CAPTION: Asylum Seekers have been offered temporary housing in a seaside hotel
From Refugees to Neighbours in Ilfracombe
Rev’d Fran Bliss is a curate at St Peter’s and Holy Trinity, Ilfracombe. She has been a volunteer family co-ordinator for the Pickwell Foundation, a Devon charity which provides support to refugees and asylum seekers. She is currently hosting a refugee in her home and says that, as a Church community, we can respond in many positive ways. Here she describes her recent experience of supporting asylum seekers in Ilfracombe:
“In November 2022 the Home Office, secured a hotel on the seafront and placed 145 asylum seekers with 24 different languages, with a age range of nought to 60 in Ilfracombe. When visiting the Hotel for the first time the atmosphere mirrored the slate grey cold outside.
The Pickwell Foundation Sprang into action assessing health and well-being needs of residence. With a bit of time and with the help of the salvation army they soon had, supper clubs where residence could cook their own food, language class, cricket, football and lots more.
Fran receives a hug at her ordination in 2022
While there was always the tension of living with the unknown, a change began to unfurl. Language barriers dissolved into a familiar smiles and cups of tea. The town initial worries began to lean towards embrace of our guests, faces became familiar as the community connected with its new neighbours.
My role was to meet weekly with a small family group, this group of individuals each had their own story gifts and courage. Each week I was met with sometimes a tear, but more often laughter.
The home office after seven months give two weeks’ notice and has moved residents to various places across the UK. This was an abrupt reminder of how fragile displaced people are.
I notice the holy tension of the Kingdom of compassion hospitality and grace that we are a citizen of, in comparison with the hostility people seeking sanctuary often experience.
The Pickwell Foundation organised a supper club for asylum seekers in Ilfracombe
For some, the move was a positive one, better contact with mosques and other services etc. For others, this move has been very difficult to say the least.
With the help of my church community, we are hosting a sanctuary seeker in my home, this is by no means a light decision, but we have been helped by the Pickwell foundation.
Christians have always offered a safe place for people, our churches can join in with that tradition.
As a Deacon I’m called to inform the church of the needs of the hidden corners of our community. Hotels like this, even barges or boats are going to pop up in our parishes.
As a church community we can respond in so many positive ways. We need host families if you know anybody who might be interested in offering that kind of support, please get in touch with me.”
Email Rev’d Fran Bliss email
Find out how to support the Pickwell Foundation.
