Community Support Services
Knowing where your local community support services are and what they can offer will be important to your new employee because they could help them integrate and cope with the stress associated with their move. No one can know what issues and challenges a person brings with them into another country and this section is designed to help you navigate services with your employee where this may be relevant.
issues such as homelessness, anxiety or sleep disorders may arise for anyone separated from family and friends or integrating into a new community due to a number of factors including cultural differences and language barriers. Many other challenges that arise include experiences of racism and discrimination, financial worries, and access to services to name a few.
Mental health services (specifically) are covered on the Healthcare page. However, when someone moves from another country, they will want to connect with a range of community support services to help them settle in and adjust to their new surroundings. These services can provide information, advice, practical help and support on numerous topics and situations. Building connections and getting the right support will help your recruit to settle in and hopefully reduce their anxiety.
Your new recruit, like any other person, will want to get connected to their local community and understand where and from whom they can get a service, support network, and even understand the basics like where their local shops are.
People often want to manage their own wellbeing and not have to rely on statutory organisations. You may want to help your employee learn about what is going on and where they can find services in their area by pairing them with a mentor or buddy in the organisation. If you do, they will also find the following directories, links, and services useful and informative.
Community Resources
Gov.uk
The Government provides a web page directing you to local community resources all over the country.
The following link (s) will help you, as the sponsoring organisation, to help get someone the right support service from their community.
Safe4Me
Safe4Me offers a directory of both national and local specialist advice, support and resources for children, young people, families (and professionals) on a range of needs, concerns, and topics.
Topics include Sexual Health, LGBT Support, Victims of Crime, Domestic Abuse, Abuse and Rape Counselling and much more and covers Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth, and the Isle of Wight.
Hampshire
Connect To Support
Connect To Support Hampshire is an online resource which provides details of groups activities and services across the county.
Most local areas have their own Facebook Groups which are too many to list here but are easily searchable online or through Facebook.
Isle of Wight
Local Life
Local Life is a site providing links to community resources.
Isle of Wight Clubs, Groups & Organisations | Find a Club, Group or Organisation on the Isle of Wight (locallife.co.uk)
Isle Find It
Isle of Wight Citizens Advice has a site called Isle Find It. Isle Find It” is a Directory of services, community groups and businesses on the Isle of Wight.
Isle of Wight Community Facebook Page
Your new recruit might also like to join the Isle of Wight Facebook Group
Southampton
So:Linked
So:Linked helps people connect to services, find activities, get involved in your community.
Southampton Community Facebook Page
Your new recruit could also join the Southampton Facebook Group
Portsmouth
The HIVE Portsmouth Directory
The HIVE Portsmouth Directory provides the contact details for hundreds of groups and organisations across Portsmouth.
Portsmouth Facebook Page
Your new recruit could also join the Portsmouth Facebook Group
Libraries
Libraries are hubs for the local community and many hold events and meetings. There are many reasons your employee might find joining their local library useful as they:
Connect people to information and connect people to people.
- Provide safe havens for kids, providing after-school homework help, games, and book clubs.
- Offer computer classes, allowing older adults to stay engaged in a digital world.
- Provide public spaces where everyone is welcome, and everyone belongs.
- Provide availability of information materials.
- Provide free internet connectivity.
- Have well-trained human resources.
- Are a great place to socialise and network.
Here are the links to libraries for your area:
Hampshire
Hampshire Libraries | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)
Portsmouth
Libraries – Portsmouth City Council
Isle of Wight
Southampton
Community Centres
Community Centres are important hubs across communities that give people opportunities to socialise, learn and access key services. Apart from offering family and friends the chance to really connect with one another and join in with activities together, they also bring people together to work on community projects. If this may be something your employee is interested in getting to know more about then here is a link where you can find your local community centres
Hampshire
www.connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk
Isle of Wight
Portsmouth
Southampton
International Food shops online
Many national supermarkets have international product lines which can also be accessed online:
However fuller product lines may only be available in some local food shops. A buddy or a mentor to take your new recruit shopping for the first time will provide reassurance for them. Not all areas have access to international shops and below are some links that your recruit and their buddy might find useful.
Local Co-ops provide some international foodstuff as does Tesco and there will undoubtedly be a number of these stores local to where the employee is living. There are many international food shops across all areas that are too many to list. For your nearest one your employee could check out both the internet and follow some current links here to some of the local shops.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth International Food Centre
Mediterranean Super Market
111-113 Elm Grove, Southsea, PO5 1LH
Southampton
International Food and Halal Meat Centre
164-168 Portswood Rd, Portswood, Southampton SO17 2NJ
Yau Bros
China Town
1 Marlborough Rd, Shirley, Southampton SO15 3ND
Song Oriental Chinese Supermarket
136 Highfield Lane, Southampton SO17 1NR
Hampshire
Namaste Express Aldershot
120 Victoria Road, Aldershot, United Kingdom
Asia Oriental Farnborough
90 Queensmead, Farnborough GU14 7SE
Thai Spice
127 West St, Fareham PO16 0DU
Oriental Shop, Bordon
29 Woolmer Way, GU35 9QE Bordon
Rita’s African Caribbean Food Market
1 Waterloo Ct, Andover SP10 1QJ
Anglo Asian Food
36 Station Rd, New Milton BH25 6JX
