SASS is looking for an enthusiastic person with skills in ESOL (English as a Second/Other Language) and in project co-ordinating, to join our team. We are a small charity that provides Welcome, Welfare, Wellbeing and Empowerment to asylum seekers and refugees through various activities, with few staff and lots of volunteers. Many SASS volunteers, including ESOL teachers, are asylum seekers and refugees themselves.

The job is 2.5 days/week, with regular Friday early evening and Saturday working.

For further details, please see the Job Description below.

If you’ve never visited a SASS drop-in, then we encourage you to come along to see the ESOL project in action and meet teachers and learners, and some of the Trustees. For details of drop-ins see www.sass.wales.  You don’t need an appointment.  Feel free to contact Chair of Trustees, Sandra Morton: 07400605669

Recruitment process

Your application must be received by 5pm on 8 April 2024.
Send your application to email vol.sbassg@gmail.com marked ‘ESOL JOB’.
Your application (can be one file or more) must include:

• Your CV.
• Names of 2 referees with their job titles, phone numbers and emails.
• A written statement on 1 side of A4, explaining what your priorities will be in the first 2 or 3 months, if you get the job.
• A note about any restrictions on your availability for interview and your availability to start work on the dates stated below.

Interviews will be held in the week commencing 22 April 2024 (probably Friday 26^th).
Start work on 7 May 2024 or as soon as possible after that.

In December, SASS held an exhibition at the Volcano Theatre, raising money for local charities who support refugees and asylum seekers. Among the talented local artists that submitted their artwork was 14-year-old Sasha (pseudonym), whose artwork really caught people’s attention.

Now, Sasha’s artwork is also being shown in the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery as part of the Swansea Open 2024 exhibition! The exhibition is a celebration of art and craft from artists and makers throughout the city, this is an incredible achievement.

Sasha’s series of work, titled “The Faces of War,” are technically complex graphic drawings, using just a liner pen. Her mother talks about how making art helps Sasha, “it’s like therapy for her.”

“Sasha, like many other refugees from Ukraine, saw a lot of things that mentally healthy person couldn’t even imagine. Her work captures the souls of war heroes, the souls of soldiers who died defending Ukraine. They all had army nicknames, and the memory of them will remain in our hearts forever. This story is about how good always triumphs over evil. We wouldn’t remember their faces, but their valor [bravery and courage] is in our hearts forever.

– Sasha’s mother

There are also various other artists at the Swansea Open that you may recognise, both from our exhibition and other projects run at Volcano Theatre, including work by Hazle Boyles and Humberto Gatica-Leyton. Artists within EYST have also been busy creating various pieces which have been chosen to be on display at the exhibition – keep an eye out!

The Swansea Open is free to visit, and on display between 3rd February and 19th May 2024 at The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, SA1 5DZ.

On Wednesday 17th January from 10am-5pm we will be celebrating Art’s Birthday in the OXFAM Shop in Castle Street, Swansea! Art created by young people at the Swansea Asylum Seekers Support drop-ins will feature.

In 1963 the artist Robert Filliou declared that January 17th was the birthday of Art! Always happy to have an excuse for a party, we accept his declaration!

– Oxfam Castle Street

… And, inspired by David Shrigley's re-used #DaVinciCode dust jacket, see our exhibition of re-designed dust jackets on re-imagined books created by the young artists of Swansea Asylum Seekers Support Group.
10-5. Wednesday 17th January. #Oxfam Castle Street #Swansea pic.twitter.com/TqzTBVE4ZT

— OxfamCastleStreetSwansea 🧡 (@OxfamCastleSt) January 11, 2024

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A post shared by Oxfam Swansea (@oxfamcastlestreet)

This Christmas, Swansea Asylum Seekers Support (SASS) organised two Christmas parties at our drop-in sessions, where we offered presents to local people in our asylum seeker and refugee community.

We were overwhelmed with generous donations from our supporters, including children’s toys, books, decorations, household essentials, as well as men and women’s clothes and toiletries.

Lush Swansea kindly donated 10 huge boxes filled to the brim with their wonderful ‘Snow Fairy’ products, and Faith in Families also donated over 170 gift packs of Lynx and Vaseline lip care for us to distribute!

We would like thank all the individuals and organisations who donated items, and to those who gave their time to volunteer to transport, organise and distribute the gifts for these events. Your generosity makes a real difference.

Merry Christmas!

Congratulations to Martha and Aruni on their wonderful book launch at Volcano Theatre last week! Beautiful poetry readings by two incredible women.

‘Unbound’ by T. M. A. Mfortem is available for purchase here: https://www.lulu.com/…/paperback/product-gjnp2jp.html

‘Of Monitors and Men’ by Aruni McShane is available for purchase here: https://www.lulu.com/…/paperback/product-2m2m6ey.html

Everyone is very welcome at our Exhibition at Volcano Theatre on High Street!

Today is our launch day, and we’ll be here until 16th December. Open 10am-5pm (closed on Sundays and Mondays).

There is stunning artwork by SASS children and many other people, including refugees and supporters.

Unsold work will be auctioned on 16th December starting 6pm at Volcano. All proceeds to Swansea Asylum Seekers Support and partners!

See more info here.

Volcano Gallery, High Street, SA1 1LG — December 5th to 16th

An exhibition of local crafts, arts, design, and solidarity, and 3 great evenings of poetry, music and celebration. Items for sale: from Christmas cards to paintings, from 3D printed toys to home-knitted hats and scarves, to stunning photographs. Contributors include:

• EYST Community Artists Group
• Glynn Vivian Gallery Community Art projects
• Hay Brecon Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees – the Great Friendship Quilt
• ILA (Iberians and Latin Americans in Wales) – crafts and arts
• SASS Welcome to Play children’s project and Sewing Group
• Swansea Schools of Sanctuary
• UWTSD / Cefn Hengoed and Dylan Thomas After School Clubs

Special feature: many framed watercolours and oil paintings by the late Mary Doré (1935-2016), donated by her family. For sale from £10 to £50, all proceeds to charity.

Mary’s family escaped to Wales from the bombing of London in 1941 when she was 6. They left the house one night with what they could carry and got on a train. They lived in an attic for two years. Her father commuted to London by motorbike for his job as electrician – he slept in the Underground. Eventually they settled in Wales. As an adult Mary worked as a laboratory assistant; an NSPCC volunteer; a phlebotomist; a journalist for a local paper – but most of all she painted – and taught hundreds of others to paint. She strongly believed “everyone can paint, given the chance, some encouragement and a few skills.” Her paintings are on sale here to raise money to help other families who need to find safety to live their lives.

Volunteers needed to greet visitors and make sales – can you spare a couple of hours? Please contact Tom at sass.events.wales@gmail.com.

FREE admission. Open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm (10:00-17:00). Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Evening events on 5th, 13th, and16th December start at 6pm (18:00) – see below.

Organised by Swansea Asylum Seekers Support (SASS), together with Unity in Diversity (UiD), Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), Swansea City of Sanctuary (SCoS), Iberians & Latin Americans in Wales (ILA), Congolese Development Project (CDP), the Women’s Group and chai&chat – among others – with support from CIty and County of Swansea’s Fusion Project.

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3 Free Events!! 5th, 13th, and 16th December

All start at 6pm (18:00). All feature live music by Gwythion (Algerian Rai + Welsh Synthwave fusion) + guests. All include multinational food by chai&chat and The Women’s Group. (Free: donate if you can)

>> Tuesday 5th December: Launch Party. Guest music: Becky Lowe.

>> Wednesday 13th December: Swansea City of Sanctuary AGM + Launch of new Hafan Books poetry publications by Aruni McShane and Dr. T.M.A. Mfortem + Guest music: Welsh Folk Harp

>> Saturday 16th December: Final Auction and Party with the ILA LatinX Dance Group

Items from the exhibition will be auctioned. Proceeds will be divided between the charities involved.

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Please share with anyone who you think may be interested. We look forward to seeing you!