Humanity Hotel

An ongoing project supporting the wellbeing of asylum seekers housed in initial accommodation centres across North Somerset.

Humanity Hotel is an ongoing project created to support the wellbeing of asylum seekers housed in initial accommodation centres across North Somerset.

A period of informal assistance and advocacy has led to this responsive, collaborative initiative, created alongside the 250+ asylum seekers it is intended to support.

We want our region to be an example of creative, adaptive community building between displaced people and those who are here to meet them. Along the way, we’ve built incredible collaborative relationships with local organisations who have a similar goal in mind including Refugees Welcome North Somerset, Valley Arts, and Counterpoint Arts.

Creative Programme

This project currently involves weekly creative workshops, regular cultural outings, and FEASTING celebration events.

Weekly Workshops

We offer a co-designed year-round programme of creative workshops for local asylum seekers and refugees, from theatre, photography, and fibre arts, to music sessions.

Recently, participants engaged in music and songwriting workshops with Alphonse Touna, dance and expressive movement sessions with Emily Orme, and theatre workshops with Hester Welch.

"In this place [the Initial Accommodation centre], we don't know if we will be here next week. Earlier, when I was drumming, it felt like a release. It is good to be present and not think about what will happen next week." Neo, Workshop Participant

"For me, exploring my problems in the sessions is therapeutic. I look at difficult problems and make it something positive." Mizan, Workshop Participant

FEASTING

FEASTING invites asylum seekers, refugees, and local residents to come together and share food.

Thank you to everyone who came to our spring FEASTING event on Saturday 12th April. We enjoyed delicious food from Coexist Community Kitchen, traditional Moroccan music from Mohamed Errebbaa, crafting, live performances, and a tour of The Community Farm. Our next FEASTING event will be in the Autumn.

At previous FEASTING events we have joined forces with many different organisations, including Loves Cafe, Houria, Dovetail Orchestra, Community Farm, Counterpoint Arts and Valley Arts.

Check out our video from our most recent FEASTING event below.

Get Involved

We hope to extend our network further. If you are a practitioner based in the South West working in the arts, education, wellness or fitness and would like to participate in our creative programme, we'd love to hear from you.

Volunteers are central to our programme, and we are always keen to hear from people in the local area who would like to support with weekly activities, occasional cultural outings, and events.

Please get in touch with anne@triggerstuff.co.uk.

Give Your Support

If you would like to support Humanity Hotel through a one-off or regular donation, you can do so via our DonorBox. Any donation, big or small, helps us continue this vital programme.

We are currently accepting donations of working laptops and tablets. Items need to be wiped and ready to use, and have a working charger. If you are looking to recycle your tech, and are keen to give it a new home, please contact anne@triggerstuff.co.uk

Support Humanity Hotel

Project Background

In May 2022, two hotels in our area closed their doors to the public to accommodate over 250 asylum seekers forced to leave their homes and families, and now displaced in the UK.

The hotels are rurally located, meaning the residents rely solely on agents in Bristol to support their wellbeing needs, from legal advice to English lessons.

On their arrival, Trigger mobilised to offer support. Pulling together a network of local people, we were able to help with donations of basic items such as clothes, shoes, deodorant, hair clippers and phones; we’ve facilitated car shares hosted by locals who commute into Bristol, signposted legal advice, arranged volunteer opportunities and brokered relationships with the local football club for regular games.

As our support has increased, the structure around it has become more formalised: we now have a framework in place to provide responsive help when and where it’s needed.

Give your support