Charity hopes internet cafe will help area's refugees

A charity which supports refugees and asylum seekers has launched an internet cafe to help them develop their IT skills.

Pendle New Neighbours in East Lancashire has opened the computer hub at the Pendle Business Centre on Commercial Road in Nelson.

The project was paid for using a grant of almost £80,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said the charity did "such valuable work" and the grant would allow them to do "even more".

The charity said the money will fund two part-time supervisors and the purchase of eight computers.

A representative said it was hoped that learning basic computer skills would help asylum seekers and refugees in Pendle improve their self-confidence and life opportunities.

They added that the sessions would provide information about education and jobs and allow people to check travel arrangements, explore local activities and communicate with family and friends.

Pendle New Neighbours, which was established seven years ago when the first Syrian families arrived in the area, has grown rapidly over the past couple of years and registered as a charity in 2023.

The cafe will be open every weekday from 13:00 to 16:00.

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