We are bringing a yoga class to Bristol Refugee Rights to provide people who are asylum seekers or refugees with access to yoga – shown to reduce rates of depression, anxiety and experiences related to trauma in this population. It's a chance for people to connect to their bodies, centre in their breath and feel grounded in the here-and-now. But we need your help to cover the costs!

The Bristol Yoga Roots Project (BYRP) is a group of like-minded yogis working to bring yoga to socially disadvantaged populations in Bristol. Thanks to your generous donations last year we managed to raise enough for a brand new kit for 14 people – thank you! We are now ready to expand the small number of classes we are offering and our fabulous BYRP member Deasy Bamford has been busy working out the logistics behind setting up a weekly yoga class with Bristol Refugee Rights.

Bristol Refugee Rights aims to deliver a ‘user-led’ service that addresses the practical, psychological and human rights needs of people who are refugees and asylum seekers. This includes support with legal issues, health needs, accommodation, and learning English, as well as providing a number of groups, a crèche and a hot lunch. Find out more here: https://www.bristolrefugeerights.org/how-we-help/i-need-help-i-start/

We have the kit, we have the students, we have the teacher, but we need a room! Room hire costs £12 per week and we would like to cover the initial 6 months to see how this class can grow. We would also like to offer Deasy & cover teachers payment for their time, ideally £20 per class - as you can imagine a lot more goes in to making this happen than the one hour class slot.

If this cause resonates with you, then please donate whatever you can – every little really does help. Funds up to £300 will cover room hire for 6 months, funds over £300 will be used to pay our volunteers over 6 months, funds over £800 will be used to fund other BYRP activities, including extending our (currently unpaid) yoga classes for women with multiple disadvantage – watch this space!

If you have any thoughts, comments or questions then please get in touch at bristolyogarootsproject@gmail.com.

Big thanks and big love,

The BYRP team

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