• Funding to provide a dedicated worker to help support refugees and asylum seekers who are destitute and at risk of homelessness

 

EYST (the Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team) a charity based in Swansea, has been awarded a grant of £25,000 from Crisis, the national homelessness charity.

EYST works to meet the needs of Black and Minority Ethnic young people, families and individuals including refugees and asylum-seekers living in Wales. It provides a range of services including education, employment, health advice, and family support. The charity aims to challenge negative stereotypes about ethnic diversity, increase awareness and understanding about the diverse communities who live in Wales, and improve community cohesion.

The grant was awarded to EYST to be used to employ a dedicated worker to help support refugees and asylum seekers in Swansea who are destitute and who may be at risk of becoming homeless. The new member of staff will assist people with moving forward with their asylum case and out of destitution. 

Crisis awards its Best Practice grants to organisations across Great Britain which can demonstrate how they work to prevent and end homelessness. Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery (PPL), Crisis has awarded grants to ten organisations across Great Britain and chose EYST as one of them because it demonstrated how its work aims to reduce homelessness in Swansea.

Sarah Walters, Crisis Head of Best Practice, said: “We were very impressed by the work EYST does. We know that it is a big part of the community in Swansea, and helps people in terrible situations who may not have any other options or anyone else to turn to. We’re sure this grant will enable EYST to change a lot of people’s lives in positive ways and we look forward to working closely with them and sharing expertise. This will improve the support both our organisations can give people who need our help.”

Lloyd Williams, Co-Director of EYST, said: “We are very grateful to Crisis for this funding which will allow us to provide this vital bespoke work in supporting vulnerable sanctuary seekers in Swansea. We are glad to be joining Crisis in their work to end homelessness”

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People's Postcode Lottery said: “We’re so pleased that support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery will help the Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team to prevent homelessness in Swansea. This valuable work will enable people to move forward with their lives.”