The Gateway Church in King’s Lynn hosts a weekly international café for refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers, providing them with the opportunity to learn English and life skills, make friends, and share food together. The Gateway iCaf runs every term-time Tuesday, offering a safe and welcoming space for individuals to meet and learn conversational English. Led by a qualified TEFL teacher and local volunteers, the café also focuses on befriending and hospitality.
Andy Moyle from the church mentioned that the Gateway iCaf brings together internationals, particularly Ukrainian refugees and Turkish individuals, creating a safe environment for friendship and language learning. Some of the Ukrainians have also been attending the church services, prompting the church to set up translation equipment for interpreting the services. In addition to the cafe sessions, an Alpha course is offered on Sunday evenings specifically for Ukrainians, further helping them integrate into the community.
The church’s efforts to support refugees and migrants extend beyond the weekly iCaf sessions, with free English lessons being offered on Saturday mornings. These lessons, funded by a local charity, are conducted in a classroom setting by Sarah and Iryna. Students from various nations, including Turkey, Bangladesh, and Ukraine, participate in the lessons every Saturday during term time. The church is also involved in organizing training sessions, such as the Additional Needs and the Church training session that took place at St John’s in King’s Lynn on March 23.
The Additional Needs and the Church training session, which was held in partnership with St John’s in King’s Lynn, aimed to provide essential insights for parents, teachers, church leaders, youth and children’s leaders, and anyone concerned about individuals with special or additional needs. The event was free to attend but required booking. The church’s commitment to supporting refugees, migrants, and individuals with additional needs demonstrates a holistic approach to building community and helping those in need integrate and thrive in their new environment.
