Action for Refugees in Lewisham

Action for Refugees in Lewisham

At a glance

Causes

  • Black, asian and minority ethnic groups
  • Counselling / advice
  • Human rights
  • Refugees / migrants

Other details

Organisation type: 
Charity
Geographical remit: 
Local

Objectives

AFRIL is a grassroots charity in London, working with refugees and asylum seekers to relieve poverty and social isolation.

We are a small locally run charity based in Lewisham, one of the most deprived local authority areas in England, with a very high refugee and asylum seeker population.

We work to relieve poverty and isolation amongst this vulnerable group, advance their education, and provide services to improve social integration.

Since our creation in 2006, we continue to help an average of 120 people in our local community each week - with education, family support services, and access to emergency supplies. 

 

Activities

AFRIL opened to the public in July 2006.  We began by providing a free advice service for refugees and asylum seekers, as well as a Saturday Supplementary School - The Rainbow Club - for children aged between 4 and 11. We now work with an average of 120 clients per week, and over 40 different nationalities.

In 2015 we continue to provide:

  • ESOL classes for adults, in partnership with Community Education Lewisham (CEL), with a crèche for children aged 1 to 4 years old.
  • A supplementary Saturday school for children - the Rainbow Club, aged 4-11 years old.
  • Support destitute families with clothes, food and other essentials.
  • An advice service for refugees and asylum seekers who need guidance on their benefits, housing, welfare and immigration rights
  • Yoga classes

No current opportunities

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