in sporting opportunities and accessing sporting venues.
Create: Tuesdays 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Take part in expressive arts including art, dance and music.
Boys Group: Saturdays 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Take part in fun and self-care activities including decorating mugs, making slime and cooking skills.
