Helping displaced young people belong and grow

Aim

To send a group of young refugees and asylum seekers on a residential music and arts project in East Sussex.

Big Leaf Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation supporting displaced young people in Surrey.

We aim to provide a nurturing programme of activities, projects and events that focus on combating social isolation for young refugees and asylum seekers – who have all experienced trauma and loss.

We want the young people we work with to be excited about the opportunities available to them, and to value their unique talents and abilities so that they can rediscover their potential and move forward with renewed optimism.

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

The Giufà Project is a collaboration between artists, young people and creative organisations across Europe to explore the theme of migration in the context of the mass movements of people taking place across the planet right now and to deliver new creative work in response. It has been born from The Complete Freedom of Truth (TCFT), a youth programme created by Opera Circus which delivers cultural exchanges, residencies, skills development and leadership to a growing network of young people across Europe and has been commissioned by Glyndebourne as part of the company’s on-going work to introduce opera to a wider audience.

Not only is the theme of migration incredibly relevant to the young people we support. But there is a great deal of documented evidence about the therapeutic benefits of participation in creative arts for people who have suffered trauma, such as war and displacement.

That’s why we’re working with Glyndebourne to enable displaced young people to join this project.

During a ten-day summer residential in Battle, East Sussex, these young people will work with an international team of artists and participants from across Europe to create and share art with the local community.

ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS

Big Leaf Foundation supports displaced young people living in Surrey, who are the victims of war, persecution or trafficking.

Most of these young people undertook terrifying and dangerous journeys to escape, not knowing if they would see their families again.

The experience of arriving in a new country is, for many, overwhelming and incredibly difficult. Once in the UK, they continue to endure a gruelling process of assessment with solicitors, social workers, age assessors and the Home Office.  Some are placed in foster care, others are sent to live in supported accommodation in hostels. They are often cut off from everything that is familiar to them, leaving them vulnerable to loneliness, isolation, anxiety and boredom.

Our team saw an opportunity to change their situation and help them feel a sense of inclusion within a network of their peers and wider community.

To find out more about the work of the Big Leaf Foundation please visit www.bigleaffoundation.org.uk

SUPPORT THIS PROJECT

Glyndebourne has offered subsidised places for 9 displaced young people to attend the summer residential. But we need to raise £1000 to cover the cost of transport to and from the project.

Please support this crowd-fund campaign – even small donations will help us reach our target.

Any money raised over and above what’s needed for this project will be used to support the needs of displaced young people through Big Leaf Foundation’s other projects.

MANAGING YOUR DONATIONS

Big Leaf Foundation is in the process of applying for foundation CIO status. But we’re not currently a registered charity. This means that while we can accept donations, we’re not able to claim gift aid at the moment – although we hope this will change in the next few months.

We follow best practice in terms of financial management and reporting and annual accounts will be available on our website www.bigleaffoundation.org.uk at the end of the financial year.

This project successfully funded on 12th August 2018