Janet’s story
Janet and her husband Hin arrived in the UK in August 2021. They came with mixed emotions: from excitement at the possibility of new adventures and regaining their freedom of speech to anxieties around their ability to speak English, education for their children and differences in cultural behaviours.
When she sensed that many Hong Kong migrants were struggling to adjust to the new environment she thought she could use her skills as a psychologist and understanding of the benefits of mindfulness to help fellow arrivals. Together with her husband and her friend, who is also a psychologist, they have set up a Community Interest Company, which aims to improve people’s psychosocial wellbeing, starting with her fellow Hong Kongers.
Having originally found a place to live in Croydon, the family are now based in Sutton where they intend to stay. Janet says she and her family feel welcomed but admit that because of language barriers, feeling less confident to speak in English and differences in cultural practises, she is yet to make lots of local friends beyond neighbours and parents of her children’s classmates.
So Janet is embracing opportunities provided by the “Integrating Sutton’ project, run by local organisation Volunteer Centre Sutton. From welcome cafes, buddying systems and volunteering opportunities, the organisation is bringing Hong Kongers together to help them navigate new experiences like opening a bank account and finding a home. It is also setting up activities to give new arrivals from Hong Kong a chance to meet and make friends with local people from the area.
Janet says: “The Sutton volunteer centre I came across one month ago. I will join activities in the future but I know they are doing a lot of things to integrate people with locals, like the buddying system and the morning cafes. Also they try to invite different local parties like the bank, different organisations to share with us what we can do and how to navigate our life here. I think we are welcomed here.”
Janet came with her husband and two young children to the Jubilee celebration event run by Integrating Sutton, as she views it as a precious opportunity to meet more locals, understand how they view Hong Kong people and get to know each other better. She has also been supported in the initial stages of her business, from offering a supportive ear to the provision of a room and refreshments so she could run a free trial wellbeing class for parents and pre-schoolers.
She says: "My family feel lucky to be here in the UK at the time of the Jubilee, as we are able to meet and celebrate with more local people in our community. Celebrating the Queen together at a local event is a precious opportunity to get to know each other better and a great chance to practise our English, which helps us to make more friends