KRAN

The Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) is an independent charity set up in 2003 to support young refugees and asylum seekers (YRAS) to live fulfilled, independent, and successful lives in our communities. We seek for YRAS to be safe, belong and build hope for a better future. We offer comprehensive support including safe, positive space; critical life skills training; literacy and numeracy; case work support services to help YRAS secure public services; mentor relations with members of the Kent Community, and a Youth Forum for representation and action. We recognize YRAS potential and support them to progress towards their ambitions, prioritize their voice, and foster better cohesion between them and Kent communities. 

The KRAN Youth Forum convenes young refugees to tackle issues that affect them. Through the outreach of Youth Ambassadors, we develop youth-based action to cope with mental stress, find safe housing, build community relationships and access education and work. Together, we have engaged parliamentarians, police, health services, counsellors, Kent colleges and community organisations. Rallying around the call “nothing about us without us, we make sure that unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) voices are heard and acted on. 

Work supported by Act for Change Fund

This grant funds the employment of three young people with refugee status as Youth Ambassadors to engage other young people impacted by the asylum system in developing the organisation and services to influence issues affecting their lives.

KRAN’s Youth Ambassadors support the organisation to listen to a wider range of young people’s voices, by gathering others’ views and opinions directly, and by informing them what the youth forum is and how they can get involved. As the ambassadors have been through the process of arriving in the UK, and they speak a number of different languages, they are a valuable point of contact for other young people who are accessing KRAN’s services. The youth ambassadors also follow up on the actions that had been agreed at the Action Learning Sets to help make sure the discussions translated into practical solutions.