The Access Foundation has awarded £48,500 to the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) to launch its year-long Digital Empowerment Programme in Feltham, West London. The initiative will provide digital skills training, coding workshops, one-to-one mentoring and employability support for 160 participants, primarily refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, with a special focus on women and girls. 

The Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) was founded in 2001 by Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi, who fled Afghanistan with his young family and arrived in the UK as a refugee. From those beginnings, it has grown into the UK's largest Afghan diaspora-led charity, with centres in London, Birmingham, Harrow and Liverpool. Over the past 25 years, ACAA has supported more than 150,000 refugees and migrants, helping them to integrate into society and build new lives. 

The charity's vision is to empower refugees, migrants and asylum seekers through education, employment support, legal advice, women's projects, mental health services and cultural programmes. Its work is nationally recognised, and its founder has received multiple honours including the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and an MBE. 

The programme includes:

• Expanding IT facilities with 10 new laptops, enabling participants to access online services and learning. 

• Digital skills and employability workshops, from online safety and CV building to navigating job applications. 

• Monthly coding clubs for young people and women, opening pathways into technology and creative digital projects. 

• One-to-one mentoring and career support, offering guidance from tech professionals and access to internships. 

• Parental engagement workshops to help families support their children's digital learning at home. 

For many, the programme will be life-changing. Digital exclusion is one of the biggest barriers facing newly arrived families, making it harder to access education, employment and even essential services. By providing the right tools, training and mentoring, ACAA will give people the confidence and skills to thrive in today's digital world. 

As one participant explained, "When I first arrived, I struggled to do even simple things online. Having access to training and the right equipment means I can finally apply for jobs, support my children's learning, and feel more confident about my future."