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 If anything is out of date please email [email protected]
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.
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.
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.
ACH is a social enterprise that provides integration services for refugees in Bristol and other areas in UK.
Working in the UK, Nepal and Northern France, Art Refuge UK offers art therapy to people who have been displaced.
B.friend trains volunteers from the host community to give an extended period of one-to-one friendly mentor support to sanctuary seekers.
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.
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.
Bristol Law Centre provides legal advice on asylum claims and other immigration related issues, including applying for bail from immigration detention.
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.
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 8 weeks.
Their International Family Tracing service can try to trace your family overseas (including in Europe) if you have lost contact.
If you have a ‘Family Reunion’ visa for a member of your family they may be able to organise and pay for travel to the UK.
Tel 0117 941 5040
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.
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.
Pride Without Borders
PWB provides a space to LGBT asylum seekers and refugees to meet and tell their story. Contact details can be found here.
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 Children section in Bristol provide support and advice for separated children seeking asylum in the South West. Click this link to access Children’s Section on our website.
Contact details
Direct Line: 07393 014 650
Duty Line: 020 73461134
Linking socially conscious landlords with refugees needing a place to call home in Bristol.
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.
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.
Bristol Signing Support Group
BSSG volunteers provide accompaniment and solidarity to people who must report to Immigration Officers in Patchway
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
Based in Bristol, this charity works towards a world without slavery.
A regular drop-in session hosted by Creative Youth Network for young people seeking sanctuary.
COVID-19 Update: Please note that many organisations in Bristol are not carrying out face to face support during the pandemic. Please visit their websites to find out more about the support they are offering during this time or click below for information in your own language (this was correct as of January 2021).
Albanian – shqipe Bristol Refugee Services Jan 2021
Bengali – বাংলা Bristol Refugee Services Jan 2021
English – Bristol Refugee Services 2021
Arabic- عربى Bristol Refugee Services Jan 2021
French – Française Bristol Refugee Services Jan 2021
Kurdish Sorani -کوردیی ناوەندی Bristol Refugee Services Jan 2021
Farsi – فارسی Bristol Refugee Services Jan 2021
Pashto -پښتو Bristol Refugee Services Jan 2021
Somali – Bristol Refugee Services leaflet Jan 2021
Tigrinya – ትግርኛ Bristol Refugee Services Jan 2021
