UAreUK, a dedicated organisation supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Wrexham and neighbouring counties, has supported hundreds of people thanks to a grant from Hafren Dyfrdwy Community Fund. 

The charity’s mission is to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers, especially children, have access to the same opportunities for emotional and physical health and wellbeing as everyone else.  

The aim is to help people fulfil their potential and actively participate in society, while equipping them with skills, knowledge, and support needed to enter employment or start their own enterprises. 

Over the past few years, the demand for UAreUK's services has grown significantly. However, the costs associated with running their support hub have also increased. 

A £10,000 grant from the Community Fund came at a crucial time, enabling the charity to continue offering tailored advice and support while also covering running costs, including funding additional hours for their Programme Lead to develop and pilot projects that will generate a stable and regular income stream for the future. It also helped to revamp the charity’s accounts by funding a book keeper and new finance software which freed up a lot of time to focus on volunteering and developing projects as well. 

Jane Townend, CEO of UareUK, said: “With rising costs impacting charities and the people they support, the grant and support from Hafrn Dyfrdwy has allowed us to support people and help them progress, whilst also developing new ideas and projects to meet user needs and also protect the charity from rising costs, thus embedding sustainability, longevity and continuity to all we do. It had made a great impact, and we are very grateful.” 

The charity makes everyone feel welcome, well and safe through wellbeing opportunities, social connection, food share and a community ‘Sanctuary’ hub. 

The staff role funded with the help of the Hafren Dyfrdwy Community Fund has helped them to take forward their ideas to generate income to help make the charity more sustainable, whilst also providing work/volunteer opportunities for the people they support.  

These include starting a preloved online sales business, a space for selling preloved items, creating a hub garden space for additional room and growing space and piloting a food delivery business in the local area, which has a 5-star rating for the kitchen. 

People have been able to join in with helping at the hub, helping to give a sense of purpose. By volunteering it gives a sense of being valued and helping others which takes someone who is a refugee from often being the 'helped' person to the person empowering and helping others. 

Over 300 people have been supported in the last year, with all help and advice that they provide being tailored to each individual and their needs.  

Jade Gough, Hafren Dyfrdwy Community Fund Officer, said: “UAreUK has created a special haven for people in Wrexham, providing a much needed safe and welcoming space for those who need it. 

“It’s fantastic to see that the funding has helped the charity to keep providing such real and impactful support, and I look forward to seeing the charity continue to grow and thrive.” 

Hafren Dyfrdwy provides a water only service in Wrexham and parts of Denbighshire and Flintshire and both a water and wastewater service in Powys.      

This year’s Hafren Dyfrdwy Community Fund opens for applications on 1^st October 2025. To find out more about the Community Fund or to get in touch visit www.hdcymru.co.uk/communityfund