Trigger Awarded National Lottery Funding to Expand Humanity Hotel
Trigger is thrilled to announce that we have secured funding from the National Lottery to expand Humanity Hotel, our programme supporting the refugees and asylum seekers community in North Somerset.
Since 2022, Trigger has been facilitating creative workshops, events, and connections with the local community, helping refugees and asylum seekers foster new skills and build a sense of belonging in their new environment.
The National Lottery funding marks a major milestone, enabling Trigger to move beyond its existing programming that to date has been reliant on the vital and generous donations of individuals, without whom none of this would have been possible. With this new grant, we are implementing a robust two-year plan that includes weekly workshops, cultural excursions, and special FEASTING events designed in collaboration with the refugees and asylum seekers community.
A newly created role for a dedicated Community Engagement Manager and Coordinator will allow us to strengthen relationships, strategically develop the programme, and work toward long-term positive outcomes. Humanity Hotel’s two-year plan reflects the voices and input of the refugees and asylum seekers community, ensuring that every programme aligns with their interests, needs, and goals.
Key Programme Highlights:
Weekly workshops – creative sessions offered in six-month blocks to provide continuity and skill-building opportunities.
Annual FEASTING events – these gatherings celebrate the diverse cultural backgrounds of the refugees and asylum seekers community, fostering connections with local residents over shared food and music.
Cultural excursions – three annual trips to notable UK cultural sites, allowing the refugees and asylum seekers to experience local culture and heritage first hand.
Upskilling and training – training opportunities are embedded within the programme, empowering refugees and asylum seekers with skills that may lead to paid workshop facilitation roles. Volunteers and local artists will also gain valuable experience, building their confidence in their work to support the refugees and asylum seekers community.
The benefits extend beyond the refugees and asylum seekers community; local volunteers, artists, and our own Trigger staff will develop skills that enrich their professional skills and the North Somerset creative sector. Through this work, we hope to support greater community cohesion, helping to build connections across diverse cultural backgrounds.
The support from the National Lottery makes it possible for us to continue developing a meaningful, collaborative programme that will help to support refugees and asylum seekers, enriches the local creative landscape, and unites our community. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity to move forward together.