Mission
Our team supports families and individuals who are resettling in Devon, having left their home country because their lives are at risk.
Background
As part of Devon County Councils, Migration and Resettlement Team, the Community Bridging team was first formed in October 2022 when supporting our Afghan guests that were evacuated from Kabul and had been placed in Bridging Hotels in Exeter and Exmouth. These hotels have now closed, and we have supported our guests to find their own homes either here in Devon or further afield in other parts of the country.
It was a wonderful experience to be part of their journey and we learnt so much as a team about their culture and customs. It is a pleasure to see them now, settled and making Devon culturally richer and contributing to our awareness and learning as we embrace Devon becoming more ethnically diverse.
Community Bridging Team
Once the hotels closed, we were able to evolve, moving into the community to support families and individuals from ethnic backgrounds who are resettling in Devon, having left their home country because their lives are at risk or have no recourse to public funds.
We are a referred service for families and individuals that can be accessed via a request form from a service that you may be involved with, e.g a school, doctor, voluntary service.
If you do not have someone already supporting you please email us for a discussion at communitybridgingteam@devon.gov.uk
We can offer time limited assistance and look at areas of peoples lives that they might be finding challenging such as:
- Understanding cultural differences.
- Health & emotional wellbeing support.
- Finding community resources & groups.
- Helping with household challenges, for example: finances and benefits.
- Exploring employment choices: getting into work, volunteering opportunities and adult education.
- Supporting with your children’s education.
- Assisting with language & communication needs.
- Supporting young people and their needs.
- Supporting with family life & parenting.
- Supporting people without recourse to public funds.
- Signposting to other services for example: immigration and housing.
- Connecting you with other families and individuals for support.
Useful Documents
Request form (version – Dec 2023) – to be completed by service providers who work with families. Please complete this form and return to communitybridgingteam@devon.gov.uk
Community bridging leaflet – please feel free to share this leaflet with any networks or individuals who would find our services useful.
Get in Touch
You can email us on communitybridgingteam@devon.gov.uk