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Support & Tools for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in London

National organisations

Below are a list of charities and groups that support refugees and asylum seekers living in London.

These range from international organisations such as the British Red Cross to grassroots groups such as Welcome West London. From groups that offer yoga classes for refugees, to groups that tackle food poverty, to immigration lawyers.

We  have translated these resources into languages commonly spoken by our participants and in refugee communities. 

Click on the language below to download the translation in your language. 
 

National or London Wide Support Groups

Breaking Barriers 

https://breaking-barriers.co.uk/

Provide employment support for refugees (with status)

 

British Red Cross

redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-help-as-a-refugee

Provide help with the urgent needs of refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants.

 

CIRCLE (Groundwork)

www.groundwork.org.uk/circle

Offer "Culture, language and employment" support (for refugees with status)

Citizens of the World Choir

http://www.citizensoftheworldchoir.org/

The COTW is a choir for people who are refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and friends. They provide a safe space for refugees to express themselves through the healing power of music, as well as creating a diverse, friendly social community. 

citizensoftheworldchoir@gmail.com

 

City of Sanctuary

A network of UK organisations aiming to make the UK a place of welcome for people seeking Sanctuary.

Find your local network group: cityofsanctuary.org/groups/

Code your future

https://codeyourfuture.io/

Free coding school for refugees, asylum seekers and others facing difficulties or barriers to education and employment. Equips students with the skills and confidence to begin careers within the tech sector. Groups based across the UK, in London, Manchester, Glasgow and now the West Midlands.

 

Hope for the young

https://hopefortheyoung.org.uk/

Provide young refugees and asylum-seekers mentoring and financial support to help with their education and wellbeing.

Host Nation

www.hostnation.org.uk/

Online befriending service for refugees and asylum seekers

 

Jesuit Refugee Service UK

www.jrsuk.net/ 
Run a Day Centre for destitute asylum seekers who are not eligible for asylum support, Section 4 support or assistance from social services.

They also arrange visitors for people in Colnbrook and Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centres.  

Call 020 7488 7310 for support.

Migrant Help 

www.migranthelpuk.org/

Offer a wide range of specialist support for migrants.

Free asylum helpline: 0808 8010 503

My Bright Kite CIC

https://www.mybrightkite.org/

Support the inclusion and empowerment of young refugees through tailored youth programmes, refugee awareness talks and training. 

Ourmala 

www.ourmala.com/

Deliver free yoga sessions for refugees and asylum seekers

Praxis

www.praxis.org.uk/

Providing practical, legal and emotional support for migrants at-risk, ensuring that their human needs are met & that they can overcome the barriers they face.

 

Project 17

www.project17.org.uk/

Work to end destitution among migrant children by improving access to local authority support for vulnerable families.

RefuAid

refuaid.org/

Offer language tuition, education, finance and access to meaningful employment.

 

Refugee Action

www.refugee-action.org.uk/

Help refugees get the support they need to live  safe, happy and productive lives in the UK.

Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex & London (RAMFEL).

ramfel.org.uk

Supports vulnerable migrants to access justice and that provides vital support in moments of individual crisis.

 

Refugees at Home

www.refugeesathome.org/

Help to secure accommodation for asylum seekers through hosting.

Refugee Support Network 

www.refugeesupportnetwork.org/

Educational support for 15-25 year olds seeking safety in the UK

The Bike Project

https://thebikeproject.co.uk/

Fix secondhand bikes and donate them to refugees and asylum seekers. Also provide cycling lessons.

The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN).

Support refugees to thrive through their own business ideas

www.ternfund.com/

The Migrant and Refugee Children's Legal Unit

https://miclu.org

Based at Islington Law Centre, MICLU work for the rights of migrant and refugee children and young people.

The Refugee Council

https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/

Provide crisis advice and practical support, helping refugees to integrate into their new communities and offer mental health counselling.

UNHCR United Kingdom

www.unhcr.org/uk/ 

The UK office of the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees.

We Belong

Young UK migrants campaigning for a shorter, more affordable route to settlement

webelong.org.uk

Women for Refugee Women

https://www.refugeewomen.co.uk/

Empowerment and support for refugee women including English Language and Drama.

Local Support Groups

Akwaaba

akwaaba.org.uk/

Hackney-based social centre for migrants.

CARAS (South West London)

caras.org.uk/

CARAS is a community outreach charity based in Tooting. We support people of refugee and asylum-seeking background who live in South-West London.

CARIS Haringey

Working to support homeless families in Haringey

carisharingey.org.uk 

Grace (Greenwich Refugee AID and Community Enterprise)

www.graceaid.org.uk/

Provides aid to vulnerable/destitute new parents referred by social carers and midwives. 

Hackney Migrant Centre

hackneymigrantcentre.org.uk

A weekly drop-in for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, offering free advice on immigration, welfare, housing and health

Haringay Migrant Support

haringeymsc.org/ 

Weekly drop-in service for migrants, offering advice and signposting on immigration, welfare and healthcare issues.

Herne Hill Welcomes Refugees

Contact them at hhwelcomesrefugees@gmail.com

Impact

https://www.groundwork.org.uk/projects/impact-london/?hub=415

Language, preparation for work and cultural activities  for refugees and non-EU migrants in the boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham. 

Islington Centre for refugees and migrants

islingtoncentre.co.uk/

Provide a wide range of services from language lessons to arts projects to crisis support.

Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network

lrmn.org.uk/

Provide free, independent and confidential advice to refugee, asylum seeker and migrant (RASM) communities 

Musawa

www.musawa.org.uk/

Comprised of 10 civil society organisations that primarily serve the BME community in and around Kensington & Chelsea.

North East London Migrant Action (NELMA)

Campaigning to defend the rights of all migrants/Free School Meals.

nelondonmigrantaction@gmail.com 

Salusbury World

Challenging myths about immigration and asylum-supporting refugee kids, families & more in schools & beyond  (Based in Brent).

salusburyworld.org.uk/

Tottenham Refugee Alliance

http://tottenhamrefugees.org.uk

Offers sanctuary to refugees in Haringey under the Home Office community sponsorship scheme

 

Waterloo Community Counselling

www.waterloocc.co.uk/

The Multi-Ethnic Counselling Service at Waterloo Community Counselling provides time-limited culturally-sensitive, mother-tongue counselling to migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers at no cost to the client. 

 

West London Welcome

westlondonwelcome.com/

Offer free drop-in centre for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants who have settled in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Asylum System Advice, Legal Support and Support for Detained People

BID

www.biduk.org/

legal advice and representation to migrants detained in removal centres and prisons

Consonant (formerly Migrants resources  Centre)

consonant.org.uk 

Provide legal advice to help people fleeing persecution and violence to live safely in the UK. 

Detention Action

detentionaction.org.uk/

Supporting people in Detention across the UK

Duncan Lewis

www.duncanlewis.co.uk/immigration.html

Law firm specialising in immigration - particularly asylum support.

Gatwick Detainee Welfare Group 

www.gdwg.org.uk/

Supporting Detainees at Gatwick

Medical justice

www.medicaljustice.org.uk/

Medical help for detainees

Right to Remain

righttoremain.org.uk/toolkit/

The Right to Remain Toolkit is a guide to the UK immigration and asylum system.

SOAS Detainee Support

/www.facebook.com/soasdetaineesupport

Supporting detainees

UKLGIG

uklgig.org.uk

Support LGBTQI+ people through the asylum and immigration system

Local refugee support groups
Legal support & support for detainees
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