Huddersfield Curate helped asylum seekers to re-discover trust and security through a healing adventure project at Scargill House last weekend.
The Revd Simon Crook, Curate of Huddersfield Parish Church, took 11 ‘service users’ from the St Augustine Centre, which works with the most marginalised people in Halifax, to the Yorkshire Dales between 11th and 13th September ‘for a time of healing and growth through adventure and stillness’.
Simon Crook says, “Many of our group were seeking asylum, all had faced danger and persecution.
“One young man escaped from Syria with all his friends shot dead by soldiers.
“Another escaped being killed in Sudan – his skin was too black for the Arabic government.”
With a staff member from the St Augustine Centre also present, the group went walking and abseiling, told each other stories, immersed themselves in creative activities, lit fires to cook for themselves, slept under the stars and crossed rivers just to pray together.
Simon mentions, “Through adventure senses were awakened, fears were faced, some trauma was re-lived.
“Together we supported and listened. Some trust was allowed back into abused hearts.
“Sleeping out under the stars we were in touch with creation. Seeing the same sky and stars as loved ones in home nations – we were exposed, but safe with each other.
“Crossing the river to pray together to express our thanks, joy and wonder. To ask God ‘why?’. To pray for loved ones living and lost.”
Simon continues, “Having faced huge danger they now came up against vast obstacles; even filling in our permission forms meant not only writing in a new language, but with a new alphabet.
“And yet, over the course of the weekend, walking, abseiling, cooking eating and singing together, their cautious reserve seemed to melt.
“We saw more smiles and playfulness, we found ways to communicate with action and gesture and their humanity began to be restored.”
Simon mentions, “We saw people developing confidence, resilience, self-esteem and responding to belonging to a group.”
Simon Crook and his wife, Sam, organised the project as part of the work by their charity, Across Country: ‘A place of adventure and stillness to be more fully ourselves with others, our world and with God’.
“We believe projects like this are wonderful for all people, all of us carry hurt and live within our own narrow boundaries,” Simon adds.
“Adventure and stillness within a nurturing, intimate environment are powerful agents for change and enable us to go beyond our previous limits.
“For refugees in particular, it gives a safe space to begin to process trauma, to build relationships that last beyond the project, to being to trust others again, and countless other elements of restoring and enriching their humanity.”
Projects such as this only take place once a year as Simon’s work as Curate limits his Sunday availability.
Simon says, “We are willing to consider doing more mid-week projects, but these would likely have to be with other groups.
“Mid-week projects don't work with asylum seekers as it clashes with solicitor appointments, signing in etc.
“As a charity we have built up a relationship with St Augustine's and with Scargill House, although we have done other projects with other groups.
“The next project will likely be next year, unless a specific group contacts us and requests something.”
Simon and Sam founded the charity a few years ago after being inspired by working on a Christian Adventure Farm in South Africa.
Simon claims, “The couple who ran the Farm were quiet, strong, inspirational people, it was holistic and a family atmosphere, which enabled therapeutic processes.
“Being trained counsellors has given us increased insight of the therapeutic processes and implications of what we do.”
Simon adds, “Others can help refugees by supporting places like St Augustine's.
“But it is important to respond to the emerging needs around us whatever they are and regardless of whatever the news is focussing on at the moment.
“Our charity seeks to work with people on the edges of society whoever they may be.”
For more information on Simon and Sam’s projects, please visit the Across Country website: http://www.acrosscountry.org.uk/
For more information on the St Augustine’s Centre, Halifax, please visit their website: http://www.staugustinescentrehalifax.org.uk/