Community
Community: Cohesion
Getting involved in your local community is a great way to make new friends, follow your interests and improve your spoken English or Welsh. Dewis Cymru is a very useful website that will tell you about support, activities and services in your local area.
Becoming a volunteer is also a really good way to contribute to your local community, provide a pathway to employment and get to know people. Further information and volunteering opportunities can be found on Volunteering Wales.
Church is a significant part of a local community, you can find a church near to where you live. Community notice boards are also a good place to look for clubs and societies active in your neighbourhood.
Community: Transport and Travel
Public transport
Public transport is better connected in the larger cities and towns of Wales, but can be infrequent or even absent in some rural areas. Transport for Wales (TfW) provides information of public transport in Wales, including how to plan your journey and details of buses and trains.
If your primary address is in Wales and you’re either aged 60 and over or meet the Government’s disability eligibility criteria regardless your immigration status, you can travel for free on most bus services in Wales and get discounted or free travel on many rail services. You can find out more on Concessionary Travel Card.
Driving
You will need a valid driving licence to drive in the UK. For details, please visit Driving licences - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
It may be possible for you to exchange your Hong Kong driving licence for a UK driving licence. Hong Kong is a designated territory with a driving licence exchange agreement with the UK. This means that you may be able to continue to drive in the UK without exchanging your licence for 12 months after becoming resident. After 12 months you must exchange your licence to keep driving. For details, please visit Exchange a foreign driving licence - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Sustainable travel
Walking and cycling are a good way to explore the great natural resources of Wales. For details of cycling, please visit National Cycle Network.
Safety: Community Safety
In an emergency phone 999 and ask for the Police / the Fire Service / the Coastguard / an ambulance. In a non-emergency, phone 101.
You can find out more about support and advice on UK Government Get support as a victim of crime.
Safety: Hate Crime
Hate crime is a crime that has been committed against someone because of their:
- Race
- Religion
- Sexual orientation
- Disability
- Transgender identity
These are called protected characteristics. You can experience Hate Crime based on one or more of the above, or if you have been perceived to have one or more of these protected characteristics.
You can report a Hate Crime to the Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. You will have the support of a specially trained Hate Crime Support Officer.
The National Hate Crime Report and Support Centre for Wales is run by Victim Support and offers free, independent and confidential support that can help you cope and recover from the impact of Hate Crime. Telephone 0300 30 31 982.
On Your Side is a UK-wide support and reporting service for anyone in the UK who identifies as East and Southeast Asian who has experienced racism or any forms of hate. It provides Cantonese translation.
Safety: Discrimination
Types of discrimination ('protected characteristics')
It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of:
- age
- gender reassignment
- being married or in a civil partnership
- being pregnant or on maternity leave
- disability
- race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
- religion or belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
To know more, please visit Discrimination: your rights.Help and support can be found on Sanctuary | Staying Safe (gov.wales).
Safety: Live Fear Free
Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence and Modern Slavery are not acceptable. Anyone experiencing such a situation is not to blame and is not alone.
Help and support of Domestic Abuse can be found on Domestic abuse | GOV.WALES or telephone 0808 80 10 800.
Help and support of Sexual Violence can be found on Sexual violence | GOV.WALES or telephone 0808 80 10 800.
Help and support of Modern Slavery can be found on Slavery | GOV.WALES or telephone 0800 01 21 700.
More information of help and support for various situation can be found on Live Fear Free helpline | GOV.WALES.
Safety: Ending Physical Punishment of Children
Starting from 21st March 2022, physically punishing children will be illegal in Wales. For details, please visit Ending physical punishment of children | GOV.WALES.