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Community projects helping refugees feel at home

Marcella Whittingdale
BBC News, Margate
Craig Buchan
BBC News, South East
BBC Two men in a white kitchen with silver equipment. They are looking down at a worktop, which is not in frame, and wearing dark blue aprons.BBC
Naveed Ahmed (left) went on to become a chef after joining The Perfect Place to Grow in Margate

A network of projects is helping asylum seekers and refugees find a sense of community in Margate while they wait for their new lives to take shape.

Community groups in the Kent town have been running football tournaments, cooking classes and more in a bid to turn strangers into neighbours.

Asylum seekers cannot work until they are granted refugee status but they can volunteer.

"The more you get involved with the people who are coming as migrants, the more you will get to know about them and their stories," refugee Naveed Ahmed told Politics South East.

He added: "You will get to know they are just people like you who are trying to get a safe and sound life."

A man in a dark jumper and blue apron looking to the right of the frame. Silver kitchen equipment and a couple of plates of food are in the background.
Naveed Ahmed says he received "a big welcome" at the organisation

Mr Ahmed went to The Perfect Place to Grow - a cafe and training kitchen in Margate that helps young people into employment - after arriving in the UK.

He said his motivation for joining the organisation was to make good use of his time, get involved with the community and "do something meaningful".

"When I came here and met all of these people, they gave me a big welcome and gave me the sense that I belonged to this place, I belonged to the community," he said.

Mr Ahmed now works as a chef at a local restaurant.

A man in a hoodie looks to the side of the frame while a game of football takes place in the grassy park behind him.
Football coach Derek Harding says the players on his team "just love football"

Derek Harding, who coaches a football team of asylum seekers, said the people that joined the team "get a lot out of it".

The team has played weekly for a year and hosted tournaments.

"They definitely just love football," Mr Harding said. "I've also seen friendships building within that community, tThis cuts across all of that."

Two men doing push-ups on paving in a garden. The more muscular man is looking at the other man, whose facial expression appears strained.
Refugee Infiyaz Careem is helping his host and the local community keep fit

Infiyaz Careem, a refugee and personal trainer, is being hosted by the former Mayor of Margate, Rob Yates, who says he has lost 10kg with the help of the fitness coach.

Mr Careem has also been putting his expertise to use offering free fitness sessions for Margate residents at the beach.

"I can't live by myself because without any community I'll fail," he said.

"I keep doing every single [thing] - voluntary stuff, community stuff - because that makes my life different in Margate."

Mr Yates added: "I think Margate is a really good role model for what towns and cities should be doing."

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