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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#outandabout

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2024-09-26T07:51:31+01:0024th May, 2018|

We're proud to announce our new #outandabout project, which aims to ensure every destitute asylum seeker in Leeds who's over 50 can get a bus pass if they need one to help them access accommodation, support and to keep in touch with friends. Without no entitlement to any public benefits, and no right to work, people rely on charitable organisations and volunteer hosts for the very basic necessities. Maintaining social connections in such circumstances is a challenge, especially when a host location may be miles away from centres of social activities, like a place of worship or a weekly choir. Something as simple as a weekly bus pass, plus the confidence to use public transport to get around the city, can make a huge difference in this situation. LASSN will provide passes for asylum seekers, then volunteer befrienders and hosts will support them to build confidence in traveling independently, thus leading to a more fulfilling daily life Please note, all referrals to this project need to come through British Red Cross and PAFRAS Case Workers Many thanks to Big Lottery Fund, Leeds Community Foundation and Time to Shine for helping to make this happen.

Music Without Borders

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2020-01-30T12:55:43+00:008th May, 2018|

This event has already happened, but we've left the post up, as a reminder of what we've done. A party for refugees and their allies. When: Friday 11th May 18:00 – 23:00 Where: Open Source Arts, Aire Place Mills, 143 Kirkstall Rd, Leeds LS3 1JL Everyone is welcome at this party for asylum seekers, refugees, their friends and allies – featuring Live Music, YouTube Disco, Dancing, and Food. Entry is free, and children are welcome. There will be slots throughout the evening led by musicians from around the world, showcasing the music and dancing they know and love. And the YouTube Disco will run all evening - featuring the global dance tunes which you have chosen - so please add your favourites to this YouTube playlist: bit.ly/mwob18 even if you can't make the event. Finally, we know transport costs might be a problem for some people, so please text 07845298047 and let us know. We can't wait to see you there! This event is organised by Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network (LASSN) and supported by Open Source Arts, Red Ladder Theatre Company, RETAS Leeds and Leeds Refugee Forum.  

Friends of LASSN – Spring 2018

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2024-01-16T11:34:14+00:0026th April, 2018|

We've just published our April edition of Friends of LASSN - it's packed with all sorts of stories about the difference we're making to the lives of refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants at risk, as well as practical steps you can take to show solidarity at home, at work, and whilst you're deciding who to vote for in the upcoming elections. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoy compiling it. As usual it features the voices of asylum seekers, volunteers and staff at LASSN - and this one includes an invitation to the biggest and best party you'll attend all year... #musicwithoutborders on 11th May 2018. Please click on the link below to find out more

Grace Hosting in the News

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2018-11-09T14:49:21+00:007th March, 2018|

In recent months, Grace Hosting has struggled to find sufficient Hosts to accommodate destitute asylum seekers. Although we provide about 30 nights of emergency accommodation each week, we struggle to find places for about 3 nights each week.   With this in mind, we thought we'd try and recruit some new Hosts by issuing a Press Release about our work, and letting people know how they might help.     Since then, we've made quite a splash. It started out with local MP Alex Sobel citing a story from our last Friends of LASSN on the floor of the House of Commons (he starts speaking at 16:07) and telling the world that he and his family used to be Grace Hosts (click on the photo to see him in action). This was quickly picked up by both the Wharfedale Observer and the Yorkshire Evening Post Later that week we had a lovely piece on ITV Calendar thanks to reporter Rachel Townsend, who is actually a Grace Host volunteer herself! This featured our volunteer host Theresa, and Joti who has been staying with her, and who were happy to be filmed. It gave a lovely insight in to what hosting is all about. The next week we found out we'd made it into North Leeds Life...  And finally Theresa (again) and Clare appeared on BBC Radio Leeds last Sunday with Richard Stead talking about their experience as Hosts, friendships and Afghan Sunday Lunches.   You can listen to their fantastic interview by clicking here and listening from about 2 hours and 7 minutes (after Rod Stewart). Thank you to the volunteers who agreed to be involved, the journalists who covered the story, and everyone working behind the scenes to make this happen ( and in particular Dee Marshall, one of our Trustees).  All this publicity has lead to a few people coming forward who are thinking about volunteering as a host with LASSN - although we still need more. . If you know anyone who may be interested – perhaps people you work with, groups you attend, family or friends please do give them Jo's email [email protected] and we can have a chat. We also have some postcards about volunteering with LASSN which we can send to you if you would like them to give out at places of work, events etc.  Your help in recruiting more host volunteers is much appreciated. And finally, thanks for letting us show off a bit. It's unusual for us to have gotten this amount of coverage, but we thought you'd like to know...

Friends of LASSN – Winter 2017

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2024-01-16T11:34:52+00:0015th December, 2017|

The Winter Edition of Friends of LASSN is out - our quarterly newsletter telling you about the difference our volunteers and network members make to the lives of refugees and asylum seekers living in Leeds. There's lots in here that gives us hope as well as some other things that spur us on, and remind us there's still a lot more to do "it's great working with Latif and & Selina," wrote one of our volunteers in an email today "They're a lovely couple." "And my whole experience with LASSN has been amazing - the training was thorough, but not overwhelming, and David has been fantastic throughout the whole process. Thank you to you, and everyone at LASSN for all your hard work!" It's lovely to be appreciated. But in fact, we should be thanking you all for your kindness and your continued support for what LASSN stands for. So thank you. And Merry Christmas.

Mentoring and Befriending at LASSN

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2018-09-14T15:52:03+01:0014th December, 2017|Tags: , |

We recently delivered a short presentation on how we do Mentoring and Befriending at LASSN, and to help our Connecting Opportunities partners think through how they might approach it. In particular we were keen to show how our way of doing Mentoring and Befriending mesh with our values. Have a look and see what you think.    

Fundraising for LASSN – some new resources

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2024-08-20T14:20:06+01:005th December, 2017|

LASSN relies on donations and funds raised by supporters and well wishers - so we've tried to make the process a little easier, and to offer more support to people who want to help us to raise money. We've done this in several ways We now have a dedicated fundraising page on the LASSN website We're offering support to people organising fundraising events, including a fundraising pack with publicity materials We've set up a Virgin Giving Page - so that people can set up their own fundraising page for us and advertise it on Social Media Thank you to everyone who raises money to help asylum seekers and refugees in Leeds, and especially those who do this in the name of LASSN.  We think you're amazing.

Tina joins English at Home as Volunteers Manager

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2018-11-09T13:51:12+00:008th November, 2017|

As many of you know, Riley - Volunteers Manager at English at Home - recently went on 12 months Adoption leave. In Riley's farewell email, they promised that LASSN would find a temporary replacement very soon. And we have. We are delighted to announce that Tina Brocklebank will be joining the team, as English at Home Volunteers Manager alongside David.  Some of you may know Tina from the press coverage of her work with Help Refugees in the Refugee Camp at Calais, or the Volunteer Open evenings she has been running with City of Sanctuary - helping people who want to work with asyum seekers and refugees to find the right volunteering opportunity. Tina was also elected to LASSN's board of Trustees at our last AGM. However, Tina is now standing down as a Trustee in order to join David as a Volunteers Manager with English at Home on 15th November 2017. 

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