Our impact

The need

Southwark is home to an estimated 18,000 refugees — one of the largest refugee populations in London. The borough also hosts one of London’s two temporary accommodation centres for asylum seekers, many of whom rely on our support.

Even before the pandemic, life in the UK was difficult for our clients. Most asylum seekers live on just £37 a week, often in sub-standard housing or without a home at all. Many arrive isolated, traumatised and facing years of uncertainty while their asylum claims are processed.

Since Covid-19, challenges like poverty, poor mental health, and housing instability have intensified — and with temporary protections and benefit uplifts now gone, the long-term effects continue to be felt across our community.

The response

Since we opened our doors in 1996, we’ve supported more than 25,000 people from over 30 countries — and today, our centres are as vital as ever.

Every week, we welcome around 150 clients at each of our three centres, including seven new visitors, all of whom receive a hot meal and a warm welcome. Between November and March, we triaged 680 people and delivered 306 in-depth advice sessions.

Our support is holistic and flexible, tailored to each person’s needs — whether they stay for one day or many months.

Here’s just some of what we offer:

• Advice and signposting: support with housing, benefits and immigration, plus referrals to trusted partners.

• Triage: our newly expanded teams (2 at South London Mission, 4 at Copleston, 4 at Trinity) offer extra time for clients needing more hands-on help, including those with literacy barriers.

• Warm meals: around 150+ fresh meals a week served across three centres.

• Remote support for those unable to attend in person.

• Children’s creche: welcoming 15–20 children a week, with outdoor play on Wednesdays.

• Drop-in ESOL and storytelling sessions, reaching 20+ learners weekly.

• Emergency food and a clothing referral service, supported by generous local donors.

We also run and host a wide range of wellbeing, creative and community-building activities:

• Grief workshops (in partnership with St Christopher’s Hospice)

• Employability mentoring

• Pampering days and summer trips to the seaside

• Arts and crafts, both onsite and in temporary hostels

• Sewing and painting groups

• Gardening at our Trinity site and on our Lettsom Gardens allotment

• Conversation groups for pastoral care

• CAB visits with one wellbeing worker and two lawyers

Behind all of this is an extraordinary team of 90+ staff and volunteers, supported by a vibrant network of donors, patrons and friends. Together, we create spaces where people feel safe, seen and supported — and where every visitor is treated with dignity and care.