DCRS August - September 2011 Newsletter

DEVON & CORNWALL REFUGEE SUPPORT
A Private Company Limited by Guarantee
Providing
Practical

NEWSLETTER
Support
To
Refugees

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2011
Registered Company No. 06271122 Registered Charity No. 1130360 OISC Exemption No. N200100427
7 Whimple Street, Plymouth PL1 2DH Tel: 01752 265952 Fax: 0870 762 6228 Email: dcrsc@btopenworld.com Website: http://dcrsc1.cfsites.org

FOREWORD BY THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR EDITORIAL COMMENT
Written by Geoffrey N. READ Written by Geoffrey N. READ
DCRS Newsletter Editor

Dear Friends & Supporters,
The Chair of our Board of Trustees, Lorna SEWELL is
I NTERNET LINKS. If you’re reading this on-line and come
across words with blue lettering that are underlined,
then you can click on these links and be taken directly to
indisposed right now so it has fallen upon me to write another site for more information on that particular topic.
a few words for this Foreword. Put your cursor over the link, hold down the Control (Ctrl)
Key and click! Ed.
It never ceases to amaze me just how much work is
achieved by the DCRS Trustees, Staff and Volunteers
during the course of one short month. And all this DCRS BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Written by Geoffrey N. READ
work is carried out quietly, methodically, with not so DCRS Newsletter Editor
much as a song and a dance, but always with the
utmost diligence. I am constantly in awe of what
they manage to achieve.
B OARD OF TRUSTEES’ Meetings. A meeting of the DCRS
th
Board of Trustees was held on Wednesday, 27 July
2011. There will be no meeting in August 2011. The next
th
Despite all their pressures of work the Staff managed meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 28 September 2011 at
to take an Away Day in July 2011 where they studied 7 p.m. Should anyone wish to have a particular matter
discussed at this meeting then please contact any DCRS
their work practices with a view to reviewing them
Trustee.
and improving them.
The Staff still manage to achieve their aims whilst
fighting a constant uphill battle! We learned in July
2011 that the Immigration Advisory Service has had to
close. This will affect a few of our Service Users and
has placed an increased workload on our Staff. I have
placed an article regarding this closure further in this
issue. Our Funders:
How many of you have read our Annual Review for
2010? A copy is available on our website for viewing
and downloading. If you have difficulty with that then
there are a few hard copies available at the
Masiandae Centre or do please contact me direct.
The Review contains an awful lot of useful information th
2011 is the 60 Anniversary
about DCRS and a lot of work and effort was put into
it. of the UN Refugee Convention

Yours sincerely ,
Geoffrey N. READ
http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49da0e466.html

To contact Geoff READ, the Newsletter Editor, please call 07745819828 (text only) or (01752) 563800. 1
Alternatively email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk. For the contact details of DCRS, please see the top of Page 1.

DCRS CLOTHING STORE DCRS HARVEST FESTIVAL APPEAL
Written by Trish BAXTER Written by Christine REID
DCRS Lead Project Support Worker DCRS Trustee & Food Programme Coordinator

B ABY CLOTHES & BEDDING. DCRS is
currently accepting donations of all types of
baby clothes and bedding.
T HAT TIME OF THE YEAR is fast approaching when DCRS
likes to remind faith groups, schools and similar
organisations that it will soon be time for Harvest Festival.
As in previous years, donations of all types of food would
M EN’S SWIMMING SHORTS and Trunks. As you will
see from a later article, the Plymouth Tinside Pool is
now available for use and is free to our Service
be very much appreciated. The DCRS Food Programme
does have a budget which provides for the very basic needs
Users. However, they often don’t have the but we do look upon donations to
necessary swimming costumes, shorts or trunks provide a little bit of “luxury” and
to be able to attend. All donations would therefore be change in the diet of our Service
very welcome! Users (SU). Last year we issued about
1,700 food parcels to Service Users

T OWELS. Towels of all sizes and types
would be welcomed... especially if our
Service Users could use them to go swimming!
who would have otherwise gone hungry.
We also provide toiletry packs for some of our SU and male
toiletries are especially welcome.
You can deliver your donations to the Masiandae Centre at

C OLLECTION OR DELIVERY? If anyone has things to
donate then do please bring them to the Masiandae
Centre in Whimple Street. Alternatively, contact Geoff –
7 Whimple Street. Alternatively, if you would like us to
collect them from you please call Geoff on (01752) 563800
or text him on 07745819828. You can also email him on
details at the foot of the page – and he will arrange collection. saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk. Thank you!

DCRS ON FACEBOOK DCRS HOLIDAY CLOSURE
Written by Kanda Written by Geoffrey N. READ
DCRS Webmaster DCRS Trustee & Newsletter Editor

D CRS ON FACEBOOK. We opened
up a DCRS page at Facebook a few
months ago. Please also visit this
P LEASE NOTE THAT the Masiandae
Centre will be closed all day on
th
Monday, 29 August 2011 for the
Facebook page and click Like! Thank you! Summer Bank Holiday.

DCRS FOOD PROGRAMME DCRS VOLUNTEERS’ MEETING
An update by Christine REID Written by Geoffrey N. READ
DCRS Trustee & Food Programme Coordinator DCRS Trustee & Newsletter Editor

T HE FOOD PROGRAMME continues to issue the same
levels of food to our destitute Service Users (SU). The
number of SU using the Food Programme has been very
T HE JULY 2011 Meeting took place on Thursday, 28 July
2011 and the Minutes are available for collection from
th

the Masiandae Centre. There will be no meeting in August
high recently and this has a resulted in us running out of 2011. The August 2011 Meeting is expected to be
Tea Bags. One of the things we pride ourselves on at the scheduled for 2 p.m. on
Masiandae Centre is that it is a social centre for our SU past th
Thursday, 29 September
and present, to meet and greet in a safe haven. We should 2011 at the Masiandae
therefore be most grateful for donations of the following: Centre. All volunteers are
 Tea Bags cordially invited to attend.
 Mens Shower Gels and Body Sprays
2011 is the 60th Anniversary
of the UN Refugee Convention

C OLLECTION OR DELIVERY? If anyone has things to
donate then do please bring them to the Masiandae
Centre in Whimple Street. Alternatively, contact Geoff –
http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49da0e466.html
details at the foot of the page – and he will arrange collection.


SUMMER IS HERE We would like to thank all those who have attended the
Cultural Kitchen over the past year.
BUT WINTER IS APPROACHING!
An article by Trish BAXTER Regards
DCRS Lead Project Support Worker Janet, Isaac & Susie
START Management Team
S TAFF ARE CONSTANTLY challenged by those Service
Users who have been evicted from supported housing
after receiving a decision on their legal claim to protection
Students & Refugees Together
Unit 4 HQ Building Tel: (01752) 255 200
237 Union Street Fax: (01752) 668 826
in the UK. Plymouth, PL1 3HQ
For all refugees, the housing shortage means that they may Email: isaac@studentsandrefugeestogether.com
have no ready provision for some weeks or months but are Website: www.studentsandrefugeestogether.com
not entitled to continue in the residence after 28 days of
that decision. Becoming homeless and without financial
support is a common experience that plunges a person into
difficult and challenging times.
D CFA on FACEBOOK. AS A RESULT of the information
learned at the On-line Marketing
Training Day mentioned on the previous
For a number, the experience is devastating and can cause a page, it became apparent that DCFA
renewed sense of trauma, we would seek to alleviate, with should be promoting itself on Facebook,
your help. Twitter and other internet sites. DCFA
There are a number of local individuals and groups who now has its very own Facebook Page.
have shown an equal concern for these destitute people Please click on that link and when you get
and as we plan for the coming weeks and months it is there do please click on LIKE! You will find
urgent that we discuss the possible solutions that may be a the LIKE link in the column to the right of
remedy to this problem. the page. This will help us on our way!
If you are interested in coming to discuss these matters We also have a “Friends of DCFA” group at Facebook and
with others at the beginning of September, please get in we cordially welcome you to join us there. Please find the
touch. link to the group on the DCFA Facebook page. Thanks!
We will announce a venue and date when we can confirm
this in our next newsletter. DOES YOUR ORGANISATION PROVIDE
FREE MEALS OR FOOD PARCELS?
THANK YOU! If your organisation would benefit from receiving
Written by Liz HARDINGE free food produce then please go on-line to DCFA at
DCRS Trustee & Personnel Coordinator (Staff & Volunteers) http://dcfa.webs.com ,
download the Application Form & Wish List,
A BIG THANK you to Eustache HABURUREMYI who left
our volunteer team at the end of June 2011 when he
returned to Belgium. Eustache was here to improve his
complete the details and submit it to Geoff
(details at the foot of the page).
English and was a regular volunteer during the few months
he was in Plymouth. We really enjoyed
having him with us and appreciated his
willingness to do whatever was needed.
F AILED STATES INDEX 2011. This index was published by
st
the FP (the Foreign Policy magazine) on Friday, 1 July
2011:
We will miss his smiley face and wish him
well in his future career in law.

OTHER NEWS & EVENTS
Compiled by Geoffrey N. Read

DISCLAIMER
Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this section
are not necessarily those held by the DCRS Board of Trustees
nor anyone connected to DCRS. Failed State: A state having little or no governance,
endemic corruption, profiteering by ruling elites, very poor

T HE CULTURAL KITCHEN is having a break for August
2011 and Ramadan, and will start again in September.
The dates of future Cultural Kitchens for your diary are:
Human Rights, the government cannot / will not protect
the population from others or itself, massive internal
conflict, forced internal / external displacement,

th rd
Friday, 9 and 23 September institutionalised political exclusion of significant numbers

th st
Friday, 7 and 21 October of the population, progressive deterioration of welfare

th th
Friday, 4 and 18 November infrastructure (hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses) not

nd th
Friday, 2 and 16 December adequate to meet health, needs, progressive economic

th th
Friday, 13 and 27 January 2012 decline of the country as a whole as measured by per capita

th th
Friday, 10 and 24 February 2012 income, debt, severe child mortality rates, poverty levels.


Worst 20 Countries: The charity received £15million a year to pay for lawyers and
Somalia,
legal advice for 27,000 migrants trying to stay in the country.
Chad, Guinea,
The Immigration Advisory Service homepage on its website
Sudan, Pakistan, advises would-be users that it is in administration.
Democratic Republic Congo, Yemen, But an internal audit revealed hundreds of cases where
Haiti, Nigeria,
Zimbabwe,
funding went to ineligible applicants.
Níger,
Afghanistan, Kenya, Auditors were shocked to discover that in other cases there
Central African Republic, Burundi, was no paperwork to show money was properly spent.
Iraq, Burma, The charity’s bosses also said some recipients had claimed
Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, money ‘in error’ because of complex Government rules.
Ethiopia.
One successful asylum claimant was granted funding to
Click here to read more.
which he was not entitled to help bring his family into the
country.

IMMIGRATION ADVISORY Service (IAS) goes into
Administration. This information was broadcast by the
th
BBC on Monday, 11 July 2011:
However, there is no suggestion of any deliberate fraud.
Critics said the revelations showed tighter checks were
needed.
The IAS, which employs 200 people, has closed its branches Sir Andrew GREEN, Chairman of the think-tank
across the UK. Migrationwatch UK, said: ‘This is a shocking abuse of
One employee told the BBC that staff taxpayers’ money. Huge sums of public money have been
had been told to clear their desks and given to the asylum and immigration industry – tens of
that administrators were already in millions every year.
the central headquarters in London. ‘It is time that the controls on that expenditure were
The free service is one of the leading charities giving legal tightened up to prevent the taxpayer being taken to the
advice and representation to immigrants and asylum cleaners again.’
seekers in the UK.
BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny SHAW says the Responsibility: Damian GREEN, Minister of
reasons why the charity is in administration are unclear, State for Borders & Immigration. →
but cuts to the legal aid budget and to fees for doing The IAS was the largest legal immigration
legally-funded work are thought to be contributory factors. charity in the UK and funded 13,000 asylum
Alternative Advice and 14,000 immigration cases last year. It
The Legal Services Commission (LSC), which runs the Legal had more than 300 staff in 14 offices across
Aid Scheme in England and Wales, said the IAS's decision to the country.
go into administration was "theirs alone". It raised £500,000 annually from clients and donations, but
A spokesman said: "During recent stewardship activities most of its spending last year came in a £15million grant
LSC raised concerns around financial management and claims from the Legal Services Commission, a Ministry of Justice
irregularities which prompted IAS trustees' to conclude that quango.
the organisation was no longer financially viable. IAS bosses pulled the plug last week after failing to agree
"Our priority now is to work closely with IAS and the how to repay the money. They said they had ‘no
administrators to ensure clients of IAS continue to get the alternative’, blaming Ministry of Justice cuts to legal aid
help they need, whilst safeguarding public money. funding.
"We are now identifying alternative advice provision in the To read more on this topic please go to this link.
areas affected and arrangements for case transfer will
follow as soon as possible."
Click HERE for further information and related stories.
P LYMOUTH TINSIDE LIDO. The following information is
especially brought to the
attention of our Service Users
And please click on this link if you would like to see a BBC
News Video regarding the Closure of the Bristol Offices. because the use of this facility is
free!

M ILLIONS IN LEGAL Aid for Asylum Seekers was
Misspent by Collapsed Immigration Charity.
This article was published in the Daily Mail by Jack Doyle on
Opening dates and times for 2011:
th
Open until Sunday, to 18 September:
th
Tuesday, 12 July 2011.  Mondays to Fridays: 12 noon to 6 p.m. (until
th
Saturday, 4 September the pool opens at 10 a.m.).
Millions of pounds in legal aid for immigrants and
asylum seekers was misspent by a Government-backed  Weekends: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
charity, it emerged last night.  Late swimming on Tuesdays and Thursdays until
The Immigration Advisory Service has collapsed into st
7 p.m. until Thursday, 1 September:
administration after auditors uncovered the financial
irregularities. Please note: Opening of the pool is weather-dependant.


Admission prices: No alcohol is allowed and children must be supervised by
Admission to Tinside Lido is free. During busy periods, sessions adults at all times.
will be introduced. There is very little shade on poolside so it is advisable to bring
sunscreen and hats.
How long can I stay?
During busy times a session system will be in use which may For further information please click on this link.
limit the swim to two hours.
Can unaccompanied children visit the lido?
All children under eight years old must be supervised in the
R EFUGEE WEEK 2011: Different pasts, shared future!
This is a report from the national Refugee Week website:
water by a responsible adult (aged 16 years or over). Refugee Week is a unique opportunity to discover and
No more than two children per adult or one child under five celebrate the contributions refugees bring to the UK.
per adult are allowed.
Thank you everyone for making
Is there access for people with a disability? this year's Refugee Week a
A new lift to enable disabled people to access the lido is now success. A lot of exciting events
available. happened all across the country.
A hoist into the pool is also available. We shall be posting some images
on the site from different events.
Can I hire a sun lounger?
If you organised an event and
There are a limited number of sun loungers and deckchairs to
would like to share some of your pictures with us please
use on a first-come-first-served basis free-of-charge.
email them to us and we shall try to have them on the site
Are there lifeguards? at some point. You can also share photos with us via Facebook
The Council employs a team qualified lifeguards to help www.facebook.com/RefugeeWeek
ensure you have a safe and enjoyable visit to the lido. We're still collecting stories and case studies about the
contributions that refugees have made to Britain over the
Are picnics allowed?
last 60 years. If you have any interesting stories or
Food is allowed into the complex, but glass bottles and alcohol
photographs on this subject to share, we'd very much like
aren't allowed.
to hear from you!
There are vending machines with sweets and drinks and
Join us on Twitter and Facebook via the links below!
limited poolside catering.
http://twitter.com/RefugeeWeek
Are pets allowed? www.facebook.com/RefugeeWeek
No pets are allowed with the exception of guide dogs.
Where can I park?
Parking is limited nearby.
S QUATTERS RIGHTS LAW That Grants Illegal Immigrants
Right to Stay After 14 Years To Be Scrapped. This
article was published in the Daily Mail by David Wilkes on
The nearest car parks are in Pier Street, Lambhay Hill and the th
Monday, 18 July 2011.
city centre.
There is some on road (meter) parking on the surrounding A rule which rewarded immigrants with
roads. the right to stay in the UK after living here
illegally for 14 years is to be scrapped.
What differences will I notice between when the lido closed
The ‘Squatters’ Rights’ law, passed by
in 1992 and now?
Labour in 2003, allowed thousands of
While the Lido has been restored as closely as possible to its
migrants to live here permanently, work
original form, the operation has changed slightly.
and claim benefits simply because they
You no longer need to wear swim hats! In line with modern
escaped detection for so long.
practice, there is now one mixed changing room with cubicles
Up to 2,000 visa over-stayers, failed
so families can change together.
asylum seekers and illegal entrants
The former male changing rooms on the first floor are to be
exploited the loophole every year and Determined:
converted into a restaurant.
were granted permanent residency. Immigration
Are there any water features? Other beneficiaries were illegal workers minister
Damian GREEN
The original water features have been restored with some employed in the black economy who have
modifications. never paid tax or national insurance.
The central fountain has a mushroom effect as well as a jet. Critics branded the law a ‘slow motion amnesty’.
The two edge fountains are smaller with water coming from a Worryingly, the numbers taking advantage have increased
round grille. by 120% since its first full year in operation.
Now Home Office ministers are set to abolish the law... to
What can I buy at the lido?
ensure migrants who do not play by the rules are not given
There are vending machines with sweets and drinks.
the ‘privilege’ of settlement.
How safe is it? Immigration Minister Damian GREEN said: ‘I am
There are qualified lifeguards on duty at all times who are also determined to take steps to close the loopholes that have
trained in first aid. been exploited for too long.’


1
‘The right to a family life is not absolute and the interests of The IRR's firs investigation, part of an ongoing examination
the British public must be taken into consideration when of the changing characteristics of racial violence
deciding who can enter and remain in the UK. throughout the UK, is based on detailed research into the
‘Those who enter the country illegally or overstay their visa history and political economy of Plymouth. It draws on
should not be automatically rewarded with the privilege of interviews with key individuals working on issues relating
settlement just because they have avoided detection for to racism and racial equality in the city and is
years.’ supplemented by statistical data and information.
There are fears the numbers taking advantage of the law 2
According to the report's author, Dr. Jon BURNETT , 'This
could spiral in coming years as thousands of illegal migrants
research emphasises the ways in which specific patterns of
who arrived in the last decade apply for permanent
racism are becoming entrenched in smaller cities within the
residency.
UK. It shows how forms of racism fostered by national
In 2003 the law was changed to allow anyone living here
policies and practices are re-interpreted and manifested
illegally for 14 years or more to apply for indefinite leave to
through the prism of specific local contexts. As these new
remain.
geographies of racism emerge, there needs to be an
Left: emergence of new anti-racist strategies which both
Fears: The numbers taking
understand and adapt to these local realities.'
advantage of the law could
spiral in coming years as The research highlights how, within Plymouth:
thousands of illegal
migrants who arrived in the  Historically, there has been a comparatively small
last decade apply for
Black Minority Ethnic (BME) population. However,
permanent residency.
the demography of the city has changed
significantly over the last decade. Certain
Since then a total of 8,948 illegal migrants have taken
communities have been left isolated and
advantage of the failures of the immigration system to
vulnerable to racist attacks. There have been
remove them to stay.
vicious attacks against asylum seekers, students
The year after the law was introduced just 781 illegal
from BME communities, Gypsies and Travellers
migrants used it but by 2009 the number increased to
and workers within particular sectors such as
2,061. Last year the total was 1,774.
catering and mini-cabbing.
Once their application has been approved, the immigrant
will be able to claim the same benefits as Britons... and is  The decline of the dockyards has devastated the
eligible to apply for citizenship and a UK passport. local economy and underpinned persistent
Each application is decided on the basis of the applicants inequalities within the city. Particular wards are
‘good character’ and knowledge of the UK. classed as some of the poorest areas in the
Official estimates put the number of illegal immigrants in country and the current economic climate, as well
the country at up to 570,000. However unofficial as the political responses to this, has the potential
calculations put the total as high as 870,000. to entrench these inequalities further.
In opposition, the Tories branded the rule ‘disturbing’, and
 There is an intrinsic, historical, naval infrastructure
criticised it for ‘rewarding illegal behaviour’.
and despite the decline of the dockyards the city
In its document on proposed changes to family immigration
still has active naval and military barracks. Far-
published last week the Home Office said: ‘Those who wish
right groups have attempted to mobilise locally by
to settle in the UK on the grounds of private or family life
capitalising on the issues raised by the war-footing
should be up-front about their intentions and make an
which the UK has been on over recent years.
appropriate application to the UK Border Agency.
‘Settlement in the UK is a privilege. It should not be
achieved simply by evading our detection for a number of
years.
For more information please click on this link. 1
This briefing on Plymouth is the first of three investigations
into areas which have experienced increased levels of racist

T HE NEW GEOGRAPHIES 0f Racism: Plymouth. The
following Press Release was issued by the Institute of Race
Relations (IRR) on Thursday, 30th June 2011:
attacks over recent years. These investigations will explore new
geographies of racism which are emerging within the UK and will
culminate in a report, drawing together findings from each of
the areas, in a report later this year. This project developed from
Research published today by the IRR
a briefing paper published by the IRR in 2010 entitled Racial
investigates how geographies of racism violence: the buried issue (download here).
throughout the UK are changing in a Read the IRR's research, The new geographies of racism:
wider climate of economic austerity, Plymouth here (PDF file, 198kb).
shifting patterns of migration and
2
settlement and against the backdrop of Dr. Jon BURNETT is a researcher at the IRR working on a three-
new forms of racism exacerbated by national policies. year-project on racial violence in the UK.


 There has been a lack of local and national political  Each host home will be asked to have two volunteers, one
will to address the causes and manifestations of from Nepal and one from another part of the UK.

racist attacks, with a commitment to projects aimed  As far as possible, live-in volunteers will be of the same
at fostering community cohesion diverting focus gender and will therefore only need one bedroom as they'll
away from racial violence. At the same time, the be expected to share.
current economic climate has forced certain key
 Volunteers must not share a bed and we can provide an
agencies providing support services to close. extra camp bed for the duration of the volunteer's stay.
 The official response to racism has historically
 Ideally volunteers will live in the same host home for the
been one of denial and the severity of racial duration of their three-month stay, but if you are only able
violence has, in the past, consequently been to offer a home for a short time (minimum of two weeks)
downplayed. then we would still like to hear from you.

To see the full version of this report, please click on this  The most important thing to us is that you’re open to taking
link. For further information please call the IRR on 020 the volunteers in and sharing your life and community with
them.
7837 0041 or 07753 741 129 or email: jon@irr.org.uk.
Host Homes: What you get in return
 Previous host homes have said they have benefited from
the experience of having guests from a different
background and culture staying with them.


Z EBRA COLLECTIVE: Host Homes & Volunteer Work It is a great opportunity to learn from the volunteers about
their life in Nepal and other parts of the UK.
Placements Required. If you haven't already heard,
Zebra Collective is now the official Plymouth partner of  The current allowance for host homes is £100 per pair week
Global Xchange, and we are now embarking on our first (£50 per volunteer).
international cultural exchange project.
 The allowance aims to cover the extra food, water,
Global Xchange is a partnership between VSO UK, The electricity etc. the volunteers will use during their stay.
British Council and other partner organisations around the
world. Working directly with the UK Department for Volunteer Work Placements:
 Volunteer Work Placement must take place in community
International Development (DFID), Global Xchange is part and voluntary organisations.
of the pilot year of International Citizen Service (ICS).
 Based in Plymouth (including Plympton and Plymstock).
In the Autumn we will begin our six-month programme
between Plymouth and a cluster of villages near Surkhet,  Volunteer’s work on placement 3 – 4 days a week.
Nepal. Ten volunteers from the UK and ten from Nepal, all
aged between 18 and 22, will spend three months in  Each organisation will be asked to have two volunteers, one
from Nepal and one from another part of the UK for three
Surkhet then three months in Plymouth, living, working and months.
learning in these communities.  The volunteers will be working in the organisation around a
theme which is likely to be Health & Well-being, for
The volunteers will live with host families in Plymouth from example:
January to April 2012 (13 weeks), and the Zebra Collective Sexual health promotion,
is now looking for expressions of interest from people Mental health awareness Campaigns,
Befriending services, Alcohol abuse,
willing to be hosts. We are also looking for Volunteer Work
Fitness projects... cycle to work schemes,
Placements throughout the city. In both cases a UK community integration services etc.
volunteer and a Nepalese volunteer will be placed  We are also looking for organisations who contribute to a
together, to live and work as partners. wider variety of Plymouth’s development for one-off
projects or events such as the volunteer’s Community
There will be two Programme Supervisors living and Action Days (CAD).
working in your community who are responsible for
members of the team throughout the exchange and are Expressions of Interests for Host Homes & Volunteer Work
available to provide support to host homes and Volunteer Placements. If you are interested in being a host family or
Work Placements. They will visit host homes and volunteer a volunteer placement for two volunteers please contact:
placements regularly. The UK Programme Supervisor is Liza PACKER,
Marc GARDINER of the Zebra Collective. Programme Organiser
Host Homes: What you need to know. liza@zebra.coop
 You will need to live in Plymouth or within the travel to Tel: (01752) 847442 or (01752) 395131
work area. It’s important that the volunteers can easily get
to their work placements so there must be a regular bus Once you confirm your interest a Programme Supervisor
route into the city. will arrange to meet you and you can talk through what’s
involved with them. There’s no obligation to commit!
 Eligible areas are Plymouth (including Plympton and
Plymstock), Torpoint and Saltash.


Wednesday, 24 th August 2011
DIARY DATES
Written by Geoffrey N. READ Khordad Sal (Shenshai) (Zoroastrian).
DCRS Newsletter Editor The birthday of Zoroaster, celebrated on this date in the Shenshai
calendar.
All the dates are shown using the Gregorian (Western) calendar. The
calendar is accurate, but some dates may vary regionally because they Tuesday, 30th August 2011
are determined by the lunar calendar. Jewish festivals usually begin at Eid-Ul-Fitr (Muslim).
sundown on the previous day. The end of Ramadan when Muslims celebrate the end of fasting and
If you have access to the internet, just click on the faith links for thank Allah for His help with their month-long act of self-control.
further information.

Thursday, 8 th September 2011
st
Monday, 1 August 2011 Nativity of the Theotokos (Christian).
Lughnasadh - Lammas (Pagan). Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary.
A harvest festival and one of the Pagan festivals of Celtic origin Birthday of the Blessed V irgin Mary (Christian).
which split the year into four. Roman Catholics celebrate the birth of the V irgin Mary.
Ramadan (start) (Muslim) Feast of the Birth of Mary (Christian).
Ramadan is the Muslim month of fasting. Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches celebrate the
birth of Mary, mother of Jesus.
Saturday, 6 th August 2011
Transfiguration (Christian). Sunday, 11 th September 2011
Orthodox Christian feast commemorating the sudden emanation of Ethiopian New Year (Rastafari).
radiance from the person of Jesus that occurred on the mountain. The start of the New Year in Ethiopia is recognised because
Rastafarians believe Ethiopia to be their spiritual homeland, and a
Tuesday, 9 th August 2011 place to which they want to return.
T isha B'Av (Jewish)
A solemn day that commemorates a series of tragedies that have Friday, 23 rd September 2011
befallen the Jewish people over the years, many of which have Autumn Equinox (Pagan)
coincidentally happened on this day. This day is celebrated when day and night are of equal duration.

Saturday, 13 th August 2011 Wednesday, 28 th September 2011
Raksha Bandhan (Hindu). Navaratri (start) (Hindu).
Raksha Bandhan is the Hindu festival that celebrates brotherhood Navaratri (nine nights) symbolises the triumph of good over evil and
and love. marks the start of autumn.
Raksha Bandhan means a thread for protection.
Thursday, 29 th September 2011
Monday, 15 th August 2011
Michaelmas / St. Michael, St. Gabriel & St. Raphael's Day
Dormition of the Theotokos (Christian). (Christian).
An Orthodox festival that commemorates the death, resurrection, A feast day in honour of the archangel Michael.
and glorification of Christ's mother. Michael is one of the angels named in the Bible (along with Gabriel
Dormition means falling asleep. and, in some traditions including Roman Catholic, Raphael. )
Assumption of the Blessed V irgin Mary (Christian) Rosh Hashanah (first day) (Jewish).
A largely Roman Catholic festival celebrating their belief that Mary, Jewish New Year.
the mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven. A two-day festival during which work is not permitted.

Wednesday, 17 th August 2011
Birthday of Marcus Garvey (Rastafari).
Commemorates the birthday of Marcus Garvey, the Jamaican
politician born in 1887 who predicted the crowning of a King in
Africa, and instigated the Back to Africa movement.
THIS SPACE
Friday, 19 th August 2011 COULD HAVE BEEN USED
Jamshedi Noruz (Shenshai) (Zoroastrian).
Zoroastrian New Year's Day in the Shenshai calendar. TO PLACE
Monday, 22 nd August 2011
Janmashtami - Krishna Jayanti (Hindu).
YOUR NOTICE!
The Janamashtami festival marks the birth of Krishna, the most
highly venerated God in the Hindu pantheon. Why not contact the Editor?


DCRS August - September 2011 Newsletter

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DCRS August - September 2011 Newsletter