Making newly arrived refugee and asylum seeking children feel welcome with film, food and friends

Every Wednesday since May, we've run a free Welcome Cinema event for newly arrived asylum seeking families.

Welcome Cinema Kids! is a chance to integrate with the community and support services through the magic of cinema. Throughout the film there's freshly made popcorn, pizza, delicious fruit and drinks.

It's turned out to be so popular - with an average of 50 attendees every week - that we need more funds for food and transport for attendees!

If we raise enough money we hope to start another weekly event in Bristol for unaccompanied child refugees.

Welcome Cinema Kids is based in the wonderful Oasis Centre near to the temporary accommodation hostel in Cardiff where many families are housed when they first claim asylum. The hostel provides no play, education or entertainment facilities.

Cinema is a great opportunity for parents to meet people who've been through similar experiences, for kids to be children and for UK citizens to be welcoming.

We're a small group of volunteers, including one member of the refugee community. We'd like to be able to give more people the opportunity to volunteer with us whilst they wait for the chance to be able to work again.

- Transport costs for attendees - Volunteer expenses . - Food and drink - Audio equipment - Film costs

We are currently part funded by Meena but we're now looking at ways of making sure we can keep going, improve what we're doing and involve more people!

We met volunteering in the refugee camp in Calais. For most of last year we worked with The Unofficial Women and Children’s Centre (now Meena), Refugee Youth Service , Help Refugees and L’Auberge Des Migrants providing social and education support for children, families and young people residing in the makeshift camp.

(The Unofficial Women and Children's Centre in Calais)

For 8 months, until the largest camps clearance in October 2016, we provided an educational play space for children under 11. Twice a week a French couple known as Nana and Dom Dom would bring films for the children. We quickly saw the benefits of the chance to escape into the world of classics likes Harry Potter and Mathilda; a distraction away from some of the harsh realities of life in camp and a chance for parents to get some peace!

Our big sister in London - Welcome Cinema - is also run by volunteers who worked on the The Unofficial Women and Children's Centre. You can find out more about the wonderful things they do and how to donate here: welcomepresents.com

A short video about Oasis Centre