The Asian Resource Centre of Croydon stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matters movement in recognition that even to this date inequalities, racism and injustice still exist both institutionally and societally. This is a deep rooted problem and the BLM movement will hopefully bring change and promote a conscious effort to remove racism at every level from our society.
  ARCC is working in partnership with a number of BME groups on the ground to address issues such as health inequalities and hate crime.

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COVID-19 Community Report & Survey Report ​

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The best chance we have for getting through this deadly virus which discriminates and selects its victims unequally is by understanding how we can protect ourselves better and shape our services to support and protect the most vulnerable in our society. 

ARCC in partnership with BLBG have produced a powerful report making recommendations of what works and what doesn't and what the community feels the governments priority should be.  Click below to read the full reports: -        

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CORONAVIRUS UPDATE ON OUR WORK

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Several months in to the new normal ARCC staff have found innovative ways to continue our services and adapt to emerging needs during this crisis. 

We have been busy calling individuals and organisations on our database and found out the most essential needs and have shaped our services to meet the evolving and changing environment.  We are running three crucial services to meet the identified needs of the community.

We have adapted our communications to focus on coronavirus messages, IAG and video vlogs of the work we are doing to keep our community and members informed and connected with us.  You can watch our videos on our YouTube Channel by clicking HERE.  

We are updating our website on a regular basis with latest information on coronavirus matters including community health information videos in different languages including in Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujurati, Farsi, Creole, Spanish, Chinese, Luganda, Tamil and English. If you speak a language that hasn't been listed and would like to support us with this please call us on 020 8684 3784.  
 

During Covid-19 the Food Club has become a fully fledged Food Bank delivering free food parcels to people over 70 or with underlying health conditions or individuals who are self isolating. The food packs generally contain a wide variety of foods including fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen food and dairy. They also contain South Asian ingredients such as grains, pulses, spices and halal options to cater for the majority of our members.   

We have started delivering essential items such as medication to our members who cannot leave their homes due to underlying health problems or mobility issues. We have also started a telephone befriending service by calling individuals on a weekly basis for a friendly chat and to combat loneliness. 

We established that we had 200 vulnerable people on the ARCC/BLBG databases flagged for befriending calls of which over 100 people asked us for a regular befriending service. 6 staff members and a team of volunteers are making regular contact including befriending calls, texts and emails with residents. Befrienders are working flexibly am/pm 5 days a week.

From our conversations with other VCS groups and the food banks there are many shielded and vulnerable people who are in need of cooked meals being delivered to their homes. We have been approached by some individuals and concerned carers about people who are falling through the net, such as people who have a short life expectancy and specific sub cultural/dietary needs.  

We have started a cooked meals delivery service for a small group of people and are starting to get referrals from social services and self referrals by word of mouth. In one specific instance we are providing cooked meals for 4 elderly people in one supported housing block.

It takes an incredible amount of effort and coordination to deliver services to vulnerable and elderly people.  Watch our journey below on how we have helped an elderly gentlemen from Addiscombe with underlying health conditions, to get essential food items during the COVID-19 lockdown.  You can also follow our work on our social media feeds. 

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All the ARCC staff are working remotely from home and can be contacted via telephone on 020 8684 3784 or via email to if you have any queries.    

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To find out about CVA's (Croydon Voluntary Action's) Coronavirus Support please click HERE.

We will be posting guidance on COVID19 as and when we receive information from the government. If you are worried about your health or others during this crisis please see guidance on the NHS Croydon website by clicking HERE. 

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For additional advice you can visit the government website by clicking HERE.

MEET THE TEAM HEADING OUR COVID-19 RESPONSE

Ima

Mamun

Deba

Cat

Rich

Nayim

About Us

Asian Resource Centre of Croydon was established in 1999 as a charitable organisation with a view of bringing together Asian Communities & Businesses.

Our mission is to support, develop and promote voluntary/community activity that enhances the quality of life in Croydon.

Our vision is of an inclusive vibrant and sustainable voluntary and community sector that enhances local quality of life.

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Our key outcomes are:-

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• More effective, responsive services for local people

• Empowered and active communities

• Increased social inclusion and community cohesion

• An increase in social capital

• A strengthening of civil society

• Increased health and wellbeing of Asian communities

For more information on our projects and activities please explore our website further, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions on how we can better serve the needs of the Asian communities in the Borough of Croydon please feel free to contact us on 020 8684 3784 or if you prefer you can send an email to  

ARCC Board of Directors/Staff

The Board of Directors provides Asian Resource Centre of Croydon with a breadth of experience and expertise. All Directors contribute their time to help set and oversee the strategic direction of the organisation. They work directly with Staff, review and comment on plans and performance, review any major issues bearing on the wellbeing of the organisation, and decide important new directions. It is the Directors responsibility to approve our Budget, Annual Report and Accounts.

• Raghu Shetty - (Chair)

• Bushra Ahmed - (Vice Chair)

• Dilshad (Dilly) Surelia - (Secretary)

• Rumel Jahur - (Treasurer)

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• Somasundaram Kanagasundaram - Director

• Ashtaq Arain - Director

• Jay Patel - Director

• Usha Patel - Director

• Dr Suraj Mani Paudel - Director

• Sophia Moreau - Director

• Ash Balakrishnan - Director

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• Bhupinder Bhardwaj - Co-opted Member 

• Dimple Siddhapura - Co-opted Member 

• Sahadat Hossain - Co-opted Member 

• Siddiqa Chaudhry - Co-opted Member 

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• MFA Zaman - Ambassador 

• Ima Miah (Chief Executive Officer)

• Aisha Bryant-Abdullah (Strategic Partnership Manager)

• Mamun Khan (Programme Manager)

• Debahuti Chakraborty (Finance Manager)

• Saba Khan (Consultant)

• Catrina Lynch (BLBG Project Coordinator)

• Richard Tait (BLBG Hub Officer) 

• Lauren Ashley-Boyall (BLBG Project Support Worker)

• Nayim Chowdhury (Office/IT Administrator) 

• Kay Kakad (Sessional Worker) 

• Rene Swinton (Food Club Co-ordinator) 

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