What’s going on
Allotment
The Derbyshire Refugee Solidarity allotment was taken over by DRS in April 2022. It is located at Rowditch Allotments, next to Bemrose School off the New Uttoxeter Road, Derby. it’s main open times are Tuesday and Friday mornings from 10.30am to 1.30pm, (weather permitting). The allotment is open to all refugees in Derby and surrounds, tools and protective clothing are available.
Besides growing a wide range of fruit and vegetables we also undertake some diy activities. We provide a simple lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays as well as tea and coffee. We have a gardeners WhatsApp group which is open to all.
Our aim is to provide a small nature based safe oasis in the city for refugees to enjoy in whatever way is right for them.
“We talk a lot, it’s not just about plants it’s about anything and everything. In my opinion it’s a good place to make new friends.” Refugee volunteer B
Rowditch Allotments Uttoxter New Rd Derby DE22 3HU
When you get to the allotment gate, call whoever is there that day (see WhatsApp group) to let you in.
The postcode doesn't take you to the allotment!
Art
Just in the last year, our volunteers have taken part in a huge range of Art and craft activities. We created kites for Afghanistan; we made self portraits with a portrait artist, we made sculptures out of balsa wood; we contributed hand painted tiles to the Derby Wall project:
https://derbycathedral.org/derby-cathedral-to-welcome-the-derby-wall-community-art-project/
In the photograph, Ayman and his friends are creating art with leaves at Carsington water.
Bikes
Cycling is so helpful to asylum seekers with little spare money for public transport. We get out in the fresh air and explore beyond the city limits. Mental health is so much better when we have access to the simple benefits of a bike ride. Getting to college, going to the doctor or visiting the shops all made easier with a bike.
Group rides are organised on the first Friday every month with ride leaders trained by Cycling UK.
Bikes are repaired every Thursday from 12.30 to 2.30 at St Annes with a qualified mechanic funded by Lifecycle UK and ably assisted by other brilliant volunteers including asylum seekers. The service is available to the local community as well as our own volunteers.
Campaigning & Activism
We stand with our brothers and sisters globally in campaigning for justice and peace.
We recently took part in protests such as #StopRwanda, #women_life_freedom and against the recent killings in Sudan.
English Lessons
English classes have really blossomed at DRS thanks to our wonderful team of volunteer tutors! We have an abundance of resources on-site and online, but most tutors prefer to bring their own resources. So some groups might be doing grammar work while others are chatting or playing games.
Our tutor team includes retired teachers, a 15 year old schoolgirl and an artist. Not everyone has an ESOL qualification but all love getting to know amazing people from many countries!
Football, Swim & Sport
Football is a popular activity with members of our DRS community and began with informal games on the neighbouring park. At The Willows Sports Centre, we now play monthly with as many as 24 now coming to play.
Swimming
A grant from Active Derbyshire and additional support from Everyone Active at Moorways Water Park have enabled us to offer introductory swimming sessions.
Sports Day
Our very popular annual Sports Day held on the neighbouring park has become an eagerly awaited DRS summer event!
Music
DRS Music Group meets in St Anne’s Church every Thursday and some Saturdays. We welcome all musicians and anyone wanting to make music. People don't need to have prior experience of playing or singing to join us. We connect through music using instruments and our voices.
Thanks to the generous donations DRS Music has received we have a range of instruments for people to play and practice on. We can help with music tuition including guitar, keyboard, voice, djaying and violin. Our aim is also to help any musicians arriving in Derby to make links locally and find opportunities for them.
Each month we have a samba band teacher or another visiting specialist musician to lead our session.
Group members have performed solo or together in and around Derbyshire, these include the annual Holocaust Memorial Events, Refugee Week events, Wirksworth Festival and other informal opportunities at DRS. When we can we rejoin the main DRS community to share our love of music!
Sales
Selling donated items is a great way to raise awareness of DRS, make money and have fun! A team of volunteers regularly sell clothes and accessories in Belper outside Vegan Revelation cafe, spreading their rainbows of colour on the pavements!
We also do car boot fairs from time to time and have two or three Open Days a year. Selling on eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree helps us to sell more unusual items.
Sewing
Feeling comfortable in your clothes is important. Our endeavour is to make that possible for our volunteers. The sewing service provides alterations and mending on mostly donated garments, backpacks and anything that might require a stitch! The majority of work is completed outside of DRS opening hours.
550 items completed since July 2021 and still counting!
Sorting
On Mondays, we sort all our generous donations. We organise their redistribution to Calais, to Sharewear and further afield!
Trips and Visits
We take every opportunity to adventure and explore together. In recent years we hiked in the Peak District and had a fantastic activity day at Carsington Water. We also went to the theatre, an Art and Craft activity day at the Derby Museum of making and attended several music events.
Van loading
One of our favourite things to do at DRS is loading a van destined for Calais or Sharewear. It is a real chance to work as a team!
We form a chain, with our Storeroom Managers in the storeroom and a few individuals at the other end who fancy themselves as pretty hench (strong) and we pass the sacks along, knowing that each one will help others in the most desperate of circumstances in Calais or the East Midlands.
