Our Offerings

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We’ve recently started a lived experience panel, called young leaders, who consist of our beneficiaries, young unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees aged 16-25. They steer our planning by discussing their experiences, what activities they have enjoyed, things they would like to do and areas they need support in. They’ve identified being outdoors, cooking, connection, and increasing their employability as priorities for activities.  

This group also collaborates with other lived experience panels in our area, groups who are experts through experiences of food poverty, homelessness and no recourse to public funds. Although this is still developing it has brought a very diverse large group together, to understand each other’s experiences, support one another and identify projects where can collaborate in future.   

Social workers supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people came to us with a challenge. New arrivals were struggling to access ESOL courses at NESCOL due to limited spaces. 

Just a few weeks later… with some of our founder, Shiva’s magic 🪄, the generosity of an ESOL teacher, Sahar [last name?] volunteering their time, a partnership with Aberdeens Multicultural centre and book donations from GREC (Grampian Regional Equality Council) 

We now have introductory English classes running until the end of the year for up to 33 people. With a clear pathway forward, graduates of these classes are guaranteed a place in the next level at North East Scotland College who have also shared access to their learning materials. 

When we see a gap we act quickly, working in collaboration with other to create solutions. 

These classes are more than language lessons, they are a bridge to education, confidence and belonging. 

Coming into the new year we hope to continue running these classes, for young people in need.