Wicky’s story - making friends with locals and supporting each other
“I came here last September (2021) and my thinking in my heart was I wanted to contribute. We got a very special visa to the UK, I appreciate the Government for having such a special arrangement for us BN (O) holders. So I have a passion to serve the local people and have some contribution here, I am very happy to do it.”
- Wicky
When Wicky and his wife Esther arrived in the UK as ‘pioneers’ for their wider family to start a new life, they knew that being able to speak English and communicate with people would be vital for them to settle in. Wicky says his English is quite strange having learnt it predominantly from hearing people speak ‘on the street’ and watching lots of movies like his favourite, Forest Gump. He introduces the name of the film ‘John Wick’ first to new people he meets, to help them remember his name.
From the outset, Wicky and Esther sought out opportunities to make friends with neighbours and local people. Keen to understand the culture here and to contribute to their new community, the couple volunteered to work at a local café in Colchester Park which is making its space available a few times a week to Colchester Life in the UK [CIC] - one of 43 locally based organisations around the UK receiving funding from the Government to ensure a grassroots community group can meet the needs of local Hong Kongers.
“We appreciate the UK government for giving us a special visa to be here and then investing in projects like this [Colchester Life in the UK CIC]. We want to make friends, share experiences.”
- Wicky
The opportunity to volunteer at the café including cooking traditional Hong Kong food such as pineapple buns, dumplings and chow mein for the customers has enabled both Wicky and Esther to make friends with locals who come into the café. Wicky met Sharon one day when he started playing with her small Shih Tzu dog called Alfie. Their shared love of the animal instantly gave them a common link and despite Sharon’s usual shyness they have become friends and can often be found sharing a laugh at one of the tables.
Sharon, who lives on her own since returning from America over a decade ago normally finds going out and being sociable incredibly difficult. Now living with Alzheimer’s she gets confused sometimes and won’t go out to anywhere she feels uncomfortable. Sharon says coming to the café and chatting to Wicky and the ‘girls’ – other Hong Kongers, is different. She feels comfortable with them, very welcomed and says they are incredibly kind. Whether she is speaking to Wicky about the troubles in Hong Kong, showing each other pictures of their dogs or trying the noodles on sale in the café, having the chance to come and socialise with Wicky and the other Hong Kongers has brought some new joy to Sharon’s life.
“Wicky came and spoke to me outside and liked my dog. Immediately he was kind. He told us early on about what went on back in Hong Kong. I will happily come here on my own and speak to Wicky and the girls, And I just don’t do that. I used to be very sociable, but when I came back from America 11 years ago I didn’t know anyone. I also didn’t have a lot of family left. So for me to meet people, it’s normally hard, but it just worked out.”
- Sharon
For Wicky, he says it is important to do everything from your heart and be prepared to open yourself. Making friends with locals like Sharon has been so important to him and he visited her at her home recently. Wicky feels enormously grateful to the British Government for giving Hong Kongers like him and his wife a special visa as well as the investment into projects which are directly helping him and others. The volunteering has helped him to settle in during his first year in the UK and Wicky hugely values the chance to give back. His new business idea aims to do just that as he works to get a handyman business off the ground, offering services to people in the community, especially the elderly who would benefit from some help.
“Friends here cannot only be from Hong Kong. I am a part of the UK now and the community. You need to live here and make friends with neighbours and local people. If you only just stay and speak with Hong Kong people you cannot know what is the culture of the UK and the community. I think it is very important to make local friends and also to contribute to the community, it is where I live.”
- Wicky
What is the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers and how are local projects being organised?
The Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers has been set up in response to the BN(O) visa scheme. It brings together the ‘welcomers’ and the ‘welcomed’ and helps coordinate efforts across the UK’s nations and regions from civil society, communities, business, education and government to support Hong Kongers to settle in the UK. It also conducts research to inform policy, share best practice and support organisations to make their voices heard. The Welcoming Committee is hosted at independent think tank British Future, which works for a confident and inclusive Britain, welcoming and fair to all.
The Government is providing funding to 43 locally based organisations around the UK such as Coffee and Craft in Reading to ensure a local grassroots community group can meet the needs of the local Hong Kongers in the community where they are based.
About Colchester Life in the UK CIC
Colchester Life in the UK CIC is a small organisation providing help and guidance to people who have come to the UK. For Hong Kongers arriving in the community CIC is facilitating integration and support through a series of outreach events, volunteering opportunities and regular days at a park café where Hong Kongers can cook traditional food, serve milk tea and spend time with local people from Colchester.