With the COVID-19 pandemic, we started a family wellbeing initiative and skills development programme for 100 vulnerable migrant Roma families in Bradford. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Roma parents were working in unskilled, zero hour or temporary roles but they have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic and now face rent arrears and are often at the risk of eviction. This is compounded by food shortages, however many Roma do not access local food parcels for cultural reasons. At the same time, children at home face multiple disadvantages, including overcrowded and cold houses, or the resources to access online learning and cannot benefit from school meals.

The KaskoSan COVID-19 initiative in Bradford is addressing these issues in a complementary way, provides wellbeing and pastoral support during the pandemic and creates a firmer foundation for the future through an established link with the local primary school. This builds on the intensive engagement process Kaskosan has undertaken between vulnerable Roma parents and the school since July 2019.

The first aspect delivered food hygiene license training for 10 community members through a combination of online learning and practical sessions. Attendees who successfully completed the training are qualified to prepare and distribute food.

The second aim is to create and sustain the home learning environment. Through visits by development workers, KaskoSan provides 1-1 digital literacy training to Roma families and undertakes regular online sessions in-between. We create key learning messages in video formats including artistic projects.

Thanks to the Coronavirus Community Support Fund distributed by The National Lottery and the U.K. government as well as to the Race Equality Network, KaskoSan Roma Charitable Company started giving support to Roma families in Bradford soon after the start of the pandemic. Through the support we provide face to face and digital support to Roma families in Bradford. We can be contacted on WhatsApp, Facebook and over the phone too.

Funding helped us cover worker time, multi-lingual training materials, certification fees, and admin expenses. We also created videos to promote project results. These videos are part of a conscious community building strategy, online and offline. Bowling Park Primary School, our partner in Bradford provides space, printing and utilities in kind.

KaskoSan Roma Charitable Company has been working closely with Bowling Park Primary School in Bradford since July 2019. Through the school we managed to build a close link with the Roma community in the BD5 and BD4 postcode areas. Our reach has been growing word of mouth primarily and we now see Roma residents from all over Bradford and from surrounding areas as well. In Bradford alone more than 100 Roma families engaged with our service which we made available 24/7 since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. We carry on receiving queries from Roma residents in Bolton and Greater Manchester as well where KaskoSan has been helping families since 2014.

We also collaborate with the Romanian Roma church in BD3 postcode area run by Mr Ion Ciucur who is referring Romanian Roma residents to us. Another Romanian Roma church called ‘April Ruguns’ has been a close partner of KaskoSan in delivering work in Oldham.