Why I volunteer: All about

WHY I volunteer

Sarah Kiddle volunteers as a befriender for Sanctuary in Chichester, helping an asylum-seeking family to adjust to life in her home city

I had always wanted to work with refugees. Watching the news it was hard not to be humbled and inspired by the widely reported refugee crisis, and the tragic stories of people perishing in their attempts to find a safe home. When a friend of mine said she was volunteering at Sanctuary in Chichester (SiC), I was excited that there was an opportunity to get involved in my own small city.

SiC is committed to welcoming and supporting newly-arrived asylumseeking families and individuals, as well as refugee families. Often people arrive having lost everything and suffered great trauma.

Yakub and Salima’s* family, for example, had already been through so much by the time they had fled the Syrian civil war. Yakub was imprisoned in terrible conditions for 11 years for refusing to betray his brother-in-law, who had protested against the Syrian leader, Assad. They became one of the first families supported by SiC when it started in 2016. As well as helping the family to integrate within the community, SiC helped Ahmed, their youngest son, to fund his medical studies in Cairo. He now works as a doctor in a UK hospital, giving back to the community – as do his parents, who help other newly arrived families.

As an English teacher, I could have been one of the charity’s tutors, who do vital work helping people to adjust and find work. However, I wanted to really get to know a family, so I became a befriender. This involves keeping in regular contact and helping out with everyday needs like navigating UK supermarkets, budgeting (although in my experience, they’re more savvy than me!), making and getting to appointments, and finding social opportunities like mother and baby groups – as well as building a rapport.

Most of the refugees supported by SIC are here on the government’s resettlement schemes for Syrian and Afghan people and volunteers help them to rebuild their lives.

For asylum-seeking families (such as the Kurdish family I support), things are a bit trickier because until they are granted asylum they cannot work. Others are vulnerable unaccompanied children, who have often travelled alone for years through dangerous places before arriving here.

SiC provides holistic care and this includes the Nations United football team it supported a young refugee to set up, which is made up of young refugees and asylum-seekers from countries including Sudan, Eritrea and Iran. A cricket team is now being developed after requests from Afghan arrivals and SiC is working on providing other holistic support that is more inclusive of girls, who are more at risk of trafficking in the UK.

I love working with my current family and look forward to seeing them continue to flourish. With 65 million people forced to flee their homes in recent years, more than half of them children, SiC does vital work, and I’m proud to be a tiny piece of the support network they’ve created.

Providing sanctuary

Sanctuary in Chichester is part of the wider City of Sanctuary movement, and offers a range of support to refugees and asylum seekers in the West Sussex city. sanctuaryinchichester.org

New York State

OF MIND

New York City is an urban icon, but did you know that it’s the smallest of New York State’s 11 regions? Beyond the city that never sleeps are millions of acres of spectacular nature-filled spaces, ranging from mountains and lakes to beaches and vineyards. With 2,000 miles of hiking and biking trails, more than 200 state parks and historic sites, countless charming small towns and fascinating cities brimming with cultural attractions, New York State has plenty to reward those who set their sights beyond the skyscrapers of Manhattan.

NEW YORK CITY’S FAMOUS SKYLINE

GEORGE EASTMAN MUSEUM, ROCHESTER

Niagara Falls

Map - Ery Prihananto/vecteezy.com

Albany

New York City

EAST HAMPTON, LONG ISLAND

Millions of Brits fly to New York every year, but most of them explore just a fraction of the Empire State. Try combining a city break in the bustling Big Apple with a trip into the state’s truly great outdoors...

SAVOUR THE SEASIDE

Kevin P. Coughlin/State of New York NYSDED/ Darren McGee When the sun is shining, New York City heads to Long Island to soak it up on the sandy beaches. You’ll be spoilt for choice so which sandy stretch you pick all depends on the vibe you’re chasing. Looking for classic Americana? Jones Beach State Park has six miles of sandy shores to explore as well as a dizzying array of restaurants, bars and games venues along its allAmerican boardwalk and a 15,000seat amphitheatre hosting major acts, from musicians to magicians. If you fancy going upmarket, stop at Coopers Beach in Southampton (part of the swanky Hamptons) where the quartz sand is backed by rolling dunes and historic Gatsbystyle mansions. Car-free Fire Island is part-LGBTQfriendly party place, part-nature lover’s paradise, where you’ll see deer grazing in the grassy dunes and you can explore a boardwalk that snakes

Book it through a unique sunken forest of American holly. Let us help you create the If you want to catch perfect New York itinerary, some waves, or watch whether that’s a city and beach break in the summer, or an upstate fly-drive in the the professional surfers doing it, Ditch spectacular fall season. Plains Beach boasts charitable.travel/ impressive swells new-york beneath its handsome orange cliffs.

NYSDED/ Darren McGee

FRESHWATER FUN

Step away from the seaside and you’ll still find beaches, on New York’s lakes and rivers. There are more than 6,700 natural bodies of water in New York, around 3,000 in the Adirondacks alone. Lake Placid Public Beach is a sandy one complete with a pier and a launch site for those exploring by canoe.

Cutting across almost the entire state is the Erie Canal, a 363-mile feat of engineering, including 18 aqueducts and 83 locks, that connects Albany and the Hudson River to Buffalo on Lake Erie. You can hike the towpath or take to water on a boat or kayak.

You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re back at the seaside when you see the silky sands of Sylvan Beach on Lake Oneida, but it’s smack bang in Central New York. The resort is even home to a traditional amusement park, complete with vintage roller coaster, arcade games and old-fashioned pretzel carts.

In the Finger Lakes you can explore 11 distinct lakes and the unique communities that have sprung up around them. Pretty Lake Owasco’s warm waters make it popular for swimming and water-skiing.

The Thousand Islands-Seaway comprises hundreds of miles of picturesque coastline trailing along the shores of Great Lake Ontario and the mighty St. Lawrence River. There are 1,800 islands to explore, from Dark Island, home to the grand Singer Castle, to the smallest inhabited isle in the world. Just Room Enough Island is home to only a tiny cottage, a few chairs and a tree. On the water you can hire an antique speed boat, scuba dive down to shipwrecks or partake in some world-class fishing.

NYSDED/ Darren McGee NIAGARA FALLS

TRAILS INTO THE WILD

If you’re into hiking or cycling you’ve come to the right place. You can even set off from the Big Apple, the starting point for the epic but largely flat Empire State Trail. This new 750-mile-long route runs along

the Hudson valley to Albany and from there you can either head west to Buffalo along the Eerie Canal or north to the Canadian border. Along the way you can camp under the stars or stay in historic inns and quaint B&Bs.

The Adirondacks Park is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States, covering an area larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier, and the Great Smokie national parks combined! Hike gentle forest trails, conquer the state’s tallest peak, Mount Marcy, or traverse the spectacular waterfalls along the base of Whiteface Mountain.

Generations of artists, writers and naturalists have drawn inspiration from the Catskills’ tranquil forests and sweeping mountain vistas, while rich New York families flocked to its fancy resorts and hippies turned local farmland into the legendry Woodstock music festival in 1969. Today the vistas are unchanged but unique attractions include a Buddhist temple and North America’s tallest and longest zip line. The Forest Preserve here is carefully protected so about 143,000 acres are only accessible on foot.

GRAND SPECTACLES

You can’t visit upstate New York without seeing the spectacular Niagara Falls, a thundering spectacle of nature’s sheer power. Around 3,000 tonnes of water pass over the falls every second and there are multiple ways to view it, from the Maid of the Mist boat which will take you as close to the foaming curtain as you dare, to the Whirlpool Jet Boat tour which whisks you upriver into the Niagara Gorge, through the Devil’s Hole Rapids and to the edge of a natural whirlpool. There’s also the Cave of the Winds tour which passes behind the Bridal Veil Falls.

Another icon of New York State is Letchworth State Park, known as the ‘Grand Canyon of the East’. Here, the Genesee River cuts through a lush forested landscape, vertiginous cliffs channelling it through three dramatic waterfalls. Activities include guided nature walks, whitewater rafting, kayaking and hot air ballooning.

NYSDED/ Darren McGee

THE CAPITOL, ALBANY

FARM-TO-FORK FLAVOUR

All that fresh air and exercise will make you hungry and luckily New York has plenty to sate even the most discerning of appetites. From Michelin-star restaurants and just about every nationality of cuisine you can think of in NYC and Long Island, to the birthplace of Buffalo chicken wings (in Buffalo, of course) and the famous smoked meats of Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse, the variety of cuisine on offer is endless.

You can even tour the hallowed and sweet-smelling halls of the Culinary Institute of America in the Hudson Valley. This revered chef school has five outstanding restaurants on site, or you can dine at Franklin D. Roosevelt’s favourite pub close by, the Beekman Arms.

New York State is a proud producer and you can taste a bounty of fresh ingredients right at the source in many cases. See maple syrup being made, taste cheese and fresh yoghurt on a dairy farm or pick your own crisp apples from the orchard.

There are six distinctive wine regions in New York State and the Finger Lakes region alone has four wine trails which combine bucolic scenery with award-winning Rieslings and more. Lenz Winery is one of Long Island’s oldest wineries and you can sip its famous merlot in the rustic barn tasting room. And in the Niagara region those with a sweet tooth can try ice wines, made using grapes frozen on the vine.

CAMPING AT LAKE DURANT, ADIRONDACKS

STORM KING HIGHWAY, HUDSON VALLEY

ATHENAEUM HOTEL, LAKE CHAUTAUQUA

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NYSDED/ Darren McGee

NYSDED/ Darren McGee

Micro breweries and distilleries abound in New York too. The fourth generation family-run Saranac Brewery in Utica tells the story of how it switched to soda during the prohibition era, while Brewery Ommegang headlines the Cooperstown Beverage Trail in Central New York, crafting worldclass Belgian-style beers on a former hops farm and serving waffles and frites to go with them.

11 REGIONS, AT A GLANCE

New York City: This cosmopolitan and creative hub has endless and ever-changing attractions. Explore hundreds of diverse neighbourhoods bursting with exciting restaurants, buzzing nightspots, arts venues galore and legendary shopping. Long Island: You might come for the white sandy beaches but you’ll return for the characterful seaside towns, rolling vineyards and farm-tofork temptations. Hudson Valley: Straight upriver from the Big Apple you’ll find the rural landscapes and traditional communities that inspired artist Edward Hopper, as well as the grand mansions that housed the rich and famous of America. The Catskills: Explore a wild landscape of forest preserves and soaring mountains in the home of the legendary music festival Woodstock. You can hike, bike or ski around this adventure playground. Capital Saratoga: Immerse yourself in history and culture in this region, which includes the artsy state capital, Albany. Beyond is idyllic countryside, iconic covered bridges and cute small towns with one-of-akind shops. Central New York: Rolling hills and farmland is criss-crossed by scenic roads and the Eerie Canal. Stay in country inns, feast on farm-fresh produce and discover magical caves and a spectacular underground waterfall. The Adirondacks: In this untamed region you can hike into the wilderness or stay in a luxury lakeside resort. The Adirondacks are home to the highest point in the state, the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics and thousands of lakes. Thousand Islands Seaway: Close to 2,000 islands are dotted along this scenic stretch of freshwater, as well as a smattering of fairy tale castles. Finger Lakes: As well as its 11 picturesque lakes and numerous state parks, this region is a great place for gastronomes thanks to its award-winning vineyards and foodie towns like Ithaca – birthplace of the ice cream sundae. Greater Niagara: As well as the world’s most iconic waterfall and the many attractions around it, the Niagara region is home to many vineyards and the city of Buffalo with its great museums and galleries Chautauqua-Allegheny: This rural idyll bordering Lake Eerie is a tranquil region of old fashioned pleasures, including the historic amusements at Midway State Park. Follow the Amish Trail to farms and shops with home-made food and hand-crafted gifts.

NYSDED/ Darren McGee

SARANAC BREWERY, UTICA

FIND OUT MORE

There are many more ways to appreciate New York’s diversity, whether you are a family looking for a fun-filled road trip or a group of friends in search of thrills. You might want to discover more of the state’s world-famous museums and galleries, or explore New York’s fascinating historical monuments, from the opulent homes of U.S presidents to the Underground Railroad used by escaping slaves Find more ideas and itineraries here: charitable.travel/new-york