Outreach Southwest CIC is a community interest company set up in 2024 to coordinate the activities of the Exeter International cafe. We work alongside Refugee Support Devon and Devon County Council to run cafe events, both in Exeter and a local hotel in Cranbrook housing 250 people seeking asylum. The overall aim of the CIC is giving a warm welcome to refugees, British Nationals from Overseas (BNO’s), people seeking asylum and other internationals new to Exeter, and overcome some of the challenges that come with starting life in a new country. Through this outreach, we work alongside many people from a minority culture background and provide a warm community welcome. This helps meet a need for internationals to focus on social English, communication, community bridge building and friendship. The events we run are free and open to all. Over the past 12 months, the CIC’s activities have benefited the community in the following ways: We have run 32 international cafe events on Sunday afternoon, where an average of 50 internationals met with around 15 local volunteer helpers to practice English around a variety of themes. We have enjoyed cultural celebrations, learned about some of the history of Exeter, put on a talent show and art workshop, among other events and activities. We have had around 1500 guest visitors over the past year. We have run 50 international cafes at a local hotel housing people seeking asylum, offering the opportunity to practice English over board games, tea, coffee and hot chocolate, and engaged in craft activities with children. We have met with approximately 600 residents this year while they were awaiting the processing of their asylum claims. Local residents in St Thomas have had the opportunity to join in monthly international lunches, cooked by residents from the local hotel housing asylum seekers, to help foster community understanding through interaction and sharing of life over food. In part this has been funded by a local ward grant from Exeter City Council. We have organised 9 lunches so far, including meals from Africa, Asia and Latin America and then our team cooked a traditional Christmas lunch for internationals to enjoy with us. We have worked alongside Refugee Support Devon to crowdfund for Christmas gifts for residents at the hotel, ensuring that every adult and child present in December 2024 had a gift for Christmas. We have run 35 easy English bible study sessions for internationals. In partnership with St Leonard’s Church, we have provided safeguarding training for approximately 50 volunteers, to ensure we operate the cafes in a safe and supportive environment.

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