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Services and ActivitiesContents
Advice ServiceThe Association’s drop-in Advice Sessions are available 9.30 am to 3.00 pm, Monday to Friday. It is not necessary to make an appointment. An experienced, professional advisor will listen to problems in areas such as immigration, housing, benefits, and education. He or she may provide advice, assist with filling out forms, give information about services or aid general integration into society. A Dari or Pashtoon speaker is usually available and a private room is provided on request. If you cannot come to either of our offices, or have a problem that can be resolved quickly, advice is also available over the phone (tel. 020 8861 6990). All clients are protected by our confidentiality policy. For the benefit of our clients, a referral system has been set up, as well as an up-to-date database of service providers. Agencies and service providers contact us not only to discuss a client’s case but also to ask us to interpret for their clients over the phone. Health AdviceClients are often unaware of the health services available or of potential issues affecting their health. Fear of the unknown, along with language difficulties and cultural differences, might deter those needing to access healthcare. Afghans may be suffering from trauma or mental health problems as a result of their experiences in Afghanistan, which they are initially reluctant to discuss. Our Health Worker, Dr Habib, provides a comprehensive referrals service for all members of the community. Based at the Brent office, he is experienced and approachable, and is able to discuss issues and signpost relevant health services. Indeed simply not knowing the system can prove a formidable entry barrier to newly arrived Afghans, and Dr Habib is happy to help with administrative processes such as filling in forms. Regular health seminars on relevant issues are also organised. We also provide free Art therapy sessions, courtesy of our volunteer, Paul Wordley, a professional Art therapist. Trial group sessions with no commitment are available at the Harrow Office on Wednesdays. Please contact us, if interested. Women’s GroupDue to cultural considerations many Afghan women understandably prefer to discuss their problems with another woman. Whilst our Advice Worker, Wahida Zalmai, deals with numerous female clients, it is often important for us to have another female member of staff whose focus is specifically women’s issues and the problems of our female clients. As the Women’s Group Leader, Sita Nazari coordinates meetings for the Women’s forum and provides confidential advice in a private room for female clients. The women’s group produces a bimonthly magazine, Foroogh (meaning ‘Brightness’), particularly for Afghan women, but interest has also been shown by Iranians, Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Pakistanis. The magazine is published in Dari (with some articles in Pashtoon and English). For further information, contact Sita on 0208 8861 6990. Youth activitiesClassesThe Association runs English, Mother Tongue classes and after-school classes helping children with integration into the British education system. For further information, please contact Hooshang Paigir at the Brent office on 0208 9035617. Summer Holiday SchemeThe scheme, now in its eighth year, provides an opportunity for young people aged 8-14 from the Afghan community to spend a week’s residential holiday at Henley-on-Thames every August. It is kindly funded by the Turville Trust. For more information contact one of our offices. Sport
Drugs and ParentingA new project, commissioned by Adfam, aims to support parents with a challenging aspect of their parenting, that of helping to prevent, and dealing with young people’s drug use. The project involves training parents in drugs awareness and parenting skills concerning this issue. For further information, contact Aryan at our Brent office on 0208 903 5617. |
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Contact Rafiq Swash for any website enquiry {rafiq.swash@rightech.co.uk}
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