Hope and Healing at the Newcomer Drop-In

Recently at Vineyard Compassion, we had the privilege of supporting a newcomer to the UK, Allahad*, as she continues to navigate the challenges of resettlement. Allahad and her family arrived in the UK from Ethiopia after a perilous journey, enduring significant trauma along the way. While she has been open about her experiences, her husband has found it difficult to talk about their past.  

At the Newcomer Drop-In, we invited Allahad and her husband to attend our Wellness Workshop, a safe space designed to promote healing through creativity and self-expression. The session used arts and crafts as a tool to help participants develop coping mechanisms and process their transition to a new life.  

We were overjoyed to see Allahad and her husband embrace the experience. As they left the Hope Centre, they ran up to us, beaming with pride, exclaiming," look at what we made!" They thanked us for the session and said it had really helped them. 

Although Allahad has been offered counselling through Nexus via her Ethnic Minorities Social Work team, she has expressed that she isn’t yet ready to take that step. We hope that this workshop has been a positive experience on her journey, opening the door to future support. At Vineyard Compassion, we remain committed to walking alongside her and exploring how we can help her access the support she needs when the time is right.  

If you or someone you know could benefit from our support services, please reach out. We are here to help, every step of the way. 

*Name changed for privacy