Volunteers help arrivals to survive new life via Bridge

Chair of the group, Janet Castle, opened her own home to a woman for four years while she got on her feet and was a caseworker at the Asylum Seeker Centre in Auburn at the time.
“When I left the centre, I was asked if I could continue my work in a volunteer capacity with Bridge which I was more than happy to do,” she said.
With no shopfront to call home, volunteers all work out of their own homes with Bridge, one of the largest providers of living allowances for asylum seekers in NSW.
Helping nearly 300 people last year with a budget of about $350,000, Janet said they offered support with rent, food and bills like transport costs, telephone and pharmaceuticals.
“We wish we could give everyone a lot more than what we do but we have to make our funding spread far,” she said.
“We were lucky receiving a few grants last year from Multicultural NSW but that funding runs out in April.
“Thanks also to Dooleys for their recent grant to help us in our efforts.”
Janet said they were also concerned about what might happen to a lot of low income families when the moratorium on rent rises and evictions ended in April.
“We feel like we are on the edge of a cliff and are in urgent need of donations to help get us through,” she said.
“We also need volunteers to work from home in administration.”
To volunteer or to make a donation, no matter how big or small, visit bridgeforasylumseekers.org.au.