My journey at Upbeat started when I arrived in the UK. I came as a participant, then volunteered, was then employed part-time. Now I am a full-time member of staff.

I was initially introduced to Upbeat by a friend from college, and I’ll never forget my first day. Everyone was so welcoming and someone explained how their English classes worked. Back then, my English was limited – I knew some words, but talking to anyone was tough!

Day by day, I started attending the English classes at Upbeat Communities, and I felt comfortable and supported. Einir (Upbeat Staff) told me about a massage course that was happening at Upbeat Women. I went, and I met a lot of amazing ladies from different countries. I finished my first lesson feeling over the moon! Even my husband noticed how happy I was. When I first arrived in the UK, I felt like a stranger and missed my family back home in Syria, but being part of Upbeat Communities really changed that for me.

Elliot (Upbeat Staff) invited 15 participants to go strawberry picking. I was part of the group, and we had such a fun time! We spent a lot of time outdoors, enjoying each other's company and snapping tons of pictures. After four months of attending English class, I felt inspired to give back by volunteering at the same place that helped me stand on my own two feet again. So, I asked if I could help, and was told how to apply. I was excited to start this wonderful new volunteer journey with Upbeat Communities.

I’m excited to share about my journey as a volunteer! I had the wonderful opportunity to welcome refugees and asylum seekers and assist them with the registration process. I also helped out in English classes, translating into Arabic for those who spoke it. It was a bit of a challenge because of the different accents, but I did my best to communicate in clear Arabic so everyone could understand.

During this time, I participated in training with Upbeat, which focused on the importance of volunteering. I gained new skills and understanding, especially in welcoming and empowering participants. It was heartwarming to visit a new family when they arrived and present them with a Welcome Box. It felt great to be part of their journey!

Eight months later, I was excited to apply for the Refugee Integration Worker position at Upbeat Communities! I remember my interview; it was a more than a bit stressful and nerve-wracking since it was my first one in the UK and in English. But I’ll never forget when Einir called me to say congratulations! I was over the moon! I immediately phoned my husband and my family back home to share the great news—they all know about Upbeat and were so proud of me!

I started my journey at Upbeat, taking it step-by-step in my new role. I can’t forget to mention Elliot, my manager, who has been incredibly supportive. He took the time to explain everything to me, making sure I fully understood my responsibilities.

In my role, I got to welcome people from different countries and cultures and support them as they settle in to life in Derby. I did assessments with everyone who came through the doors. It has been a bit of a challenge for me to navigate the different cultures and languages, listen to their stories try to help them but the team has been amazing! They really understand me, and I never feel out of place. With the support from everyone at Upbeat Communities, I’ve learned so much and improved my English language skills.

I had an amazing time doing an aerobic session with an incredible group of Upbeat Women! Their energy was infectious, and I absolutely loved hearing their enthusiastic feedback—they all had a fantastic time! It was such a rewarding experience to connect with them and share in the fun, reminding me of the wonderful moments I had as a volunteer in Syria. Engaging in activities like this is truly fulfilling, and I can’t wait for the next session!

Working with refugee youth has been a bit of a challenge for me since I didn't have any prior experience. At first, I wasn’t quite sure what to do or how to connect with them. We held our group sessions once a week, and in the beginning, I felt a bit lost. I started by welcoming them with some tea, coffee, and biscuits to create a friendly atmosphere and tried to engage with them little by little. Then I met two sisters and their relatives, and we began chatting and playing games, which really helped break the ice!

Another group I worked with was a bit more challenging. However, over time, they began to show more awareness of others, and it became an interesting experience working with them. One of the highlights was when we went out to the cinema to watch a film together—everyone had a wonderful time! We also played some fun games where we competed to see who could win, which brought lots of laughs and good cheer. Overall, it’s been a rewarding journey getting to know these amazing young people!

Once a year, we have our Team Retreat, which is a wonderful time for us to plan for the upcoming year and connect with each other since we don't often get to see one another in the office. It’s especially great for those of us from Upbeat who live in Lincolnshire and from one of our social enterprises Upbeat Clean.

I remember the first year I attended—I felt a bit nervous and unsure of what to expect. But it turned out to be such a lovely experience! The atmosphere is so peaceful and quiet, and everyone had their own room. We also had fun group activities, like cooking and tidying up together. It was a great chance to bond and enjoy some delicious dishes from different countries. In the evenings, we played games just for fun, watched videos together, or if you prefer some alone time, that’s totally okay too. It really is a nice opportunity to relax and strengthen our connections!

During this incredible journey, I took on the challenge of sitting the IELTS exam, and with lots of Upbeat’s encouragement and support, I prepared myself. When the results came in, I was absolutely blown away to find out I scored a 5! I felt like I was over the moon! I shared the news with my family back home, and their pride in me made the moment even more special. What an exhilarating time this has been.

As I write this, I am preparing to go on maternity leave as my family grows! Now comes a challenging moment in my life as I prepare to say farewell to my colleagues, volunteers, and participants. It is difficult to articulate the depth of my emotions during this transition, as every experience I've had here has been profoundly impactful.

I truly consider myself fortunate to have found a second family at Upbeat, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet and connect with each of you.

—Rama Hasan, Refugee Integration Worker