Its happening!
17 October 2008After 2 1/2 years of planning, talking, negociating, buying and recruiting and training we are really pleases that the ‘Alpha Project’ is beginning on 22nd October 2008. It had been a long haul but now the project in partnership with the Home Office (UKBA) and Croydon Social Service is actually happening!
This past summer we purchased ‘Alpha Lodge’ in Winton, Bournemouth to house 14 boys from Afganistan, the first stage of taking up to 50 boys over the coming months. These boys will be housed in a wonderful homely building and get English lessons and vocational training. This is a project about dual planning for their future. Preparation to stay in the UK and preparation to return home if they are unsuccessful in their asylum claim. We have taken on two new members of staff, Sarah & Tom Suddrey will be personal advisor and live-in carer, it will be s steep learning curve for them, but we can draw on the 6 years of caring for UASC we have enjoyed.
So now the hard work starts. Our hope and prayer is that the project will be a template for the future of treatment for young asylum seekers. At the moment its theory now we have to see the practice! Watch this space!
