The Rochdale Communities Fund is a mutual fund to invest in and strengthen Rochdale Borough’s VCFSE sector. It funds groups and projects which directly benefit local people and communities, delivered by VCFSE organisations with roots in the borough.
Thanks to funding from the Department of Communities and Levelling up, small grants provision was allocated to support the resettlement of Refugees and People Seeking Asylum with the Rochdale Borough.
With limited funds, applications were prioritised for groups who were already part of our Rochdale Refugee and Asylum Seeker Multi Agency Forum or can show how they will work collaboratively with this forum going forward. The fund priorities were co-produced with The Rochdale Refugee and Asylum Seeker Multi-Agency Forum, facilitated by Action Together. The funded projects delivered personalised/bespoke interventions to refugees and those seeking asylum.
Successful projects were required to fall within one, or more, of the following priorities:
- Promote Inclusivity and Belonging
- Integration within communities
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Cultural Exchange and Awareness
Projects funded via the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Resettlement Support Fund, Strand 1:
| Member Organisation | Amount Awarded | Investment Projects |
| Deeplish Community Centre | £5,000 | The project would provide additional ESOL to refugees and asylum seekers, by providing activities in the community led by an ESOL qualified and experienced teacher. The proposed project would allow a group of ESOL low-level learners to meet in a café weekly, to practice their language skills in a safe, communal and encouraging setting. Learners will be given the opportunity to engage with the library and museums of Rochdale. These community gatherings will be planned to encourage ESOL participants to engage with the language they have learned in an informal setting. The project will provide two back-to-back 10 week programmes for 8 to 10 learners. This project will work with RED CROSS integration team, appropriate and experienced ESOL tutors |
| Rochdale AFC Community Trust | £5,000 | Hope Football, a weekly initiative led by FA-qualified coaches from RAFC Community Trust, takes place every Wednesday from 5-7 pm at RAFC's kick pitch, attracting 80 registered participants since its launch in June 2023. With a consistent 30 attendees weekly, the session provides free, safe, and inclusive football experiences, specifically targeting refugees and those seeking sanctuary. Originating from research by the RAFC Community Trust's Inclusion Coordinator, Hope Football addresses the desire among young men to play football again while fostering community interactions. Mindful of cultural sensitivities, the trust encourages sanctuary seekers to engage with the Rochdale, Middleton & Heywood community through events and football club interactions. Collaborating with public health, the initiative extends beyond football, offering access to NHS services, blood pressure checks, mental health support, and employability assistance. Partnering with local organisations, RAFC Community Trust uses online platforms to raise awareness of Sanctuary Seekers. Promoting cultural understanding and cohesion, a pre-session meal at 4 pm emphasises community. These initiatives align with the trust's goal of breaking down barriers and fostering inclusivity in Rochdale, reflecting a commitment to creating an accepting environment and helping refugees and sanctuary seekers feel a sense of belonging in the community. Hope Football, meets every Wednesday, 5pm at the Kick Pitch, at Rochdale Football Club, OL115DR. And all are welcome! |
| Caring and Sharing | £5,000 | Our project is a community integration initiative aimed at creating a safe environment where refugees and asylum-seekers in Rochdale Borough get to feel at home, connect with others, and foster a new sense of community and belonging with others within the community. |
| Skylight Circus Arts | £4,740 | Joyful, whole family circus sessions will create opportunities to build parental confidence, risk take and build capacity for success. This project will give participants confidence to participate, make new friends and enjoy 8 weekly fun circus sessions. Taking place at Skylight, participants will try their hands and feet at a range of fun circus skills from tightwire and aerial. The project is very local, connecting with our neighbours at Broadfield School. Skylight’s ‘safe space’ promotes inclusivity and this project will nurture trust and new friendships. Participants will also be offered the opportunity to take part in either a Feelgood Family Picnic Day or a trip to Darnhill Festival. The family celebration trip will provide the opportunity to share their new skills in performance or simply share a really fun day out with us. Circus is a beautiful non verbal art form which has far reaching outcomes for mental health and wellbeing. Our previous work with clinical psychologists and schools identifies large increases in motor skills, happiness and health. EG A recent project increased children’s communication skills by 85.7% - that’s a whole year! We also know that whole family sessions work and that joint learning sparks joy, confidence and connections through shared experiences - and laughter! |
| Kashmir Youth Project | £4,984 | KYP’s Let’s Talk and Connect project is aimed at fostering successful integration of new asylum and refugee arrivals through language support and confidence building into our community. We will provide a bespoke programme that focusses on English language to facilitate effective communication and integration. The project will include an event to celebrate the culture and heritage of the participants. Other individual/familial needs will be supported through wider KYP services (such as Welfare and Advice, food pantry, etc) and signposting to other external support available to refugees, asylums seekers and their families. |
| Nigeria Community Association | £4,988 | Our Health Champions service aids refugees and asylum seekers in accessing essential health services like GP and dental registration, offering moral and language support during appointments. We assist with school registrations for children and adult education enrolments, providing practical guidance and support. Families receive 2-3 home visits for personalised assistance, reducing the need for navigating public transport. We facilitate transitions to remote or in-office support, offer job or volunteering opportunities, and accompany individuals to social events to combat isolation. Our telephone messaging service keeps beneficiaries informed about community events and support options. |
| Maverick Lab | £2,925 | We will organise and deliver: 4 x cultural exchange events and one Celebration event. We believe that this will help Asylum seekers/Refugees have an opportunity to celebrate with others. Especially those who are away from their families. We have done community celebrations and cultural exchange events last year with many residents attending from all backgrounds. We have provided food, music and party gifts for attendee’s children. These event were open to all. This year we would like to offer once again. |
| Aspire2Inspire | £5,000 | We would like to deliver basic English and Maths classes for refugee’s and asylum seekers who are currently on the waiting list to join schools, join local ESOL provisions from the council. We would like to run separate sessions for parents and young people. Last year we ran a pilot project on a voluntary basis that was a great success but had to stop running the sessions due to funds and tutor availability. These workshops will run for 2 hours twice a week, one session will be adult based, and one will be for young people. |
| RADAR | £4,900 | We are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation based in Rochdale whose aim is to support destitute asylum seekers and refugees in our Borough. We want to do more than just help with housing. We recognise that the people we support have additional support needs, we want to make sure we are meeting holistic needs to give individuals the best chance of living well whilst navigating the often-complicated immigration system. We would like to procure funding to distribute financial support to residents. Destitute asylum seekers receive no benefits and are not permitted to work. This cohort of people are dependent on others to meet even basic needs. This can lead to low self-esteem and a lack of self-worth; people can lose dignity when reliant on others for items such as food and toiletries. This is the reason we give money directly to residents; this allows the individual to have a degree of self-determination on what they will spend this money on, thus increasing general wellbeing. |