Barka Reconnection Programme in Slough and Reading

On June 15th Barka UK will start a reconnection project in Slough and Reading to support Eastern Europeans sleeping rough in those areas to return to rehabilitation programs in Poland and home countries. This is Barka’€™s first reconnection project outside of London. Next week Barka UK’€™s leaders and assistants, who are going to work in Slough and Reading, will attend partnership meetings with day centres, outreach teams, community wardens and other local organisations in both towns.

Offering Reconnection to Eastern European Nationals
Facing Difficult Social and Economic Situations

Mission: To make contact on the streets of London with Eastern European Migrants who have become homeless. To offer them the opportunity to return home. To support the individuals in their journey from exclusion to inclusion through an organised program of reconnection.

In response to the concerns of local authorities and charities in London, Barka Poland prepared a group of forty community leaders from Barka Poland who themselves were once homeless, unemployed and addicted. These leaders work alongside London-based homelessness agencies to make contact with Eastern European rough sleepers.

During outreach on the streets, Barka leaders€ invite Eastern European rough sleepers to day centres for the homeless. Here they share stories of their path from exclusion to integration. Through building relationships based on trust, they encourage and prepare clients for reconnection. Barka UK also helps clients obtain passports and transportation.

When appropriate, Barka support the individuals to reconnect with their communities and families. Those who are not ready to do this are invited to take part in the Barka Network of Inclusion Program in Poland, a rehabilitation program where they can access detox, learn new work skills and build friendships with others who share their journey.

To date, over 1000 Eastern European Migrants (90% Polish) who had been homeless on the streets in London have returned to the Barka Network in Poland for detox, social rehabilitation and employment programs.

For more information about our Reconnections project please contact us

To see the results of our work in 2007 please click here.

To see the results of our work in 2008 please click here.

To see the results of our work in 2009 please click here.

To see the results of our work in 2010 please click here..  .