We are so proud of Bristol, and the way that local people come together to create a better and more welcoming city. Below is a list of organisations that offer support, solidarity and advice to people seeking sanctuary in the city.
Please note: These were correct at the time of writing. If anything is out of date please email [email protected]
We work with many great organisations in Bristol who offer support, advocacy and advice to people seeking sanctuary. Please see below leaflets in many languages (correct as of the date on the leaflet)
Albanian – shqipe Bristol Refugee Services Nov 2021
Bengali – বাংলা Bristol Refugee Services July 2022
English – Bristol Refugee Services July 2022
Arabic – عربى Bristol Refugee Services July 2022
French – Française Bristol Refugee Services July 2022
Sorani -کوردیی ناوەندی Bristol Refugee Services July 2022
Farsi – فارسی Bristol Refugee Services July 2022
Pashto -پښتو Bristol Refugee Services July 2022
Russian – Русский Bristol Refugee Services July 2022
Somali Bristol Refugee Services July 2022
Tigrinya – ትግርኛ Bristol Refugee Services July 2022
Urdu – اردو Bristol Refugee Services Nov 2021
Turkish – Türkçe Bristol Refugee Services Nov 2021
Vietnamese – Tiếng Việt Bristol Refugee Services Nov 2021
1625 Independent People helps young refugees and asylum seekers to get to know their new environment and engage with their local communities. We support young people with housing, life skills and education.
Email: [email protected]
91 Ways to Build a Global City
91 Ways is a community-focused social enterprise which brings people together through the universal language of food. The organisation celebrates the rich flavours and traditions of food from different cultures, organising community focused events and supper clubs.
Email: [email protected]
Aid Box Community Hub is a free shop and meeting point in Montpelier. Asylum seekers and refugees can access free household goods and clothing donated by the Bristol Community. The hub provides a warm welcome and a place to relax, volunteer and practice speaking English.
Telephone: 0117 336 8441
ACH is a social enterprise that provides integration services for refugees in Bristol and other areas in UK.
Email: [email protected]
Using art and art therapy to support people who are displaced and offering crisis support and consultation to frontline staff, in the UK and internationally.
Email: [email protected]
Bridges 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.
A centre for refugees, asylum seekers, and others with immigration problems on Lawfords Gate, BS5 0RE, with food, English classes, information, a chance to socialise and a warm welcome.
Free confidential support, information and advice is available here to people in and around Bristol living with or affected by HIV. BP also run a Migrant Advice and Support Service, supporting migrants and asylum seekers who are affected by or living with HIV.
Email: [email protected]
A member-led co-operative repairing and rehoming bicycles within our community. They run Earn-a-Bike, a programme which works with people who may not otherwise be able to afford to cycle. During three hour sessions, people are taught basic mechanical skills whilst fixing up a bike they can then take away with them to own.
Bristol Citizens Advice Bureau
CAB offers free, confidential and impartial advice to all Bristol citizens.
Bristol City Council Asylum Team
Provides advice, assistance and housing to unaccompanied minors; to asylum seekers with high health and social needs; and to families with children in need.
Email: [email protected]
Bristol Defend Asylum Seekers Campaign
BDASC is a voluntary group of dedicated people in Bristol, working to raise the profile of asylum seekers, and campaigning locally to challenge the injustice of the asylum system.
BHN extends solidarity to people seeking asylum and experiencing destitution through accommodation and creative community involvement.
Email: [email protected]
Bristol Law Centre provides legal advice on asylum claims and other immigration related issues, including applying for bail from immigration detention.
Email: [email protected]
Bristol Refugee and Asylum Seeker Partnership (BRASP)
Bristol City of Sanctuary is a member of the Bristol Refugee and Asylum Seeker Partnership (BRASP). BRASP is an innovative partnership of 15 Bristol-based organisations working in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers in the city. Our vision is that all refugees and asylum seekers enjoy healthy and fulfilling lives in Bristol, have a voice and their needs are met by an effective, unified and sustainable sector.
Bristol Refugee Festival organise a year-round programme of events, celebrating the contribution of people seeking sanctuary in our city. They bring communities from across Bristol and beyond to connect, share and celebrate and, in June, also host a Celebrating Sanctuary month.
Email: [email protected]
Address: Easton Christian Family Centre, Easton, Bristol BS5 0SQ
BRR works together with people seeking sanctuary in the city. Due to Covid-19 they have remodelled their services and provide, amongst other things:
- An advice hotline two days a week to provide basic needs of individuals and families
- Application support for housing and asylum seeker allowance
- Signposting to legal, medical and any other emergency services
- Safeguarding and casework for specific groups
- Regular well-being calls to their members
Please visit their website for more information on the services they provide.
Email: [email protected]
British Red Cross – Refugee Support, Bristol
If you have recently been granted refugee status, they can help with benefit applications, applying for housing, bank accounts and integration loans.
If you are destitute as you’ve been refused asylum or have just been granted refugee status, they can provide some small financial support for up to 12 weeks.
Their International Family Tracing service can try to trace your family overseas (including in Europe) if you have lost contact.
Provide advice on Family Reunion process or if you have a visa for a member of your family they may be able to organise and pay for travel to the UK.
Tel: 0117 941 5040 – the line is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11am to 3pm.
Email [email protected]
A group volunteers who provide support to people seeking asylum required to report at Patchway Police Station. They attend every week, supporting people who are reporting and signposting to organisations across the city.
Email: [email protected]
Bristol STAR is the local branch of the national charity ‘Student Action for Refugees’. They run projects around the city such as ‘Homework Club’ which supports primary and junior school aged children from refugee and asylum seeking backgrounds with their homework. They also offer support for those hoping to access higher education and the Sanctuary scholarships at the University of Bristol, alongside supporting Sanctuary Scholars currently studying at the university.
Citizens UK brings together people, events and schemes to help ensure that Bristol welcomes refugees, with a focus especially on Syrian refugees and young people.
This is a ‘first stop’ clinic for newly arrived asylum seekers in Bristol. It is run on behalf of all three Primary Care Trusts in Bristol. The Haven provides a comprehensive health assessment for those who have not yet registered with a GP.
Email: [email protected]
A project run by Groundwork which provides a relaxed and friendly environment to support refugees and non-EU migrants in Bristol to build their confidence and gain useful skills for their life in the U.K. View their leaflet: IMPACT General Flyer
Jacari offer one to one support to EAL pupils, who are from a disadvantaged background and do not have English as their first language.
Email: [email protected]
PWB provides a space to LGBT asylum seekers and refugees to meet and tell their story. Contact details can be found here.
Email: [email protected]
Project MAMA supports people seeking sanctuary through their pregnancy, childbirth and the first weeks of parenthood. More information and how to get in touch can be found here.
Refugee Council’s is a national charity working with refugees and people seeking asylum in the U.K., providing various forms of support. More information and how to get in touch can be found here.
Linking socially conscious landlords with refugees needing a place to call home in Bristol.
Email: [email protected]
A multi-ethnic, multi-faith organisation which specifically targets the needs of refugee women and is directly governed by women of the refugee and asylum seeking community in Bristol.
Email: [email protected]
Support Against Racist Incidents
SARI supports victims of hate crime, with a freephone line and an online reporting form for victims of hate crimes, as well as direct help.
Email: [email protected]
Social Workers without Borders
This group was set up in March 2016 by a small number of social workers who have worked with people in the asylum process in the UK and in refugee camps overseas.
Tamarisk Training design and facilitate bespoke training events to promote intercultural awareness and understanding of issues facing asylum seekers and refugees. They work with local authorities, charities, housing providers, children’s services and grassroots organisations to train frontline staff, including social workers, foster carers, and charity volunteers, and to provide consultancy services to those responsible for service provision. They can also offer training on cultural matters to asylum seekers and refugees.
TFSW provides long-term professional psychotherapy and an art therapy group for people seeking sanctuary
Tel: 01225 444911
Email: [email protected]
Based in Bristol, this charity works towards a world without slavery.
Email: [email protected]
A regular drop-in session hosted by Creative Youth Network for young people seeking sanctuary.
