Family Early Help
Hopscotch
Hopscotch are providing a wide range of activities and support for Afghan refugees at the Camden hotels, including sessions at Calthorpe Gardens and Corams Fields. They also have advocates who are of Afghan heritage. For more information about Hopscotch's offer, contact Rosie Tharpe (on Outlook) or Isabelle Terrison [email protected].
Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants
Offers 8 English language sessions a week, at two levels, with qualified teachers. The content of the classes is varied in order to meet clients’ diverse needs, and includes: conversation-focussed classes, small group working, and 1:1 reading groups within a wider general English language curriculum. It also runs community English learning sessions, in partnership with Speak Street (see below) and arts organisations. The Centre also offers ICT classes, skills development programmes, social and recreational activities
Barnet Refugee Service (New Citizen Gateway)
An integrated model of support based on Edgeware Road to improve mental health, community cohesion and life chances of vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees. Advice, support, ESOL, help with Citizenship Test, Syrian group, men’s group, women’s group, emotional support, gardening, youth activities, homework club, training & workshops, emergency food, visiting solicitors. They are an accredited centre for Trinity College ESOL and offers classes for refugees to learn English over a certain number of weeks and then sit for the college exam.
Paiwand
Based in Harrow, set up by Afghan refugees in 2002, Paiwand offers support and solidarity to all refugees in London esp young – Saturday schools, mentoring, youth groups and trips, supported accommodation, info and advice, emotional wellbeing, preparing for employment, parenting and ESOL.
http://paiwand.com/how-we-help/
Sufra
A community hub, Food Bank and Community Kitchen based in Brent with many additional projects including a Refugee Support Programme – drop-in on Mondays, 11am-2pm - food academy (cooking course and professional catering skills), welfare advice service, volunteer opportunities, vocational training for asylum seekers and refugees in Brent area. The kitchen is open Fridays 6.30pm-8.30pm and serves vegetarian meals to all who turn up.
https://www.sufra-nwlondon.org.uk
SPEAK STREET (language skills for refugees)
A pop-up language café offering free English classes, helping people improve their everyday language skills with native speakers. Sessions run term-time only; currently:
- Tues,10.00am12.00pm at the Islington Refugee and Migrant Centre
- Wed, 1.30pm-3pm at Edith Neville Primary School, Camden (for Camden residents)
- Thurs, 9:30am-11:00am, Duke’s Aldridge Academy, Tottenham
- Fri, 1.30pm-2.45pm at Islington Central Library. (Priority to Islington
residents)
Sessions are frequently updated so contact Speak Street for the latest information.
Fences and Frontiers (days out and trips for refugees)
Aims to make London a welcoming and inspiring place for refugees and asylum seekers to live. Organises museum trips for children from refugee backgrounds and their families every 6-8 weeks throughout the year; and in warmer months Saturday walks, alternating between urban and rural trails, with a maximum of 15 participants. Covers refugee walkers’ travel costs.
https://www.fencesandfrontiers.org
Migrants Organise (social activities and advocacy for refugees)
Helps refugees and migrants speak out, connect and build common ground. Does a lot of advocacy work. Based close to Ladbroke Grove tube just under Westway. 2 Thorpe Close, W10 5XL. Its community programme – open to people from across London - includes free advice, English and wellbeing classes, leisure and social activities – sewing, football and theatre. Referrals accepted from people it feels it can help the most; for more info email [email protected].
https://www.migrantsorganise.org/
Micro Rainbow
An organisation for LGBTI asylum-seekers and refugees. It runs four safe houses in London providing temporary accommodation. The Moving On programme, for those recently granted refugee status, offers one to one support over six to twelve months, workshops on CV writing and interview skills, facilitation of job opportunities. It also runs activities to reduce the extreme isolation faced by LGBTI refugees and foster social inclusion.
Say It Loud Club
Provides support, advocacy and community for LGBTQA+ refugees and asylum-seekers. Runs events, workshops and monthly socials (held in Kings Cross).
Notre Dame
Based in Leicester Sq. Support for all asylum seekers and refugees especially Frenchspeakers. Immigration and asylum advice: drop-in service Mon-Thurs 11am-4pm, telephone advice line Fridays only. Advice for benefits and social services.
- Mondays 1pm-4pm drop-in health clinic.
- Thursdays 1.30pm-3.30pm free massage sessions. Drop-in café incl warm
midday meal twice weekly, plus two computers available. - Free English classes (prior registration req) – English Entry, English Literacy, English for Jobs.
- Employment advice (Job Club) on Thursdays.
- Art Group Mondays 1.30pm-3.30pm;
- Sewing Group Mondays 1.30pm3.30pm and theatre group Thursdays 1.30pm-3pm.
https://www.notredamerc.org.uk/
Refugee Action
Services: help on asylum process and how to access support; advice for those struggling with asylum process, poverty and homelessness; practical support on resettlement schemes. Based near Victoria.
https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/our-services/
Refugee Council
Free advice for refugees and asylum seekers. Based in Stratford. The Refugee Council provides advice for new refugees, access to private housing, support into jobs, a bridge between refugees and healthcare professionals and the NHS to ensure proper access to health care, and support with homelessness applications
https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/our-work/
Women for Refugee Women
- Advocacy and support for women who have faced injustice and seek asylum in the UK.
- Weekly Monday drop-in during term-time with fares paid and children welcome. Mums and children English class 11am-12.30pm, Beginner and intermediate class 12.30pm-2pm, lunch,intermediate and advanced class 3pm-4.30pm.
- Based near Moorgate. Drama group,Refugee Women’s Voice, hosted by Southbank Centre on Fridays
- Rainbow Sisters, a supportive and confidential group open to all lesbian, bisexual, trans and non-binary people seeking asylum, meets on Mondays.
http://www.refugeewomen.co.uk/
The Bike Project (Free Bikes for Refugees)
A brilliant project that takes secondhand bikes, fixes them up and donates them to refugees and asylum seekers in London
https://thebikeproject.co.uk/pages/mission
Host Nation (Refugee Befriending)
Connects those offering friendship with refugees who need it. Offering social opportunities to asylum seekers and refugees, and a digital platform for matching friendly locals to refugees who might be in need of friendship
https://www.hostnation.org.uk/
Ourmala
Ourmala provides free yoga classes for refugees, asylum seekers and survivors of torture, trafficking and modern day slavery. Class details here:
On Mondays and Fridays with partner charity Happy Baby Community they run classes for mums and babies/children under 3, also offering welfare advice and support, childcare and hand massage. Once a month they also provide donated essentials (sanitary towels, nappies, clothes). Classes for all genders are held twice weekly (Soho and Euston).
Referral required; refugees may self-refer
Welcome Cinema and Welcome Kitchen
Monthly events held at Amnesty HQ to unite refugees, asylum and the general public through a shared love of film, food and friendship. Tickets for supper, film screening and Q&A are free for refugees and asylum seekers and approx. £20 for the public. Welcome Cinema screens mainstream, culturally aware films followed by post screen discussions with topical special guest speakers.
Welcome Kitchen are a collective of friends and refugee chefs celebrating the cultures and cuisines of their homelands.