Refugee & Asylum Support

Bristol is home to many refugees and asylum seekers who are destitute, with no right to work or access to benefits. They have been forced from their homes, traumatised on their journeys, and are then often treated poorly or as criminals.

Refugees and asylum seekers find themselves caught up in a legal system they do not understand, facing practical issues (around housing, transport and language learning) and challenges around social isolation.

How you or your church can help

Any one can help welcome an asylum seeker or refugee into a neighbourhood, school, workplace or community. Contact with people from the wider community helps with integration and the building of a new life. Churches and individuals can also help by campaigning/raising funds, volunteering or even hosting an asylum seeker.

Refugee & Asylum Support Groups & Initiatives

Borderlands is a charity working with asylum seekers and refugees tackling destitution and isolation, supporting disadvantaged and excluded people to help them improve their lives and situation. borderlands.uk.com
Bridges for Communities runs a number of programmes that help people who are seeking sanctuary in Bristol to feel welcome and to connect with their local communities. These programmes include b.friend, which trains volunteers from the host community to provide an extended period of one-to-one friendly support to sanctuary seekers, Walk With Me, Stitching Together, Resettlement Support and other one-off welcome events and trips. www.bridgesforcommunities.com
Bristol City of Sanctuary is part of the national City of Sanctuary network, linking people and groups who believe that sanctuary seekers should be welcomed, and that their contribution to society should be celebrated. bristol.cityofsanctuary.org
Bristol Hospitality Network provides full board accommodation for men in Bristol and offers community volunteering opportunities and cottage enterprise to male and female asylum seekers experiencing destitution. www.bhn.org.uk
Bristol Refugee Rights supports asylum seekers and refugees to play fuller parts in their community whilst also campaigning for their human rights. www.bristolrefugeerights.org
Ukraine. In partnership with Bristol City Council, The Good Faith Partnership and churches all across the city, a number of welcome hubs have been set up, visit our Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees: the Bristol Situation & Response page for more.