Oxford University secures £10k funding from Nominet for the charity Asylum Welcome
Supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Oxford with digital devices and training
Funding to improve people’s lives through technology
Nominet is the provider of .uk domain names and is also a public benefit organisation, funding activities to improve people’s lives through technology. The University of Oxford, through IT Services, is a long-standing member of Nominet and has been registering .uk domains to support research and other activities at the University since at least 1997.
Each month, through Nominet’s GiveHub, members can apply for funding in support of projects that align with Nominet’s commitment to making the world more connected, inclusive and secure. Dr Michael Fraser, Director of Infrastructure Services at Oxford, successfully nominated the charity Asylum Welcome for £10,000 of funding in support of its Digital Inclusion Project.
The work of Asylum Welcome
Asylum Welcome works with more than 4,000 vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers across Oxfordshire - providing life-changing support by offering information, advice, and practical help across 15 carefully crafted and tailored services. The charity’s Digital Inclusion Project provides laptops and mobile devices, along with support and training, to help refugees feel a sense of normalcy and integrate into a society where digital access is now an essential element of community experience.
With Nominet funding, Asylum Welcome can source a larger proportion of devices from community partners and increase the overall number of devices available for clients (including allocating more resources to the repair and refurbishment of donated devices). The funding also enables Asylum Welcome to continue running weekly IT workshops and providing IT tuition. These initiatives empower refugees and asylum seekers with the digital skills and knowledge to make the most of their devices.
In support of our University of Sanctuary status
Dr Michael Fraser at Oxford University said
I am delighted that Asylum Welcome has been awarded £10,000 by Nominet to assist their Digital Inclusion Project. Oxford is a ‘City of Sanctuary’, and the University is a recognised ‘University of Sanctuary’ for its sustained commitment to welcoming people who have been forcibly displaced around the world. Asylum Welcome provides invaluable humanitarian support to refugees and asylum seekers who come here very often isolated and dispossessed, and unfortunately in an increasingly hostile political environment. Asylum Welcome is a lighthouse of hope, and the provision of connected devices is an effective symbol of the social connections and support that exist here.
Sawan Hassan, Digital Inclusion Coordinator at Asylum Welcome said
Sincere thanks to Dr Michael Fraser for nominating us and to Nominet for this generous award. In funding our Digital Inclusion Project, you are providing a lifeline for our many vulnerable clients. This service helps them stay connected with their loved ones, pursue their education, and integrate into their new communities. In the past couple of years, the number of people we support has more than doubled, making your generosity even more significant during these challenging times.
