In the last year many people have experienced disconnection and loneliness, and the people LASSN work alongside are no exception.
Over the last year, LASSN has worked hard to overcome these barriers by putting affordable technology into the hands into the hands of anyone who has needed it, and by supporting other people with the same goal.
We’re long-term collaborators with solidaritech.com but this year, we had to do a little but more for ourselves…
March 2020
Lockdown restrictions mean face to face support from LASSN is suspended.
- All LASSN clients and volunteers offered £5/month phone costs;
- LASSN hosts fortnightly Leeds Migration Partnership online lunchtime chats, to keep colleagues networked and in touch with one another;
- LASSN provides free WIFI to destitute asylum seekers accomodated by Leeds City Council
April-May 2020
- helpinleeds.com – updated by a LASSN volunteer on furlough
- furloughed LASSN staff support launch of Migration Yorkshire’s migrantinfohub.org.uk
- LASSN’s post on the use of video tech and the cost of data on migrationpartnership.org.uk is the most popular ever, with over 4000 hits
April-July 2020
- Our city-wide Digital Inclusion Scheme launches – volunteers collect/wipe/unlock and distribute more than 100 phones, 40 WIFI dongles, 150 data SIM cards to asylum seekers and refugees in Leeds. This is mostly thanks to the flexibility of the Police and Crime Commissioner, who let us use the grant they gave us, for this.
- LASSN shares experiences through Refugee Action Good Practice Hub and with colleagues at 100% Digital and Leeds’ Health and Wellbeing Board
- LASSN volunteers managers work closely with colleagues from other organisations to develop online content, social/chat spaces, and the confidence/skill to run effective online groups
May-September 2020
LASSN develops
- online resources for Tutors and Befrienders, online support training, as well as online safeguarding guidance
- a small library of spare laptops/tablets/PCs to be loaned to clients and volunteers as needed
June-October 2020
LASSN partners with Leeds Refugee Forum to secure costs of
- improving Leeds Refugee Forum website
- creating microsites for each of the Refugee Community Organisations supported by LRF
- supplying 12 Refugee Community Organisations with laptops, broadband costs, and digital training
- development of digital skills for refugees and people seeking asylum, in a variety of languages
July 2020
- Phone costs offered to LASSN clients and volunteers increases to £10/month
August-September 20
PCs and webcams supplied to
- Hotels being used by Home Office contractors to house asylum seekers in Leeds, York and Hull
- all Grace Hosts and people living at Grace House
- anyone wanting to volunteer with LASSN who does not have the digital equipment to do so
November 2020
- increased participation of Refugee Community Organisations in citywide strategic discussions by offering £35/hr “back-fill” for time spent in meetings.
- LASSN starts work on what will become Events in Leeds with Leeds City of Sanctuary, Refugee Council’s New Roots and the Leeds Migration Partnership, in collaboration with Maryan from sidelabs
- LASSN starts to recruit and deliver volunteer training online
December 2020
- LASSN increases data allowance for clients and volunteers to £20 a month
- LASSN creates guidance for Grace Hosts/Guests on how to watch non-UK Netflix
January 2021
- LASSN helps to get 49 primary and 23 secondary school children not already supported by LASSN to get online thanks to LCC’s Wifi Voucher scheme
- LASSN provides free WIFI to 20 people in properties managed by WYDAN and LEDAS
February – March 2021
- LASSN holds its first ever online Celebration of Connecting and Reconnecting
March 2021
Digital Inclusion project launched, with Leeds Refugee Forum providing a package of digital skills and devices to all LASSN clients.
April – June 2021
LASSN trains a refugee PAT tester, to ensure all donated/refurbished electronics are safety checked
June 2021
- LASSN reduces phone/data allowance for clients and volunteers to £10 a month
- 2 laptops provided to St Monica’s Housing to help destitute residents get online (featured image)
July 2021
- Leeds Migration Partnership fortnightly Zoom chats move to monthly
- LASSN reduce monthly phone/data allowance, with a view to making discretionary payments when lockdown ends.
- Events in Leeds launched, and online listings of all social and wellbeing activities focused on refugees and people seeking asylum in Leeds
