Nasima and her mother, Aziza, benefited from the Refugee and Migrant Centre (RMC) Women’s Group, which supported their mental health, helped them build confidence, and provided opportunities to connect with other women and access local services.
Arriving in the UK
When Nasima and her mother, Aziza, arrived from Afghanistan as refugees in 2024, they faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives in the UK. They had left behind their community, friends, and everything familiar, and now had to start again in an unfamiliar place.
Their first contact with RMC came when applying for a travel document. During that visit, they learned about the Women’s Group run by RMC’s Health and Wellbeing team. After sharing the challenges, they were facing, their advisor offered them both a place in the group to support their integration, build confidence, and connect with other women experiencing similar journeys.
“When my mother and I first arrived in this country, we felt lonely, sad, and disappointed. Everything was new to us, and we didn’t know anyone.”
Growing in confidence
At first, they were hesitant to join in and speak during sessions. “At first, we were a little shy,” Nasima explained. But with regular attendance, they gradually became more confident and comfortable, finding it easier to participate and engage. Over time, this helped them build confidence and form new connections.
The sessions focused on themes such as healthcare, health access, and understanding the support available in the UK. More importantly, they created a space where Nasima and Aziza could meet people and begin forming friendships. Nasima reflected, “The workshops helped us learn about health, hygiene, and teamwork, and I also made many new friends. Apart from learning about wellbeing, we also learned a lot about the country and how the system works, which really helped us settle and understand life here better.”
Building a new life
Nasima describes the positive impact of the group clearly in her own words: “After we joined the RMC Health and Wellbeing workshops, our lives completely changed. Step by step we became more confident. The environment was always friendly and supportive, and we felt safe and welcome.”
Through the workshops, Nasima found a volunteering role, which gave her purpose and strengthened her sense of belonging. “It made me very happy and helped me become more active in the community,” she said.
Whole person support
Meanwhile, Aziza, who had been struggling with her mental health, received counselling through RMC’s mental health programme. This support helped improve her emotional wellbeing and gave her the confidence to enrol in education.
Nasima shared, “Through RMC’s mental health support, my mother, received counselling, which was very helpful. By attending those sessions, she now feels much better, calmer, and more positive, and now she is attending college.”
Today, both Nasima and Aziza feel empowered to build new lives in the UK. Nasima summed it up beautifully: “Because of RMC’s kindness and effort, I now feel confident, connected, and hopeful for the future. I want to thank Mandy and Nasima for organising and supporting these wonderful workshops.”
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