14th January 2026
Once a week, in a community hall in West Cumbria, a group of men of all ages meet to play dominoes and Connect Four. They drink tea, laugh together and try not to think of the horrors they have left behind in their home countries.
For these are asylum seekers. From Eritrea and Vietnam, Iran and Afghanistan, they have fled persecution and sought safety in the UK. They have been housed in West Cumbrian communities – Mirehouse, Moor Row, Cleator Moor – while the authorities decide whether they will be allowed to
remain.
The Asylum Seeker Friendship Group meets every Wednesday morning at Egremont Market Hall. It was set up in the summer of 2024 by Rachel Holliday, founder of Time to Change (TTC) West Cumbria – a social enterprise supporting homeless people and those living in poverty.
Rachel explained: “Time to Change were contacted by a local councillor, asking for urgent help. Three asylum seekers had been placed in a house in Egremont, but they had no food, no internet, and no mode of transport. One bedroom had been flooded so one man was sleeping in the kitchen. Two of the three men had no bedding. They didn’t speak English and they were afraid.”
TTC began supporting the men with practical help, from meeting their basic needs by providing food and second-hand bicycles, to more complex help with issues around the process of seeking asylum.
Rachel explained: “We started out thinking we needed to provide support with housing problems, English lessons, legal advice, but what we soon realised was, what these people needed first and foremost was trust.
“We thought, what can we do to help these people settle into our community?’”
And so the Friendship Group was born.
Practical support
Now TTC supports around 20 asylum seekers in the area at any one time. They come to the group to socialise, play games and chat (with the help of Google Translate) and also to seek practical support. As well as Rachel and a team of local volunteers, Cumberland Council staff are on hand to help with housing and asylum queries.
Alan Alexander is Chair of West Cumbria Refugee Support Network and a regular volunteer. He said: “With the Friendship Group, we try to help people learn English, to help them integrate, and make them feel welcome. We give them support as human beings.
“The support they’re getting here is wonderful. This is a safe space for them.”
The Community Foundation has made two grants to Time to Change to help local asylum seekers. A grant from the Welcome Fund, which is funded by public donations, was made to provide essentials such as clothing, food or transport. Asylum seekers save their bus tickets from any journeys
made that week and are reimbursed at the Friendship Group.
The second grant was from the Fibrus Community Fund, to provide IT equipment such as Wi-Fi-loaded dongles and refurbished laptops. Volunteer Piers Jones said: “It very soon became apparent that these people had lots of pressing concerns: connectivity, isolation, not being able to keep in touch with family. They are without what most people take for granted. The way housing has been allocated, they have no internet or phone.
“They need to be able to print out material or access videos for English lessons. We help them with that.”
Yousef was placed in Moor Row when seeking asylum from Iran. He has been granted permission to stay and now lives in Whitehaven.
“I like it here,” he said. “I would like to stay in Cumbria. The people are very friendly and it’s a beautiful place.
“These people are very helpful for us. When we arrived here, we didn’t know anyone. We were depressed. These people very helped us. This group is very good for our mental health.
“Actually, I love Rachel like a sister. We haven’t any family here. They are like our family. They always support us.”
Abdullah’s story
Abdullah arrived in the UK from Afghanistan in May 2024. After two nights in Basingstoke, then two months in a hotel in Liverpool, he was placed in a house in Egremont.
“I left my wife and son, who is 26 months, behind to come here. I have had anxiety and depression for the last four months. I started coming to this group and they helped me to go to English classes in the library.
“Two or three times a week, I go into Whitehaven on the bus to go to the mosque and buy halal food.
It costs £6 each time and we only get £49 a week. Rachel helps with bus fares.
“They help us with everything. I’m alone here. I don’t have my wife or child or other family members. Rachel is like my mum. These people are my family. I thank everyone for the wonderful help they have given me.
“In March, my asylum claim was refused but recently I had a positive decision, so I can stay in the UK.
“I was a farmer back home. I’m moving to Sheffield to start a job with a recycling company. I have one friend in Sheffield; he has helped me find a job and I can share a house with him. If I’m successful, then I will help others.
“I will always be grateful to the people of Cumbria. They helped me so much. They are my family.”