About Us
We are a refugee and migrant-led, registered charity supporting families and individuals through buddying, advocacy, financial and emotional support.
We opened our doors in 2017 to provide welcome to recent arrivals in Hastings seeking refuge and safety
Now we are a refugee and migrant-led, registered charity supporting families and individuals through buddying, advocacy, financial and emotional support for the most vulnerable in our community. Since 2017, we’ve expanded our support to Rother and Wealden, as well as Hastings. Increased support for people in the asylum system the project also works with the wider community of people seeking refuge in Hastings who are in the home office asylum dispersal scheme, in which people are still in the process of claiming asylum
About our founder
Rossana Leal and her family fled Chile in 1976 when she was nine years old after her father was detained by the Pinochet regime. Having been resettled by UNHCR from Argentina, she always remembers the warm welcome that the family received from the small mining village in Scotland - with a party, bagpipes and toys for the children, and the coal shed that winter remaining stocked by generous villagers. This was her inspiration years later when, moved by the plight of Syrians arriving in Europe, she set up the Refugee Buddy Project in Hastings.
Rossana’s leadership of The Refugee Buddy Project is award-winning. In 2019, she received the Woman on the Move Award, presented by Migrants Organise and UNHCR. In 2023, she was named one of Visa’s #Pioneer20, recognising refugee women across Europe creating meaningful change. In 2024 the Hastings Museum and Art Gallery also won the Best Small Museum Project Award for its partnership project with the Refugee Buddy Project, ‘Illuminating Invisible Histories: Flavours Without Borders’.
Meet our team
Meet our team
Rossana Leal
CEO
Rossana Leal
CEO
Rossana Leal
CEO
Mike Delpeach
Head of Operations & Employment
Mike Delpeach
Head of Operations & Employment
Mike Delpeach
Head of Operations & Employment
Georgia Bradshaw
Head of Programs & Administration
Georgia Bradshaw
Head of Programs & Administration
Georgia Bradshaw
Head of Programs & Administration
Shaza Sheld Al Sham
Volunteer Coordinator & Supervisor
Shaza Sheld Al Sham
Volunteer Coordinator & Supervisor
Shaza Sheld Al Sham
Volunteer Coordinator & Supervisor
Eva Bor
Volunteer Coordinator & Supervisor
Eva Bor
Volunteer Coordinator & Supervisor
Eva Bor
Volunteer Coordinator & Supervisor
Olena Navrova
Volunteer Buddy & Project Participant Support Worker
Olena Navrova
Volunteer Buddy & Project Participant Support Worker
Olena Navrova
Volunteer Buddy & Project Participant Support Worker
Frances Crowley
Volunteer Buddy & Project Participant Support Worker
Frances Crowley
Volunteer Buddy & Project Participant Support Worker
Frances Crowley
Volunteer Buddy & Project Participant Support Worker
Hiba Dahma
Case Worker
Hiba Dahma
Case Worker
Hiba Dahma
Case Worker
Campaigns
Campaigns
“Imagine what it would be like to have someone local who is a friendly face in a sea of strangers and who is prepared to give up a small amount of time to help you practise basic conversation and to navigate those challenges that seem simple when you know how the systems work.”
“Being a Buddy is an absolute honour, knowing that you can help those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and gradually watch them, and their child develop in confidence and independence is an experience that cannot be underestimated.”
"Imagine finding yourself friendless, just you and your child in a strange city in a strange country where you don't speak the language and where you have no idea how to communicate with your child's teacher or your landlord or even where to buy the basics you need to survive.”
“Imagine what it would be like to have someone local who is a friendly face in a sea of strangers and who is prepared to give up a small amount of time to help you practise basic conversation and to navigate those challenges that seem simple when you know how the systems work.”
“Being a Buddy is an absolute honour, knowing that you can help those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and gradually watch them, and their child develop in confidence and independence is an experience that cannot be underestimated.”
"Imagine finding yourself friendless, just you and your child in a strange city in a strange country where you don't speak the language and where you have no idea how to communicate with your child's teacher or your landlord or even where to buy the basics you need to survive.”
“Imagine what it would be like to have someone local who is a friendly face in a sea of strangers and who is prepared to give up a small amount of time to help you practise basic conversation and to navigate those challenges that seem simple when you know how the systems work.”
“Being a Buddy is an absolute honour, knowing that you can help those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and gradually watch them, and their child develop in confidence and independence is an experience that cannot be underestimated.”
"Imagine finding yourself friendless, just you and your child in a strange city in a strange country where you don't speak the language and where you have no idea how to communicate with your child's teacher or your landlord or even where to buy the basics you need to survive.”
“Imagine what it would be like to have someone local who is a friendly face in a sea of strangers and who is prepared to give up a small amount of time to help you practise basic conversation and to navigate those challenges that seem simple when you know how the systems work.”
“Being a Buddy is an absolute honour, knowing that you can help those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and gradually watch them, and their child develop in confidence and independence is an experience that cannot be underestimated.”
"Imagine finding yourself friendless, just you and your child in a strange city in a strange country where you don't speak the language and where you have no idea how to communicate with your child's teacher or your landlord or even where to buy the basics you need to survive.”
“Imagine what it would be like to have someone local who is a friendly face in a sea of strangers and who is prepared to give up a small amount of time to help you practise basic conversation and to navigate those challenges that seem simple when you know how the systems work.”
“Being a Buddy is an absolute honour, knowing that you can help those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and gradually watch them, and their child develop in confidence and independence is an experience that cannot be underestimated.”
"Imagine finding yourself friendless, just you and your child in a strange city in a strange country where you don't speak the language and where you have no idea how to communicate with your child's teacher or your landlord or even where to buy the basics you need to survive.”
“Imagine what it would be like to have someone local who is a friendly face in a sea of strangers and who is prepared to give up a small amount of time to help you practise basic conversation and to navigate those challenges that seem simple when you know how the systems work.”
“Being a Buddy is an absolute honour, knowing that you can help those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and gradually watch them, and their child develop in confidence and independence is an experience that cannot be underestimated.”
"Imagine finding yourself friendless, just you and your child in a strange city in a strange country where you don't speak the language and where you have no idea how to communicate with your child's teacher or your landlord or even where to buy the basics you need to survive.”
“Imagine what it would be like to have someone local who is a friendly face in a sea of strangers and who is prepared to give up a small amount of time to help you practise basic conversation and to navigate those challenges that seem simple when you know how the systems work.”
“Being a Buddy is an absolute honour, knowing that you can help those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and gradually watch them, and their child develop in confidence and independence is an experience that cannot be underestimated.”
"Imagine finding yourself friendless, just you and your child in a strange city in a strange country where you don't speak the language and where you have no idea how to communicate with your child's teacher or your landlord or even where to buy the basics you need to survive.”
“Imagine what it would be like to have someone local who is a friendly face in a sea of strangers and who is prepared to give up a small amount of time to help you practise basic conversation and to navigate those challenges that seem simple when you know how the systems work.”
“Being a Buddy is an absolute honour, knowing that you can help those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and gradually watch them, and their child develop in confidence and independence is an experience that cannot be underestimated.”
"Imagine finding yourself friendless, just you and your child in a strange city in a strange country where you don't speak the language and where you have no idea how to communicate with your child's teacher or your landlord or even where to buy the basics you need to survive.”
“Imagine what it would be like to have someone local who is a friendly face in a sea of strangers and who is prepared to give up a small amount of time to help you practise basic conversation and to navigate those challenges that seem simple when you know how the systems work.”
“Being a Buddy is an absolute honour, knowing that you can help those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and gradually watch them, and their child develop in confidence and independence is an experience that cannot be underestimated.”
"Imagine finding yourself friendless, just you and your child in a strange city in a strange country where you don't speak the language and where you have no idea how to communicate with your child's teacher or your landlord or even where to buy the basics you need to survive.”
“Imagine what it would be like to have someone local who is a friendly face in a sea of strangers and who is prepared to give up a small amount of time to help you practise basic conversation and to navigate those challenges that seem simple when you know how the systems work.”
“Being a Buddy is an absolute honour, knowing that you can help those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and gradually watch them, and their child develop in confidence and independence is an experience that cannot be underestimated.”
"Imagine finding yourself friendless, just you and your child in a strange city in a strange country where you don't speak the language and where you have no idea how to communicate with your child's teacher or your landlord or even where to buy the basics you need to survive.”
“Imagine what it would be like to have someone local who is a friendly face in a sea of strangers and who is prepared to give up a small amount of time to help you practise basic conversation and to navigate those challenges that seem simple when you know how the systems work.”
“Being a Buddy is an absolute honour, knowing that you can help those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and gradually watch them, and their child develop in confidence and independence is an experience that cannot be underestimated.”
"Imagine finding yourself friendless, just you and your child in a strange city in a strange country where you don't speak the language and where you have no idea how to communicate with your child's teacher or your landlord or even where to buy the basics you need to survive.”
“Imagine what it would be like to have someone local who is a friendly face in a sea of strangers and who is prepared to give up a small amount of time to help you practise basic conversation and to navigate those challenges that seem simple when you know how the systems work.”
“Being a Buddy is an absolute honour, knowing that you can help those who have experienced unimaginable trauma and gradually watch them, and their child develop in confidence and independence is an experience that cannot be underestimated.”
"Imagine finding yourself friendless, just you and your child in a strange city in a strange country where you don't speak the language and where you have no idea how to communicate with your child's teacher or your landlord or even where to buy the basics you need to survive.”
Referrals and volunteering
If you would like to make a referral for a person or to volunteer with the Refugee Buddy Project, do get in touch with us. Please give us as much detail as possible. We are a small team but will endevour to get back to you within 5 working days.