£1,000 to sustain help for struggling migrants in west Hull
AN AVENUES church project has had a helping hand of £1,000 to keep providing aid to struggling migrants.
The High Sheriffs' and Humberside Police Tribune Trust donated the grant to the Open Doors scheme, which supports refugees and migrant workers.
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SENSE OF COMMUNITY: Bashir Siraj, Open Doors project worker, at Princes Avenue Methodist Church packing some essentials for the homeless. Picture: Kate Woolhouse
Bashir Siraj, 45, project worker at Open Doors, says the increase in the number of people who need help means grants are vital.
He said: "There are people struggling to put food on the table, they might not have a job or be on low income.
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"Every penny donated by a member of the public or organisation makes a difference."
Bashir started working with the Open Doors project four years ago, after coming to Hull from Pakistan in 2000.
The project runs a drop-in service every Thursday at Princes Avenue Methodist Church.
The volunteers provide lunch, food parcels and a warm, safe place to socialise for about 130 people each week.
Director of the Tribune Trust, Geoff Ogden, says the project is helping to support the influx of migrants in the area, many of whom are "sofa-surfing" or homeless.
Mr Ogden said: "So many of these people can become victims, and do become victims, or end up in low-level crime.
"On a Thursday, the church hall is full of people and the place is alive and buzzing."
The trust works with projects that reduce crime and improve community safety.
The support network relies on cash and food donations but the grant will be spent on training the 40 volunteers who help.
The service also runs basic English classes and counselling and British Red Cross offers advice on asylum cases and benefits.
Training courses will be in place to help build volunteers' confidence and teach them how to deal with victims of domestic abuse and safeguarding children.
Mr Siraj said: "Volunteers are the only reason the project is surviving.
"They give up their free time so, hopefully, we can give something back to them."
He has experienced first- hand how hard it can be to adapt to a new country.
"Some are living in isolation and struggling to integrate themselves into society," he said.
"Especially when you don't have family, friends or a network, and you don't have a job."
Mr Siraj says refugees and migrant workers need to put in the effort to become part of a community.
He said: "We cannot make a difference without effort on our part."




21 Comments
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by RHHullNproud
Saturday, January 26 2013, 1:51AM
“It must be costing this country a fortune just for interpreters for these spongers too. No wonder the NHS is losing money through immigrants having to use expensive interpreters whilst receiving free treatment. I bet the criminals don't pay for these too when they arrive at the nick.
Cazmarelda isn't a racist, just peed off like millions of others in this country and it needs sorting straight away.”
by cazmarelda
Friday, January 25 2013, 9:30PM
“pedelrebel,
You know your pedigree do you? Are you harping on about your Irish roots again?
Anyone who can call someone racist just because they speak the truth is obviously uneducated.
The truth is what I wrote. I lived it, I experienced it - you did not, so count yourself lucky and quit with the 'Oh I can identify I have Irish roots'. If people do not pay in they should not be allowed to take out and that is across the board.
I would suggest you stay away from the history centre and perhaps go to college and study the impact of mass migration on the present society and the economy. A few hours spent at the history centre does not make you an expert on migration nor does it give you the right to call anyone a fool because they do not agree with your views based on your family tree research!
Actually I do know my pedigree and I am white British and proud to the very core!”
by pedelrebel
Friday, January 25 2013, 2:26PM
“cazmarelda
I am not racist but neither am I a fool!
Yes you are on both counts.
I know my pedigree. Do you know yours ???”
by cazmarelda
Friday, January 25 2013, 12:00PM
“I was in 2004/05 street homeless due to mental health issues. I did not meet any migrants or asylum seekers that were homeless. I never met any migrants/asylum seekers in any of the homeless hostels. The migrants/asylum seekers I 'knew' at that time all had council flats/ benefits/ some had cars and all wanted sex.
I worked for 30 years and paid tax as did/do all my family. So why when anyone comes to the UK are they given benefits/housing from a system that they have never paid into? Fine if they are 'true' asylum seekers, escaping persecution, but they are not, are they? In some European countries you have to have paid in to take out - why not here?
Regarding 'low level' crime they indulge in. I was often starving when on the streets. I did not turn to crime - they are given help both statutory and voluntary (according to this article) and yet they turn to low level crime - why?
I am not racist but neither am I a fool!”
by pedelrebel
Friday, January 25 2013, 11:08AM
“Broughgirl
My Migrant Grt Grandfather escaped the Famine in Ireland where thousands died of starvation (due to British Government policies) only he died in the workhouse on Anlaby Road, is that what you want to return to ??? People like you where moaning and whinging at that time to send them back (theirs no room or work for them)
I repeat, check your ancestry.”
by BroughGurl
Friday, January 25 2013, 9:57AM
“The migrant population in Hull is too great and therefore there are no jobs or housing available for them. If people were stopped from migrating in, then the possibility of those that already are here been able to ingratiate into the local communities is higher. It has to be said that some areas of our town are now more highly populated by 'recent' immigrants than by those of us born of previous generations who were born here.
Without a doubt the Open Door project should be available to any and all regardsless of coulour or creed. It is a cahritable project and anyone giving up their time to help others is worthy of recognition providing it is not a biased project.”
by Scoff_Cruddle
Friday, January 25 2013, 8:35AM
“Simple solution, they should go back to where they came from, but wait.....do they know after a few months they can claim benefits, oh that's right. Guess they'll just rough it for several weeks then.”
by The_Hull_Man
Friday, January 25 2013, 1:38AM
“Typical small-minded HDM comments twits, inaccurate, mean-spirited attacking the very people who are lending their own time to help people who need help.
Did any of the previous posters spot the word "volunteer" in the article? That means these volunteers recognised that other humans with very little income could do with some help - their help - their time for nothing. Do you think the volunteers care if the people that ask them for help are of any particular nationality or that they need help? I guess theyre probably only concerned if the people genuinely need their assistance or not, but theyre not exactly living the life of riley are they? Imagine if you lot used your time to help other people too instead of patting one another on the back online?
Don't worry about the comments being closed - too much of a love-in here. More like: how long before you drag your trailing fists from the floor to type out some Ill-informed petty anti-asylum seeker bile. Can you not recognise that the people that short-change you dont live on sofas and invade from other countries they live out of view IN this country in hidden away estates and apartments, compounding your miserly ignorant ratty existence by cheating the working class of the little they already have? Tory elites stripping assets off you and despising you even more for your stupidity to allow them.
So thick-headed nothing will come through for you - vote for a conservative police chief that'll help, let Richard Branson make money from your illnesses because he's a cool guy who'd never sofa-surf for tins of Campbell's soup right? It's all about getting on your bike and going out there and jolly-well doing something about it all yourself isnt it? Except This IS Hull and you don't have that bicycle anymore because someone has twoked it...”
by pedelrebel
Thursday, January 24 2013, 8:35PM
“Wonder how many of the Kristallnacht mob on here ancestors came to England to escape the Irish Famine, out of the 12 muppets posting i will guarantee there will be nearly half of you. Don't believe me, get yourself to the history centre (its free) and research your family tree and surprise yourself.
Remember in one way or another, we are all migrants.”
by smudgerhcfc
Thursday, January 24 2013, 7:43PM
“Digusting nuff said........”