The FODI Drop-In acts as the hub of our community and provides suport. I is run every Wednesday from 12 – 3pm at St Mary’s Parish Hall, 28- 29 Bridge st, Sunderland, SR1 1TQ. Please contact us before dropping in.

Facilities

The Drop- In provides a safe and friendly environment for asylum seekers and refugees to:

  • Chat over a cup of tea, socialise, make friends and play games including pool, table tennis and dominoes
  • Have access to the internet for email, skype and other essentials
  • Register for tickets to see Sunderland AFC ( when available)
  • Register for our free gym/swim scheme and find out about other sporting opportunities
  • Learn about free English classes run by Action Language and Chris Howson at the Interfaith Centre
  • Get free haircuts from barbering students at Sunderland College
  • Register for free trips to places of local interest
  • Receive donated clothes, food, toiletries etc (when available)
  • Get a hot meal cooked by our members every 2 weeks in the winter months and snacks & fruit all year round
  • Register for a donated bicycle (when available)

Support

The Drop- In is also attended and supported by many other partner agencies, so asylum-seekers and refugees can access:

  • Legal advice from Newcastle Law Centre and Brar & Co.
  • Advice on health and well-being from the ‘Live Life Well’ team and stop smoking from ICOS
  • The British Red Cross who help some people with their cases and operate a tracing service for those who have lost touch with their families
  • The Tyne and Wear Fire service for advice on fire prevention
  • Help in contacting housing services and be referred to supported housing through Action Foundation
  • Support from FODI volunteers to help resolve some of the day-to-day problems experienced by asylum seekers and refugees
  • Advice from the community engagement officer at Northumbria Police
  • Advice from MESMAC in Newcastle, which supports our LGBT members