During refugee week this year St David’s Uniting Church in Treforest hosted a ‘Bring & Share’ lunch in collaboration with Rhondda-Cynon-Taff council, Migrant Help, Valleys Ethnic Minority Support and DPIA (Displaced People in Action).
It was wonderful to see so many faces, new and known, from all over the world coming together over a shared meal with church members and friends from the local community. It is an exciting time, too, for the church as we embark on our new journey since moving to Treforest in September.
St David’s has a long tradition of supporting refugees and asylum seekers both practically and financially. We offer English language support and have developed friendships with families from Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan and more.
Our relationship with DPIA stretches back to 2004 when we started learning about the very many difficulties facing asylum seekers and refugees on arrival to Wales. As a consequence, we set up a fund and now donate annually to DPIA. In 2006 they set up the ‘SDUC Education and Wellbeing Fund’. These additional funds enable DPIA to provide practical support to those in need for things like bus and train tickets to lessons and examinations, exam fees, and even cleaning products for someone working as a cleaner. We regularly receive visits from DPIA and know that while the amounts seem relatively small, they make a huge difference in breaking down barriers faced by refugees and asylum seekers where no other funding option is available.
If you think your church might be willing to support DPIA in a similar way, more information is available on their website below
https://www.dpia.org.uk/projects/st-davids-uniting-church-fund/ or by e-mailing DPIA direct – faruk@dpia.org.uk
Or contact us at St David’s Uniting – stdavidsuniting@gmail.com
