THANK YOU for helping us raise money to help 250 women and children in crisis in our local community

ON JUNE 21ST 2016, OURMALA HELD OUR FIRST EVER YOGA FOR REFUGEES fundraiser in London at Lindley Hall, of The Royal Horticultural Halls. Over 300 people attended. It was a celebration of humanity as well as Refugee Week, International Yoga Day and Midsummer’s Eve.

Internationally acclaimed yoga teacher Emma Henry (with several assistants including BOYS OF YOGA) taught the yoga class in the Jivamukti style to a stunning soundscape created especially for OURMALA by Amir Amor of Rudimental.

Emma was joined by critically acclaimed musicians including NME Awards nominee Anne Malone, Bhakti musician Jahnavi Harrison and Jazz maestro Ben Hazleton.

Speeches were made by OURMALA’s founder Emily Brett, Nicole – one of the refugees who uses OURMALA’s services, OURMALA’s co-ordinator Danielle Keene – and special guest Jaz O’Hara of the Worldwide Tribe.

All proceeds from OURMALA’s YOGA FOR REFUGEES will be spent directly on supporting women and children in crisis. OURMALA helps refugees and asylum-seekers rebuild their lives in our own backyard of England. Most have fled for their lives and are recovering from atrocities, such as torture, sexual violence in conflict and human trafficking, all registered with the UK Home Office.

#YogaForRefugees, #RefugeesWelcome, #RefugeeWeek

Get in touch if you’d like to be part of YFR 2017! We are looking for volunteers, sponsors, a venue…

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YOGA FOR REFUGEES FAQs

1. ABOUT THE EVENT

What is YOGA FOR REFUGEES?

YOGA FOR REFUGEES is a fabulous evening, starting with a 1.5 – 2 hour Jivamukti yoga class taught by Emma Henry. The class will be set to a soundscape created especially for OURMALA by Amir Amor of Rudimental. After yoga there will be goody bags, a few short talks and a Q&A with special guests and a raffle with amazing prizes to be won!

Where is the event? How can I get there?

YOGA FOR REFUGEES will be held at the gorgeous Lindley Hall in South West London. The address is 2 Elverton St, Westminster, London SW1P 2QS.  

It is easily accessible by tube being close to Victoria, St. James’ Park, Pimlico, and Westminster stations. There are two Santander Cycle Hire docking stations close by for cyclists.

Parking options are also available. Please visit the Royal Horticultural Halls website for complete details on transport, parking and accommodation: http://www.rhhonline.co.uk/Visiting/How-to-find-us

What is the style of the yoga class?

Emma’s Jivamukti class is a strong Vinyasa practice connecting yoga asanas through fluid transitions, driven by the breath. The YOGA FOR REFUGEES class will be taught around a theme of kindness and compassion and will be suitable for all levels, including those new to yoga. There will be several assistants supporting Emma on the night.

I have an injury, can I still attend?

Yes, feel free to attend and not practice yoga. You can relax on the mat and enjoy the music.

I have never done yoga before, but still want to attend. Is that ok? 

Yes, this event is suitable for those who are new to yoga. It is suitable for yoga practitioners of all-levels.

Is there an age limit to attend?

Our YOGA FOR REFUGEES yoga class is suitable for those over 16 years old. If you are between 16-18 years of age and would like to attend, you need to be accompanied by someone over 18.

Are there refreshments at the event?

After the yoga class, goody bags will be handed out to all attendees including refreshments and snacks. Feel free to bring your own water to drink during the class and/or small snacks as well.

Is there somewhere to check my bag and coat at the event?

Yes, there is a free cloakroom. All bags and coats must be checked in as they will not be allowed in the hall.

What can/can’t I bring to the event?

Only screw top sealed drinks, small snacks and a small camera are allowed into the hall. If you are using a phone as a camera, this must be put onto flight mode.

Do I need to bring a yoga mat to the event?

No! Mats will be provided for you from our kind supporter, lululemon athletica. 

How late will the event run?

This event will open doors at 5.30pm for a 6.30pm start. The event will end for 9.30pm.

2. ABOUT OURMALA

Why should I support OURMALA? Where can I learn more about this cause?

OURMALA is a small UK registered charity, which exists to help refugees and asylum-seekers rebuild and move on with their lives in London. Most we work with are recovering from atrocities, such as torture, sexual violence in conflict and human trafficking, and are registered with the UK Home Office. The women, men, young people and little ones we serve come from all over the world, from Syria to Ivory Coast, from Iran to Eritrea. Having fled for their lives, they often find themselves desperately isolated and afraid in London, living in complete poverty with very little support and many barriers to overcome, such as language and understanding the health, legal and travel systems. OURMALA provides a safe space to breathe and dignity for these brave and often brilliant people. We offer Therapeutic Yoga classes, hot lunches, English lessons and a welcoming community. We also connect them with critical services and help them fulfil their potential. All our services are free at point of contact and we refund the cost of travel, without which most could not afford to join in. Our service users are referred to us by over 25 organisations, including The British Red Cross and Freedom from Torture. You can learn more about OURMALA at: www.ourmala.com

How will the money raised from this event be used?

The funds we raise through YOGA FOR REFUGEES will enable OURMALA to help some of the most desperately vulnerable and traumatised refugees and asylum-seekers in London on a sustainable basis. We have a waiting list for our services and our goal for this event is to raise £20,000+ to set-up two new services to support around 250 refugees and asylum-seekers, and help them rebuild and move on with their lives. One will be for mums, babies and little ones, including pregnant women, and the other for young people (boys and girls) aged between 11 and 22. The new services will include Therapeutic Yoga, English sessions, food, connection to critical services, help fulfilling their potential in the most challenging circumstances and more. We will provide them in partnership with some of our service delivery partners, including Helen Bamber and Birth Companions. Helen Bamber specialises in helping survivors of cruelty such as human trafficking and torture. Birth Companions provides support before, during and after birth to vulnerable pregnant women and new mothers who are, have been or who are at risk of being detained, most of whom would otherwise be alone. Thank you again for your support. OURMALA’s work really is a team effort and every penny helps make positive change in the lives of some of those suffering most in our community.

3. ABOUT REGISTRATION AND TICKETS

What does my ticket include?

Event entry, yoga, live music, a FREE raffle ticket, a goody bag (with lots of exciting surprises) and the brilliant feeling of supporting OURMALA’s work.

Is my registration/ticket transferrable?

No, your ticket is valid only for this YOGA FOR REFUGEES event on the 21st June, 2016.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No but we need your unique ‘QR code’ for the OURMALA team to check you in.  This can be in the form of a printed ticket or on your phone.

The name on the registration/ticket doesn’t match the attendee. Is that okay?

We will allocate one entry per ticket / QR code. If you give your ticket / QR code to a friend, that is fine.

What is the refund policy?

As this is a charity fundraiser we will not be offering refunds on this occasion. Please email hello@ourmala.com with any questions or queries.

Can I update my registration information?

Yes, you can do this via the Eventbrite website.

4. ABOUT THE RAFFLE

How do I buy raffle tickets?

When you register for event tickets, you can select raffle tickets as additional order items.

Can I buy raffle tickets during/at the event?

No, you’ll need to buy them ahead of time when you register for your event ticket 🙂

Where do I collect my raffle tickets?

There will be a signposted area on the night where you will be able to pick up your raffle tickets. Please arrive early to collect your tickets.

How much are raffle tickets? 

The raffle tickets are £5 each.

What are the raffle prizes?

Tune into our social channels where we’ll be posting about our amazing raffle prizes 🙂
Facebook.com/OurmalaUK
Instagram, @Ourmala
Twitter, @Ourmala
YouTube

As a sneak peak for you right now, prizes include a FREE holiday, yoga classes, clothing, vouchers and more!

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?

You can contact us at: hello@ourmala.com

Please keep in mind we are a small and almost all voluntary team. We will get back to you as soon as we can. Rest assured your emails are important to us.

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