A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 7, Episode 2 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #GM #manchester # Refugees #AsylumSeekers #SocialImpact #NonProfit. Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe .(https://www.instagram.com/meetthemancunian/). In the second episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Mona Moussa, Refugee and Asylum Seeker Service Manager, Caritas Diocese of Shrewsbury about supporting refugees and asylum seekers and helping them integrate into the community. Mona shares how the charity fundraises and provides support including shoes for winter, toys for children, and basics to help make temporary accommodation more like home. Caritas also supports the Home Office resettlement programme, Community Sponsorship which supports families through their first couple of years in the UK. The charity also raises awareness through talks at school assemblies, parishes, and community groups. Did you know: In March 2023, a total of 18,176 asylum seekers were supported in the North West?   Key resources: North West Regional Strategic Migration Partnership Community Sponsorship Meet the Mancunian podcast episodes on supporting refugees and asylum seekers   Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (00:01:30) passion for supporting refugees and asylum seekers (00:02:58) difference between refugees and asylum seekers (00:03:44) getting involved with Caritas Diocese of Shrewsbury (00:06:35) the challenges (00:08:15) the impact   Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk