Staff and students from the UEA community will be walking, running and cycling during UEA Refugee Week, 15-19 March 2021, to raise funds to support local sanctuary seekers (refugees and asylum seekers). The need to support sanctuary seekers is greater than ever, can you help by sponsoring us?

Who are we fundraising for?

Funds raised will be donated to The Spare Change for Spare Parts appeal, Norwich Integration Partnership (New Routes , English + and Bridge Plus ) and Norwich Internation Youth Project . Please see below for more information about the causes and groups we are fundraising for.

Spare Change For Spare Parts project

Norwich Repair Bicycle Co-op, Dr Bike located at UEA, are working with the well-established Welcome Wheels programme collaboratively with New Routes and the University of Sanctuary initiative to provide a bicycle repair service for local sanctuary seekers.

The new Repair Hub allows sanctuary seekers to visit the NRBC throughout the week to access this free-of-charge service. Staff at NRBC are generously giving their own time to make the needed repairs but they need support from the community to cover the costs of the bicycle parts, such as wheels, brake pads, brake and gear cables, saddles and tyres.

The repair service will support the existing Welcome Wheels initiative set up by Bicycle Links, New Routes Integration, English+ and Norwich International Youth Project. Since 2018, Welcome Wheels has provided over 200 second-hand bicycles to local sanctuary seekers across Norfolk. Can you help us to ensure that local sanctuary seekers can access this free of charge repair service for the months and years ahead?

Why is it important to be able to offer this service to sanctuary seekers? Asylum seekers have access to limited financial support. Whilst awaiting the outcome of their asylum claim they are entitled to just £37.75 a week and are not entitled to work.  Those who have gained refugee status also often have limited funds and lack of transport can have a direct impact on their ability to secure work. A bike can help sanctuary seekers to access healthcare, education and much more. 

Norwich International Youth Project

Norwich International Youth Project is a charity which supports young sanctuary seekers (asylum seekers and refugees) in Norfolk, between the ages of 11 and 25. They work with local sanctuary seekers to improve their wellbeing and self-esteem, increase opportunity and encourage successful integration within the wider community and improve access to education and help young people to achieve their goals.

NIP (New Routes, English + and Bridge Plus)

The Norwich Integration Partnership( New Routes, English+ and The Bridge Plus+ ) are three organisations in Norwich that work at grassroots level with recently resettled ethnic minority individuals, families, young people and communities in Norwich.

The support and services include: information, advice, advocacy and race equality work (The Bridge Plus+), integrative language development education (English+), and one to one and group activities with skills development opportunities and personalised one-to-one support (New Routes International Friendship Groups, Mentoring & Befriending Programmes).

Who is taking part?

Please find below the names of staff and students who are taking part, plus their individual goals.

As the pandemic prevents us from taking part in this sponsored event together, we will be undertaking our sponsored walks/runs/rides separately but adding up the grand amount of km travelled in total. Keep an eye on this page to see how many miles we collectively travel.

Karen Blackney will be walking 10km

Claire Cuminatto will be running 15km

Rob Drury will be running 15km

Lola Dutton will be cycling 10km

Madeleine Dutton will be cycling 10km

Enrique Munoz Delange will be running 15km

Dalyan Eldaly will be walking 35km

Matthew Sillence will be cycling 80km

Jumara Stone will be running 25k

Ryan Stone will be running 25k

Paulina Theuerkauf will be walking 10km

Ulrike Theuerkauf will be walking 10km

Tara Welsh will be walking 15km

Sally-Ann Wilson will be walking 10km

Leticia Yulita will be running 10km

Total km=295km

Thank you for visiting our page. To find out more about the UEA University of Sanctuary initiative, please click here.