Royal recognition for refugee and asylum seeker volunteers
Volunteers working with refugees and asylum seekers have received a prestigious award from the Duke of Gloucester.
British Red Cross refugee services in Portsmouth was honoured for its work helping people who have escaped persecution to adapt to life in the UK.
The refugee services team was recognised yesterday in a ceremony at All Saints Church in Commercial Road, Portsmouth, where they are based, in front of city dignitaries including The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr Paula Riches.
Receiving the award on behalf on the centre was refugee services team leader for Hampshire, George Brown MBE.
He said: 'We are thrilled that Her Majesty has chosen to bestow this honour on our group, especially as we work in an area that is so often the source of misinformation and misunderstanding.
'This programme has helped build strong bridges with the community. Many of our service users have come from a range of traumatic experiences, but they want to come here and contribute to our society, and that's what we help them do.'
The duke was able to meet Red Cross volunteers, staff and those who have worked with the project since it was set up in Portsmouth.
'This award isn't given lightly,' he said. 'We are so lucky in this country to have such a strong tradition of volunteering that there is a risk we could take it for granted.'
Staff believe more than 500 individuals have been helped so far through the project, and supported to find jobs and start new lives in the UK.
Hilda Marinda was a refugee herself, escaping Zimbabwe after her home was attacked, and she spoke to the crowded church about her experience of being helped by volunteers from the service.
She said: 'When I arrived on my first day here I was in a strange country, but when I saw the smiles on the faces of the volunteers it took away all my fears.
'Now I have a job working for Portsmouth City Council and I owe it all to them.'
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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