Refugee week 17-23 June 2024

“To me, a home is where you feel loved, safe, and cherished.”- Malala Yousafzai

Home can be a place of refuge, a feeling or a state of mind. It can be found in smells, tastes and sounds. From the clothes we wear to the words we grew up with. It’s in food, music and arts. It’s in our cultures and in our landscapes.

Home can be more than one place and finding it can be a journey, as it is for so many of us who have to leave our countries and rebuild our lives. Sometimes we can find home in a single person. Other times it’s in a whole community and often, it’s in a single gesture of care and welcome.

In Refugee Week we practiced our solidarity to make Our Home a more welcoming, safe and sustainable place for all.

Throughout the week, the team went into to many local libraries with to talk to local people about Resettlement.

The families we support, spent time thinking about what “home means to them” and contributed to these lovely displays pictured below.

To find out more about volunteering within your community, please go to: Welcome groups and how to help page.

Meet the resettlement team here at Worcestershire County Council.

Natasha

I am the Team Manager of the Resettlement team, and my role is to support all the case workers to help clients settle into Worcestershire.

I work alongside various partners including the Home Office, WMSMP, Public Health, DWP and Local Volunteer Networks to ensure the team provide the most up to date and relevant information to help those settled in Worcestershire on their journey to independence in the UK.

Sarah

I am responsible for the day-to-day management of the Homes for Ukrainian program and I am the deputy for the Team Manager for Resettlement.

My role is varied , working with fellow team members, external partners, other department's in the council and our clients across all programs depending on their needs.

Kate

I am the teams Specialist in Housing and Benefits and my role is to support both the clients and other team members with housing and benefit queries.

I have extensive experience in this field, and will work alongside clients to make sure they are accessing all the benefits they are entitled to, plus give them the tools to manage their home and finances independently.

Melodie

I am the English and Employment Tutor in the Resettlement Team.

I will help clients learn English, support them applying for college and assist with job searching including voluntary work.

Amani

 I am a general Caseworker, with specialist knowledge on health and education. I work alongside the Team Manager to support any children going into school, whilst also dealing with specialist cases when there are specific health needs.

Outside of this, I also support clients to integrate in communities whilst helping clients towards independent living and work with other members of the team as and when required to help you into voluntary work and paid employment.

Anna

I am a Housing and Benefits Caseworker. My role is to assist clients with managing rent payments and set up the other household bills that the client will be responsible for (including council tax, energy and water), and also to ensure that their benefits are in place.

I will also support clients with their employment journey and assist with voluntary work when appropriate.

Iryna

I am a General Resettlement Caseworker and my role is to support clients to become independent when they settle in Worcestershire. I will help them learn how to access health, education, employment opportunities and community classes to support their integration into the community.

In addition to the above, I also work with other members of the team as and when required to help clients into voluntary work and paid employment.

Olena

I am a General Resettlement Caseworker and my role is to support clients to become independent when they settle in Worcestershire. I will help them learn how to access health, education, employment opportunities and community classes to support their integration into the community.

In addition to the above, I also work with other members of the team as and when required to help clients into voluntary work and paid employment.

Salim

I am a General Resettlement Caseworker and my role is to support clients to become independent when they settle in Worcestershire. I will help them learn how to access health, education, employment opportunities and community classes to support their integration into the community.

In addition to the above, I also work with other members of the team as and when required to help clients into voluntary work and paid employment.

Timur

I am a Housing and Benefits Caseworker. My role is to assist clients with managing rent payments and set up the other household bills that the client will be responsible for (including council tax, energy and water), and also to ensure that their benefits are in place.

I will also support clients with their employment journey and assist with voluntary work when appropriate.