A safe space for women to build connection in Tower Hamlets
After travelling thousands of miles to reach the United Kingdom, many newly arrived women think their epic journey is over, whereas in reality, it may be only just beginning. Navigating the bureaucracy of immigration and Home Office procedures in a foreign language is the immediate challenge for most. Any belongings a person manages to carry from their home country are removed on arrival. But of course, much of what we carry cannot be seen. The unpacking of trauma after experiences like aerial bomardment, mass violence and rape can take a very long time, and cannot even begin until we feel safe. Until we can imagine a present and even a future in which we feel at peace. Touching Safe Ground aims to provide a space for this journey.
After four years of helping women to touch safe ground, we see over and over again that this safe welcoming space is a source of hope for newly arrived refugees and migrant women who have experienced traumatic events. Through a unique blend of trauma-informed yoga and English language instruction, we have established a nurturing environment that not only promotes relaxation, healing and better physical and mental health, but also encourages genuine connections among the women.
“What supports me is having a feeling of not being alone, a feeling of togetherness.”
The strength to laugh again after trauma
A Touching Safe Ground session in progress.
When Asmarina first arrived at our sessions, it was difficult to imagine her smiling. She seemed to be suffering severe mental distress and often had panic attacks, and over time we learned she had fled her home area of Tigray, Eritrea, in the midst of aerial bombardments, mass rape, and the razing of crops and food stores. Every week, she would arrive at the session with breathing difficulties, lay on her yoga mat and weep. While the outlook was bleak, we shouldn’t underestimate the strength, courage and resilience needed to accept support of any kind from a place of such isolation. Asmarina’s situation was heartbreaking, and she often shared about the loss of her family and friends through violence and atrocities.
We were able to find specialised 1:1 counselling to support Asmarina outside of the group, and as she kept coming each week, she gradually became calmer. She began to actively participate in the group activities, including language exercises and playful interactive embodied ‘games’, even joining in role plays. When happy laughter erupted at some of the ‘comedy drama’ which emerged among the group, Asmarina laughed too, a huge turning point. She was one of our most regular attendees until she was moved away from London, messaging with her limited data to explain what had happened. She missed the project and was desperate to stay, but it was not to be. This situation faces many of the women we work with. We know they may only be with us for a short time, so we try to make every second count, working to give each woman an experience of belonging and tools to stay well on her long road to safety, wherever it takes her.
“I bad because no paper, no accept Home Office, worry. I was alone because no work, friends or husband. I love the yoga and the English, it helps a lot. I will miss it much.”
We’ve made significant impact, but it's still a long road.
Three quarters of the women we work with are asylum seekers with experience of fleeing war, gender-based violence and multiple human rights abuses. Often, many are single mothers, some have been trafficked, and others are exploited by traffickers on their way to the UK—many sustain injuries on the journey.
So far, we have made significant strides in supporting over 100 women and dozens of babies and children, with new women arriving daily who need our support. We acknowledge that there is still a long road ahead to build safe connections for these women and many more who may follow in their footsteps.
Can you help further our reach?
We are on a mission to widen our reach so that no one is left behind. Building connections and helping individuals is a vital part of our mission. By supporting us, you are becoming an integral part of our community. We invite you to join our growing community by subscribing to our newsletter, Subscribe to GCPConnect.
*These are not the real names of the individuals.