jonbeech

About Jon Beech

I joined LASSN as the Director in December 2013. I've a particular interest in mental health, ethnicity, and helping people make sense of their world and their community.

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#RefugeeWeek2025 with LASSN: Community as a Superpower

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2025-06-19T08:25:55+01:0010th June, 2025|

Refugee Week (17–23 June 2025) is nearly here, and LASSN is celebrating with a vibrant series of events across Leeds. This year’s theme — “Community as a Superpower” — is a powerful reminder of the strength we find when we come together. From film and football to digital tools for new arrivals, we’re inviting everyone to take part, connect, and celebrate the power of welcome. A full programme of events can be found here 🎬 LASSN x RETAS Present: “We Dare to Dream” Film Screening & Panel Discussion When: Wednesday 18 June, 6:30 pm Where: Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds, LS6 1JD Tickets: Book via Hyde Park Picture House What to Expect: A special screening of We Dare to Dream, the powerful documentary following the Refugee Olympic Team’s journey to the Tokyo Games, followed by a panel of speakers with lived experience of seeking sanctuary. 🎥 LASSN Refugee Week Short Film Festival Refugee Week, Short Film Festival – Leeds Asylum Seeker Support Network (LASSN) When: Thursday 19 June, 6:00 pm–9:00 pm) Where: Archive, 94 Kirkstall Road, Leeds, LS3 1HD Tickets: Suggested donation £5–£10. No need to book in advance, but if you want to book via Eventbrite:(If you can’t pay the Eventbrite fee, email [email protected] for alternative arrangements.) What to Expect: Two programmes of short films—refugee-led stories from around the world—offering deep insight into journeys of hardship, hope, and humanity. ⚽ Refugee World Cup 2025 When: Saturday 21st June, 12:30 pm–5:00 pm Where: Thomas Danby Sports Centre, Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS7 3BG What to Expect: A fun, free 7-a-side tournament bringing together refugee community organisations, local agencies, and supporters. Teams play for pride, families enjoy entertainment, and everyone shares in the joy of community sport. 🌐 NewToLeeds.org Relaunches A Fresh, Friendly Guide for NewcomersWe’re delighted to announce the fourth edition of NewToLeeds.org, fully rewritten and redesigned to help migrants settle into life in Leeds. Highlights: Entry Level 1 English with emojis and icons Instant translation into 140+ languages 1,800+ verified links (last-reviewed dates visible) Get Involved! Whether you’re moved by film, united on the pitch, or sharing a vital newcomer’s guide, there’s a place for you in Refugee Week 2025. Let’s show how community truly is a superpower. #RefugeeWeek2025 #CommunityAsASuperpower #LASSN #WelcomeLeeds

We’ve opened a Donations Shop

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2025-06-09T15:59:36+01:009th June, 2025|

At LASSN, we’re fortunate to receive support from big funders like the National Lottery and the Leeds Building Society Foundation — but it’s the generosity of everyday donors that truly keeps us going. It’s those smaller, regular contributions that help us bridge funding gaps and take bold steps. In fact, Grace House, Eva’s House, and Kay House all began because individuals believed in our work enough to invest in it. That’s why we’ve launched our new Donation Shop — a space where you can see the real impact of your giving and understand what everyday support really costs. If you’re curious about the kind of work we do, take a look. And if you have a little to spare, please consider donating. Every pound helps us support, empower, and welcome refugees and asylum seekers in Leeds — and helps make tomorrow better than today.

LASSN AGM, 22nd February 2025

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2025-01-31T09:46:23+00:0031st January, 2025|

We would love you to join us at our Annual General Meeting Date: Saturday, 22nd February, 2025. Time: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM. Location: All Hallow’s Church, Burley, Leeds LS6 1NP. Please RSVP here  Please note there is limited parking at the church itself, so please park elsewhere unless you have mobility difficulties. What can you expect? Doors will open at 11:15, and the AGM will take place from 11:30-12:00. During this first AGM as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, all existing Trustees are required to stand down, and members will be asked to elect the new Board members. You can find all the papers here: the Agenda and minutes from last year's AGM, our most recent Annual Accounts and details of the Trustees standing for election. And as soon as we get our Impact Report back from the designers, we'll put that in there too.  Once the AGM concludes around noon, we invite you to stay and enjoy a delicious meal, provided by Exhale – the fantastic team that catered for us last year. After the meal, we’ll have entertainment by Mahshid Alavi and Friends, followed by an overview of the impactful year we've had at LASSN. We will be finished by 2pm Can't attend? We've scheduled the AGM for a Saturday during the day, hoping it will be easier for you to attend in person without having to travel in the dark. We understand that some of you may not be able to make it, and unfortunately, there will be no virtual option. So, after the event, we'll upload the 'Year at LASSN' presentation and other papers to our website for you to look at. Thank you for your support over the past year. We look forward to seeing you soon! Warm regards, Jon Beech (Director) and everyone at LASSN.

Friends of LASSN Winter 2024

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2024-12-18T12:00:09+00:0018th December, 2024|

We're excited to share the Winter edition of our Friends of LASSN newsletter. This edition highlights the incredible impact of our volunteers and celebrates the achievements of the refugees and asylum seekers we support. Friends of LASSN Winter 2024 newsletter. Or the same newsletter in PDF format. Thank you so much for your ongoing support of LASSN, and most importantly, for the compassion you show to refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrants in need across Leeds. Your kindness makes a real difference.

Friends of LASSN – Autumn 2024

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2024-11-15T12:33:32+00:0015th November, 2024|

As we enter the closing months of 2024 we are delighted to bring you this edition of Friends of LASSN, which shows the impact our volunteers make, and the achievements of the refugees and asylum seekers we support. Link to Your Friends of LASSN Autumn  2024 Link to Your Friends of LASSN winter update 2024 pdf Thank you for your continued support for LASSN, and most importantly of all, for the support you show to the refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants at risk in Leeds.

LASSN is now a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

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2024-09-16T15:26:24+01:0016th September, 2024|

We're delighted to announce that LASSN has successfully converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Association style), or CIO for short Our Members voted for this change at our AGM in January 24 and (after a few hiccups with the paperwork that required another vote at an EGM in August 24) the Charity Commission have finally approved our application. What does this mean for LASSN?  On a day-to-day level, very little changes. Our Mission and purpose remain exactly the same. We retain our charitable status and we even keep the same Charity Number. Our banking details remain the same, and all the Gift Aid declarations made by our donors and supporters still apply. The main differences are we are no longer registered with Companies House, which means we are now regulated exclusively by the Charity Commission. This means we only have to file one set of accounts, and update one lot of records when things change (eg when Trustees resign). our Constitution is completely up-to-date, and our governance procedures are clearer and less open to interpretation. Consequently, our original 15 page Constitution has now become a 25 page document. If you'd like to read more about the implications of this change, here's a paper we presented to Trustees as they were deciding if they should recommend the change to Members. Get involved  LASSN needs Trustees from a wide range of backgrounds, to make sure we have the right balance of decision makers. We particularly want to recruit Trustees from ethnically diverse communities. Although most of the folks we work alongside are from racialised communities, most of our Trustees are not. We want more Trustees to be drawn from the diverse communities we serve, or to have direct experience of migration to the UK. Younger Trustees. The average age of Trustees is currently 57, and we'd love to get some younger folks involved in how we run things. If you'd like to find out more about what being a Trustee at LASSN involves, and the support and training we can provide, please look at our Trustee Information pack, or contact our Director, Jon Beech [email protected] for an informal chat.

New to Leeds has been revised and updated

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2024-06-21T12:43:16+01:0021st June, 2024|

New to Leeds is the definitive guide to life in Leeds for New Migrants. We’ve updated and expanded it with a whole section for newly granted refugees - spelling out exactly what folks need to do to make a successful transition from seeking asylum to becoming a refugee. Like the previous 2 versions, it’s been designed for use on a smartphone, and can be translated into 20 languages at the touch of a button. All 1500+ links have all been checked, as has the advice and guidance, so you can be sure that the information here is correct. Each entry is also dated, so you can see how long it has been since the page was checked. Massive thanks to everyone involved in this (and previous) updates. You can read more about how this site was put together here: About this Website - New to Leeds

Refugee Job Fair in Leeds 7th November

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2023-10-16T07:46:08+01:0016th October, 2023|

[ad_1] Migration Yorkshire, the Refugee Employment Network, EY and DWP are excited to invite you to the Refugee Job Fair in Leeds on 7th November. The event will take place at Leeds Civic Hall and is open to anyone living in the Leeds and Wakefield area.  During the fair, you will: Get a chance to meet various employers who have live vacancies across a range of sectors Get support and advice to navigate the barriers related to employment Get advice around education and training opportunities Meet the start-up and business support providers There will be support with language translation on the day. To book your free ticket, please follow the Eventbrite link and pick one time slot (each slot offers the same access to employers and support organisations).   If you have any questions, please email [email protected] [ad_2] Source link

How to Complete Application Forms Workshop – Tuesday 19/09/2023 1PM

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2023-09-15T12:52:40+01:0015th September, 2023|

[ad_1] Completing Application Forms – Tuesday 19th September 2023 Open to refugees and people who have fled the conflict in Ukraine In this session you will: Learn about different types of application forms Find out how to fill out an application form Get help on structuring your responses To join please contact Elliot on 07943027922 or [email protected] Address: PATH Yorkshire, 29 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, LS7 3PD [ad_2] Source link

Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network © 2025. All Rights Reserved. Charity Number: 1092647
As of 12th September 2024 LASSN are no longer a company limited by guarantee, and we have de-registered with Companies House.
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