Who We Support

Jordan supports a large number of refugees, many from Syria, in refugee camps and communities.

Since 2016, BSR has teamed up with Helping Refugees in Jordan (HRJ) to support two schools and refugee families in Amman and Asraq (outside of the camps). Through personal direct contact with HRJ and the schools we can direct funds to where they are most needed.

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At the Hope school in Amman, we have paid for teacher salaries, books, stationery, schoolbags and IT equipment. We have paid also for healthy snacks and lunches at school, and provided warm clothing, heaters, hygiene packs and other essentials for their families. We receive regular donor reports from HRJ on where our funds have been used. Recently, the school has introduced secondary education which we are supporting also. A recent report from the school showed the students, around 20, mainly Syrian refugees, were showing enthusiasm and progress in their lessons over the past year. By supporting these young learners we can help them pursue their aims of securing better jobs and building a brighter future.

The school at Asraq was developed from a tented ‘catch up’ school for Syrian refugees. Our first donations there went to purchase books and shelving, and subsequently we helped pay for a library and IT equipment in the new purpose-built school which opened in 2021. We have paid also for food and winter clothing for Asraq schoolchildren.

Jordan

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Uganda

Uganda currently hosts over a million and a half refugees many of whom have come from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Through a Brightwell contact from Windle International, BSR has provided funds towards new buildings at Rhino Camp High School in Uganda. There is now a dormitory block which sleeps 120 girls, mosquito nets, new latrines, and houses for teachers on the school site.

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In addition BSR has donated IT equipment including laptops, mini projectors for classroom use, stationery, and chess and domino sets. These have all been delivered in person either to Rhino Camp High School or to the Windle International Uganda office in Kampala.

Our grant funding to Windle International has been doubled thanks to the Big Give scheme.

In the UK

As new conflicts emerge in the world, and more migrants are on the move, increasing numbers of refugees and asylum seekers have settled here in Oxfordshire.

Working with Host Abingdon, BSR has helped Syrian families in our area move into housing and gain employment. Individual members of BSR have given English lessons and transport to hospitals. Many keep in touch with the families.

We have supported several projects at Asylum Welcome, Oxford. It plays an important role in supporting refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people in the asylum process and helping them to settle into their new life the UK. Most recently, as part of their support to Afghan families living in a hotel nearby, we have helped them to improve their English (especially women), to access healthcare and provided them with phones and laptops. BSR has also supported Asylum Welcome’s youth projects for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Oxford and contributed to their Hardship Fund for refugees who have little or no income.

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In 2021, BSR gave a grant to Sanctuary Hosting to purchase laptops for young refugees and asylum seekers living in the Thames Valley to help their college studies.

At the start of the Ukrainian crisis, BSR organised a collection of tinned and dry goods which was then sent to the Ukrainian Society in London for onward transport to Ukraine. In the last few months, twelve Ukrainian families have come to Brightwell-cum-Sotwell under the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme. BSR has helped match hosts with families and offered practical support to them and their hosts to help them settle into their new lives here. Over the summer in 2022 we have set up English conversation classes and holiday classes for children.

Ukraine Independence Day

Brightwell was treated to a wonderful celebration of Ukraine Independence Day with families putting on an amazing spread of Ukrainian dishes, singing by the many children in the village and a huge display of pride shown for their country. Some of the many photographs are shown here.