Carlisle College has appointed a new Refugee Engagement Officer, to help support asylum seekers and refugees in accessing college courses and services.
Mina Banisaeid, a refugee who arrived from Iran three years ago, was appointed to the role in October. Since then, she has been working with refugees and asylum seekers in the city to help them feel part of the community, and it was her own experiences that motivated her to apply for the role.
She said: “As a refugee myself, I know how hard it can be when you first arrive in a new country. It is vital to be able to speak to someone who knows how you can progress, what you need to do to apply for courses for example. When I first arrived here three years ago, I thought there was no way I could go to college, I didn’t know if I was eligible, or where to start, so I’m so glad I can be there for other people in my position, to give them support and advice.”
The role involves supporting young refugees as they begin college in the UK, as well as adult refugees and people seeking asylum as they become eligible for English classes. Alongside this, Mina is working with the Adult Learning Team, exploring ways they may be able to offer English classes for those people seeking asylum who have just arrived and are currently living in hotels across the city. She explains: “Asylum seekers can’t apply for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses until they have been here for six months, but I know how challenging it can be to live here without the language, so it is important to me that I find a way to help.”
When Mina moved to the UK from Iran in March 2019, she struggled to find her place, but knew she wanted to help other people in her position. “Before I received my official refugee status, I volunteered with Carlisle Refugee Action Group, looking after children in the nursery while their parents were learning English.”
Mina is also Chair of Carlisle City of Sanctuary. This nationwide organisation aims to support refugees and people who are seeking asylum, to help them feel more welcome in their communities, and now with Mina’s help, Carlisle College has become one of the network members of Carlisle City of Sanctuary.
Mina continues: “Now that there are more people coming to the city, it’s great that we have more information to help and support them. I am still figuring out the needs of the people coming to the college; each individual has their own experiences, and their own needs, so I am shaping the role around those needs. It will take time, but I am so determined and passionate to make the college a place of sanctuary, and a place for refugees to learn and progress. Because I know how important it is to feel safe.
“It’s been a real learning curve for me. I love hearing about what people want for the future and being able to help them, give them advice, and let them know that there is a future for them here. Also, knowing that the college is willing to make change and help people is amazing.”
Carlisle College Principal Sarah McGrath is proud of this new role. She says: “At Carlisle College we are totally committed to supporting the refugee and asylum seeker communities locally. Creating this role has enabled us to bring together all the different aspects of assistance we can provide into a comprehensive package of support and guidance for individuals and families. Personally, I am delighted that we have been able to recruit Mina who has lived experience of being a refugee and is able to provide guidance and support that is informed by first-hand experience.”
Mina’s role is the first of its kind at Carlisle College, but the support on offer is part of NCG’s Our Community is Your Community programme.
Launched in 2021, Our Community is Your Community aims to help student refugees overcome barriers they face when arriving and learning in a new culture and society through strands of activity: language, building social bonds and connections, employability, refugee entrepreneurship, and health and wellbeing. The programme is led by Project Coordinator Shivan Mirza, who has been a refugee his whole life.