Support from VSO has enabled members of VSO Leeds Supporter Group to establish a partnership with local organisation PAFRAS (Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers) that is not only helping to challenge negative stereotypes but is finding long term solutions to the problem of food shortages amongst refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.

When VSO UK launched its new programme of support for UK community development initiatives the Leeds Supporter Group was one of the first to get in touch. Like many of our supporters the members of the Leeds Group harbour a keen interest in international issues and in supporting the poorest members of the community, whether that’s overseas or much closer to home.

This interest has been translated into positive action in a project that in just four months has resulted in a partnership with local organisation PAFRAS (Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers), a theatre production that raised awareness of the challenges facing refugees and asylum seekers, a successful food collection appeal and the imminent launch of an allotment that will enable the refugee community to become more self sufficient.

The Leeds VSO group decided they'd like to work on a project around refugees and asylum seekers. Group member Paresha Raj linked them up with Jonathan Burnett, who works for and they, with fellow member Vicki Clark and a work colleague of Vicki’s, Nadia Jejna, formed a group of four to define and implement the project.

They quickly learned that the biggest challenges lie in refugees’ ability to meet their basic needs and this includes obtaining sufficient food to maintain good health. Although there are an estimated 300 refugees and asylum seekers living in the Leeds area, until recently PAFRAS has only been able to provide around 50 food boxes a week, which meant that some 250 individuals were going hungry every week.

The group split their resources to focus on two objectives; raising public awareness of the issue to address immediate food shortages and finding a sustainable solution to these shortages.

Vicki and Nadia led on the first by hosting a theatre evening at their workplace, placing food donation boxes in each office and forging links with a local church group. Their networking even extended to Bradford where they found a similar initiative that had more food than they could manage.

This activity did more than gather food, it changed attitudes: “People who came to the event or found out more about our appeal told us that their long held stereotypes had been broken down and that they genuinely hadn’t understood the issues affecting these individuals. One or two people challenged us on why we were doing this, but even they accepted our explanation.”

Meanwhile Paresha and Jonathan sought a more permanent solution to the food shortages. A disused allotment has been donated to the group, work to prepare the area for planting will begin in the spring and following that it will be divided into patches that individuals will plant, care for and harvest.

Key to the long term sustainability of this six-month project has been the link with PAFRAS which means it directly answers a very real need and involves those who will benefit from it.

The project has also given the Leeds Supporter Group a new focus: “This project has been really good for the Group,” says Vicki. “We have always met regularly and hosted speakers but have rarely looked at how we can support the wider community. This experience has reenergised us, we have made new contacts, it has refocused the group and supporters who are new to the Group, but who can’t currently volunteer overseas, have found an outlet for their enthusiasm and commitment to make a difference in people’s lives.’