Every day, we assist with a wide range of practical needs, including:
- School applications
- GP and hospital appointments
- Signposting to specialist services
- Help with transport
- Job applications
- English lessons
- Access to furniture, clothing, household items and children’s toys
We also connect people with volunteer befrienders and offer community sessions in:
- Computing
- Crafts
- Gardening
- Wellbeing and other activities that foster connection and resilience
Our aim is to ensure that everyone we support can build safe, stable and fulfilling lives within our community.
We work with vulnerable clients, including asylum seekers, refugees, families in crisis, and individuals facing destitution or complex immigration challenges.
Our mission is simple: to ensure that every person has the opportunity to rebuild a safe, stable and productive life within our community.
Colchester has welcomed newcomers for generations. Since 2015, the city has supported families fleeing war in Syria through the Government’s Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, and more recently has received Afghan families seeking safety. Today, Colchester is an official dispersal area for new arrivals to the UK, meaning that many asylum seekers are temporarily accommodated locally while their claims are processed. Others arrive independently, hoping to restart their lives in north Essex.
RAMA stands alongside those who are far from home and who have nowhere else to turn. In addition to refugees and asylum seekers, we also support migrants with British partners and dependents, victims of domestic abuse or trafficking, and individuals who face vulnerability for many different reasons. Some are at the very beginning of their journey here; others have been in the UK for some time; and some stay only briefly. Each person we meet brings a unique story, often shaped by trauma, loss, or the scars of the past, and each faces challenges ranging from straightforward practical issues to complex situations requiring specialist support.
We recognise that systems and processes which appear simple to most residents, such as accessing healthcare, benefits, schools or legal advice, can be overwhelming for newcomers, especially when language barriers stand in the way. At RAMA, we do not differentiate based on government-assigned labels. We support people who need help, regardless of their immigration status.
People sometimes ask why we do not offer services for the local homeless population. This is because other organisations in the area are specifically equipped and funded to provide that support. Many of our clients face additional barriers, particularly with language, and require tailored advocacy and guidance to ensure they receive fair and appropriate help.