Rambling Refugees!
How partnership and collaboration with other organisations can build an environment in which volunteers can thrive.
In partnership with Asha North Staffs, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, and The Ramblers Association, VAST’s volunteering team hosted a micro volunteering day for Asha’s refugee and asylum seeker community.
After speaking with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, The Rambler’s Association approached VAST to arrange an event with refugees and asylum seekers to help support their mental health and wellbeing.
Everyone who joined in were excited to sign up to the Ramblers’ Roving Rangers scheme with Staffordshire Wildlife too! Roving Rangers are champions for nature, so whenever they’re out and about, they’ll keep an eye out for wildlife and seasonal sights and also let Staffordshire Wildlife know of any issues to help keep our local green spaces in good condition for nature to thrive.
Starting and ending at the Dudson Centre, the group walked along the canal throguh Festival Park, to Middleport and Cobridge, heading back to the centre for a brew in the Dudson Cafe.
In total, the groups clocked an impressive 7km, but enjoyed every minute!
This fantastic event wasn’t just a one-off either, it was just the start of a beautiful new friendship between The Ramblers Association and Asha as they’re going to be developing new walks to help support the mental health and wellbeing of Asha’s refugee and asylum seeker community.
Feedback from the day…
“Thank you for this event, we had good weather the nature was lovely, and it was nice to be able to speak with each other”
“The walk made me feel happy and it was a nice change.”
“I liked the nature and the sunny weather.”
“I like the movement and seeing different areas I’ve not seen before.”
“The event was very good.”
