Supporting Asylum Seekers and Students in Old Trafford
The St John’s community centre of Old Trafford has been serving the community for 43 years. They offer education courses, both formal and informal, health and wellbeing activities, food bank referrals, cost of living support, and other support to people living in the South West of Greater Manchester. Recently, they’ve been giving out Jangala Get Boxes alongside donated laptops.
For the St John’s Centre team, the Get Boxes are particularly useful for people who are living in temporary accommodation without internet access, waiting for refugee status.
“Obviously asylum seekers can’t claim benefits, but there’s still a lot of bureaucracy. They’re having court cases and appeals. They need to contact their solicitors. They’re entitled to food parcels and things. They can study, and communicate with family back in their home country.”
Some students are using the Get Box for English classes and adult education courses. There’s often a mix of in-person and online classes so the St John’s team are keen to help them be online. Having an internet source that can move with someone, and provide a home Wi-Fi connection for multiple people, is especially useful because there is a shortage of temporary housing.
“With the situation with housing at the moment, people are moving around from place to place, so obviously they can't have a broadband contract. Something like a Get Box, which is light and for the whole household - it's not for one specific device - but that you can just take with you when you go. That makes a huge difference.”
Since working together, St John’s has given out 17 Get Boxes which enabled 31 people to get online. Many of the people they work with face immense cost challenges, struggling to pay for heating or school uniforms. The additional data that comes with a Get Box enables them to buy things cheaper online and saves some cash.