Our Ethos
We offer relaxed time, professional expertise, a listening ear. We help you to speak and others to hear.
We aim to:
provide a good service for a few rather than a poor service for many
help our members to move on with their lives
learn with and from our members
help those who want to help themselves
refer those we can’t help to other organisations, rather than simply turn them away
fill gaps in available provision for refugees and asylum seekers
offer 'relaxed time' to all our members
engage with our members as human beings, rather than clients in a system
show respect to every member equally
inspire hope in the possibility of a flourishing life
HOPE
An ancient myth, retold by the Cotton Tree
“Who are you?” demands the official. “Name? Date of birth? Country of origin?” At the end of the interview, you might receive a transcript: me, my life, neatly summarised in boxes.
But why am I browsing this website?
Who am I? you ask. Who am I really? One thing is clear: like me, you are a human being. You are vulnerable to catastrophe. So am I. You can find yourself at the mercy of a storm. So can I. You sometimes inspire hatred as well as love. So do I.
In the ancient myth, a man called Odysseus found himself in a wild ocean storm somewhere between Africa and Europe. The wind howled. The giant waves crashed. Odysseus clung to his little raft, clung to life. He was a civilised man, a decent man, a man who loved and was loved. But he was done in; his heart was soaked through. The ocean had claimed him.
Suddenly, the storm drew breath. A seabird appeared and settled on the raft. “Odysseus,” said the bird.
It was a moment of stillness; a moment of hope. You are Odysseus and so am I.