The past few months have been a difficult period for the students and staff at West Kirby Grammar school, following the bus crash on the M53 in September, in which Jessica Baker, a pupil who attended the school, unfortunately passed away. This affected everyone in the school community and beyond. Upon hearing the news, Yassmin Hamoudi, a refugee from Syria who currently lives in the Wirral, decided to bake for the people at West Kirby Grammar, to show her love and support. 

Yassmin arrived in the UK in 2018, with her husband Ayham, her daughter Tuhama and her son Laith through the settlement scheme because of the conflict in Syria. Before her arrival in the UK, she moved from Syria in 2011 and lived in Lebanon, working with the UNHCR and Save the Children Organisation. 

 'We arrived here in 2018, and faced various challenges, including the language barrier, as we couldn’t communicate with anyone. Fortunately, we met Kathy and Chris (from Heart4Refugees), who provided invaluable support. I’m truly grateful for their continued assistance.’ 

 Overtime, Yassmin, and her family have adapted to life in England. They have learned English, and her children, whom she is incredibly proud of, have learned to connect with the people at their school and Laith is now studying architecture at the University of Liverpool and Tuhama has begun sixth form college. They have had to adjust to a new culture and keep sight of the traditions of their heritage, and to come to terms with the new landscape around them, as this stormy, little island must seem a world away from the drier, warmer climate of the place they call home. Despite all the challenges they’ve faced, they have shown extraordinary resilience succeeded in creating a new life for themselves here in the UK. 

‘When we heard about the recent accident in our community and the news, we felt deep sorrow for the families affected. I decided to do something to show our support, love, and unity within the community.’ 

 Yassmin decided to bake for the students and staff affected and undoubtedly, this act of kindness has given people strength, and inspired countless others. Her admirable humanity and bravery demonstrates how she is an asset to the community and how in times of hardship, compassion can hold great power, and have significant impacts which you could never have imagined.