South London Resource Centre: A Beacon of Support for Newcomers
Mohamed Al-Adeimi, director of newcomer services at South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre, speaks during the agency's Annual General Meeting on Sept. 21, 2023.
Since its inception, the South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre’s (SLNRC) mission has been to meet the needs of the community.
That’s how, as the number of newcomers settling in London grew, the non-profit decided to apply for funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and began in 2007 offering settlement services to immigrants in the city’s south end.
“The centre since 1987 has been providing different programs and services, supporting residents in general . . . and responding to the needs of the community,” said Mohamed Al-Adeimi, director of newcomer settlement services at SLNRC.
The majority of clients supported by South London are permanent residents of Canada, as well as refugees sponsored privately or by the federal government.
But the centre also offers all types of supports to all immigrants as part of its Library Settlement Partnership program. As part of this initiative, settlement workers offer services and guidance to all immigrants who seek help at the Bostwick or Jalna library branches.
Through these programs, among many others, immigrants receive information and support in areas such as health care, housing and employment among many other needs.
“We cover all the major areas, all these global needs,” Mohamed said. “We put together a settlement plan or set the priorities for the individual and discuss their priorities . . . and share those plans and supports with those individuals from the day they arrive.
“The goal is to engage and empower the newcomer.”
In 2022 alone, SLNRC provided services to more than 4,500 permanent residents and more than 2,100 immigrants.
One of the most unique programs SLNRC is offering is learning sessions for immigrants who have applied to become Canadian citizens, in which agency staff help them prepare for their citizenship test.
Also unique to SLNRC is the fact the agency offers extended hours of service, operating from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
This is done, Mohamed said, to ensure newcomers, many of whom also have jobs, can access their services at a time that is convenient for them.
“It’s a direction that we are really focused on, being client-centred,” he said, adding staff at SLNRC speak close to 20 different languages, which also makes it easy to support immigrants in the community.
For more information about SLNRC’s programs and initiatives, you can visit www.slnrc.org.