WHAT MAKES REFUGEE LINK DIFFERENT?

Refugee Link was founded as a not-for-profit training agency in London. However, people involved in Refugee Link became aware of the needs of refugees in areas such as Bristol. This awareness was combined with local property contacts and a realisation that accommodation and support for refugees in Bristol and regionally is a natural extension of activity for Refugee Link.
Refugee Link sees itself as becoming part of a network of local organisations with a commitment to developing and managing good quality supported housing and training within Bristol and the surrounding areas. Refugee Link is aware of the evolving world of supported housing and the need to change to meet the demands of evolution.

The Organisation is a support and housing provider, which seeks to meet the strategic needs of Bristol City Council and the funding and commissioning priorities of the Supporting People Team. In saying this Refugee Link is aware that it offers something in addition to much needed supported housing. Refugee Link provides an accommodation and support service to refugees who have what are sometimes significant levels of need. These needs include:

• Trauma associated with the circumstances that led them to leave their country;
• Nostalgia for a life that has gone;
• Social isolation from family, friends and community;
• Cultural disorientation;
• Inability to communicate in English;
• Lack of culturally appropriate services, goods and resources, except in certain areas;
• Need to "start again";
• Unfamiliarity with life in the UK - money, domestic equipment, shopping, transport, government etc.

Refugee Link exists to accommodate and support refugees who live in Bristol and the surrounding areas. Refugee Link is a partner to the community with a particular expertise in meeting the needs of vulnerable people who need a culturally sensitive approach to their support.

What Is Special And Distinctive About Refugee Link?

As part of our continuing process to improve services Refugee Link has analysed its position within the refugee accommodation, support and training market place. This exercise has identified the following issues

• Refugee Link's has good relationships with refugee communities within Bristol some of whom have significant support and social care needs.
• Refugee Link is one of a very few culturally specific accommodation-based support providers in Bristol which deals with the needs of refugees.
• Our focus is on developing and sustaining our service users' maximum levels of security and independence, whilst recognising that for some service users, small steps are significant markers of progress.
• We have identified the significant link between accommodation and support on one hand and well-being on the other.
• We intend to access the private rented sector in order to provide good quality managed accommodation for people "moving on" from the White Swan as well as developing relationships with social housing providers for move-on purposes

Refugee Link's style of working is based on co-operation, openness and trust.

Values and Standards

Refugee Link recognises that standards, plus accountability, equals excellence. Refugee Link's ethos is to treat others as we would wish to be treated and we have adopted clear values.
In general the Organisation:

• Is a charitable and not-for-profit business with a social focus
• Is apolitical
• Is open to influence and involvement from service users, partners and other community interests
  offers equality of opportunity to those it houses, employs or provides services to
• is socially motivated and helps those in greatest need
• works in partnership with local authorities, the private and voluntary sectors
• services communities as well as individuals and has continuing local commitments
• seeks excellence and cost effectiveness in its work

In specific terms Refugee Link:

• provides a supported housing service catering primarily for the needs of refugees in Bristol;
  
• provides a community outreach service for the same client group
  
• continues to provide an excellent service to its service users;
  
• works with service users to achieve "Best Value";
  
• is working to ensure its financial health by levering in appropriate revenue streams;
  
• responds with innovation and creativity to a changing environment;
  
• will seek to develop and maintain the confidence of all its future stakeholders;
  
• will ensure, subject to resources, that it has skilled, motivated and properly equipped staff, Trustees and advisers ;
  
  "The service users are the point of Refugee Link's existence. One of the main aims of our organisation is the development of a Service User Involvement Strategy which reflects Best Value principles and the need for the Organisation to account for its stewardship of the income and assets of the Organisation".