RAY (Refugee Action York)
RAY offers support to refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in York, aiming to help people feel welcomed and accepted, safe and empowered. RAY has lots of options for people of all ages to get involved in.
What do they offer?
Weekly Coffee Mornings
At our weekly coffee mornings, people from around the world gather to practice English in small groups with a dedicated team of volunteers. All are welcome to join in, develop their English language skills, enjoy a cuppa and share a laugh. This session is for adults (and babes in arms) only.
The Hub – monthly Sunday afternoon session
All ages are welcome to join as we celebrate the many cultures which make up the RAY family. We have a variety of speakers and activities for adults to encourage their wellbeing, games and activities for children and a shared meal for all. The Hub is a great place to come together and meet other RAY service users.
Youth Club
The RAY youth club meets fortnightly during term time on Mondays, 6:30-8pm, offering many different activities, including games, sports, arts and crafts, cooking, baking, movie nights and trips to fun new places, to 11-18 year olds. Young people can have a say in the youth club plans as they help design sessions and choose where to go on trips.
Sports Club
The RAY sports club runs fortnightly 6-7pm on Thursdays during term time, giving 11-18 year olds access to the facilities of a local sports centre. They also take sports trips to try new activities like kickboxing with professional coaches.
One-to-one support
RAY volunteers provide one-to-one support to our service users through befriending and one-to-one English support (for adults), mentoring (for teenagers) and homework help (for children).
Mother Tongue Language Classes
Weekly language classes in Turkish, Arabic, Ukrainian and Persian are offered to all young service users who are interested. Classes for primary school aged children are held at the monthly Hub sessions, while classes for secondary school aged children are held online weekly. These help young people work towards a GCSE or A-level qualification.
How to Get Involved
If you, or someone you know, is interested in coming, then please get in touch by email on info@refugeeactionyork.com or text/WhatsApp/phone on 07510 544 692.
You can also find more information on our website: http://www.refugeeactionyork.org.