In January 2024, Catalyst Psychology CIC received grant funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (later the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government) to support improved outcomes for children resettling into Greater Manchester from Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

The project was called Catalyst Connects: Belonging Matters.

The aims of the grant funding were to: address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and young people who have arrived via resettlement pathways, support children and young people to transition into England and their community, while retaining a connection to their culture, provide support to enable children and young people to recover from traumatic experiences and resettlement to a new country. We were asked to deliver a project that would operate across local authority areas to maximise impact and to develop an evidence base on what works in supporting vulnerable young migrants and displaced people.

This project provided:

• training for Ambassadors for Welcome and Belonging. Over 200 school staff have received one or more training session. Of these, 42 have completed 6 sessions of training and submitted a portfolio of work. These 42 staff have achieved certification as Ambassadors;
• a Charter Mark for schools who have made improvements in their provision by developing an action plan to support international new arrivals. 20 schools have participated in the Charter Mark process.

Belonging Matters Project

Although the project funding was only for one year, resources and materials have been made freely available to schools beyond the project:

• The Ambassador training is available as 6 recorded webinar sessions. The training sessions can be accessed via this webpage: Belonging Matters Recorded Training
• A Belonging Matters Toolkit provides advice, information and downloadable resources to support children and young people at every stage of their resettlement journey. The toolkit can be accessed via this webpage: Belonging Matters Toolkit 
• A community directory for parents that lists services, charities and community groups across Greater Manchester to support INA families  with their everyday essentials, education & learning, health, lifestyle & leisure. The directory can be accessed via this webpage: Belonging Matters: Community Directory 
• A guide for schools which outlines the best practice around supporting the wellbeing and mental health of INA pupils through Trauma Informed Practice. The guide can be accessed via this webpage: Belonging Matters: Guidance Around Wellbeing, Mental Health and Trauma Informed Practice