Asylum seekers still stuck in West Berkshire hotel recognised for volunteer work
Asylum seekers still stuck in a West Berkshire hotel after more than a year, have been recognised for their volunteering.
Those staying at a hotel in Thatcham have started picking litter and giving up their time to help out at charity shops.
Every charity shop in Newbury and Thatcham now has around one to two asylum seekers lending a hand.
The litter picking group was founded by Iranian man Bahman – a primary school teacher who had to flee home for his safety, leaving his wife and young children behind.
The father-of-two named the group VIAN after one of his children, whose name means ‘for the love of’.
His teenage daughter designed the VIAN logo, which has been printed on hi-vis jackets for Bahman and the team.
Back home in Iran, Bahman had always been involved in environmental work and wanted to continue in the UK.
He said he was horrified that, since arrival, the hotel has been serving food in plastic takeaway containers with plastic knives and forks and is looking at how it could be changed.
Bahman also asked West Berkshire Action for Refugees (WBAR) if he could start a litter picking group.
WBAR lead volunteer Karen Reeve said: “He was very nervous about it because he didn’t know whether people would find that acceptable.
“I said it was a great idea.
“They are just amazing; they get into hedges and places where the street cleaning guys won’t go.
“They get all the embedded bottles and cans from in ditches and inside hedges.”
She added: “I was a bit worried as I am putting a hi-vis jacket and logo on them as it makes them a bit of a target.
“We [WBAR] put something on Facebook that says if you see them stop and say hello and people do stop and say hello.
“That has been lovely, that has been really heart-warming.”
The group started with around seven or eight members but it has since increased to 30 who go out litter picking weekly.
The groups who go out to charity shops and other charity organisations are a further 40 individuals.
Once a month they will join forces with Thatcham Litter Pickers and take to the streets together.
The asylum seekers first arrived at the Thatcham hotel in January 2022.
In that time around 40 refugees have left – at least 120 are in the hotel at any one point from various countries including Syria, Sudan, Palestine, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Iran.
When the asylum seekers first arrived they were told that when formally recognised they will receive £8.36 a week to buy things like toiletries, snacks, clothes and non-prescribed medication.
Their weekly amount has since increased to £9.10. They still cannot work despite many being doctors, teachers and engineers.
In May, they received an award from Thatcham Town Council for the work that VIAN has carried out.
Bahman said: “We are so grateful for the shelter that your government and your society have given us.
“Our appreciation of that support prompted us to try and become active members of your society, and that is how VIAN, our environmental group, was formed.
“The practical support that we have received from the council has been really important to us.”
He added: “You have supplied us with equipment to help carry out our clearing and cleaning work.
“You have liaised with us on where and how we should operate and most of all, you have supported and encouraged us in our work.
“By awarding the Environmental Champion Award to VIAN, you have injected new blood into the veins of the group and have motivated us to continue in our quest to keep Thatcham's environment clean and green in the future.”
