Helping Refugees

Reed’s School, in partnership with local councils, runs a weekly after school support group for the children of Syrian refugees. Our 6th formers work with them to increase their language skills through games and conversation, help with school work which they are completing in their second or third language, help them understand British culture, and engage them in activities not normally accessible. Over the last year the group has played tennis, badminton and football, been rock climbing and computing, culminating with a tour of Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club (very British) it time for them to understand the national obsession during that fortnight.

Whilst some things are universal languages (Jenga, card games and football) the teachers and sixth form team work hard to build relationships and trust through sometimes very limited language exchanges. Although this falls under the remit of ‘giving out’ to the wider community the students and staff involved would agree that they have gained far more in return through seeing young people who have survived very difficult circumstances now thriving in their new lives.