Mustard Tree
Connecting Communities
Combatting poverty and preventing homelessness has been our leading mission for more than 25 years. Embedded in communities of deprivation, we exist because chronic poverty, extreme inequality, and severe disadvantage exist in Greater Manchester.
Our Connecting Communities project focuses on the work we do with refugees and asylum seekers in Greater Manchester. We create an aspirational space for people to develop their English language skills, get involved with holistic activities and build a community. We lift barriers to inclusion by operating on a drop-in basis, reimbursing travel, welcoming children and providing a free hot meal.
Diversity is one of our core values, embracing people’s experiences to build a community. This helps challenge discrimination across cross-sections of society.
We aim to combat social isolation amongst refugee and migrant communities, increase employability and referrals into further training.
Feelings of loneliness and social isolation are prevalent amongst these communities. These feelings are reinforced by language barriers, lack of access to resources, discrimination and isolating government policies.
Through our ESOL classes, we can help families to build social connections in the community, navigate complex services and improve their economic wellbeing through finding work and applying to financial aid.
Since August 2021, Mustard Tree have been coordinating support for 77 families (150 people) fleeing persecution and conflict in Afghanistan. We were one of the four charities who focused on welcoming refugees as part of the Government’s emergency airlift response. Many of these families have little to no English, making it difficult to utilise their skills, integrate into society, and navigate complex systems such as asylum, benefits and accommodation.
Our Connecting Communities project focuses on the work we do with refugees and asylum seekers in Greater Manchester. We create an aspirational space for people to develop their English language skills, get involved with holistic activities and build a community. We lift barriers to inclusion by operating on a drop-in basis, reimbursing travel, welcoming children and providing a free hot meal.
Diversity is one of our core values, embracing people’s experiences to build a community. This helps challenge discrimination across cross-sections of society.
We aim to combat social isolation amongst refugee and migrant communities, increase employability and referrals into further training.
Feelings of loneliness and social isolation are prevalent amongst these communities. These feelings are reinforced by language barriers, lack of access to resources, discrimination and isolating government policies.
Through our ESOL classes, we can help families to build social connections in the community, navigate complex services and improve their economic wellbeing through finding work and applying to financial aid.
Since August 2021, Mustard Tree have been coordinating support for 77 families (150 people) fleeing persecution and conflict in Afghanistan. We were one of the four charities who focused on welcoming refugees as part of the Government’s emergency airlift response. Many of these families have little to no English, making it difficult to utilise their skills, integrate into society, and navigate complex systems such as asylum, benefits and accommodation.
The cost-of-living crisis and re-introduction of evictions means that more people need help finding work and training, understanding bills and liaising with landlords.
In the final days of 2021, the Resolution Foundation published a bleak report projecting 2022 to be the ‘year of the squeeze’. Our clients will be adversely impacted by the economic measures, and we must help to build people’s resilience and prevent them from falling into homelessness.
For more information see:
www.mustardtree.org.uk
