The Asylum Seekers and Refugee Community Blackburn, also known as ARC, is a charity based at Wesley Hall in Blackburn Town Centre. Founded in 2004, ARC is well established with experience and a history of working with asylum seekers and refugees in the Blackburn with Darwen Borough.
ARC seeks to create a safe, welcoming space for those fleeing war, persecution and violence in their homelands. ARC provides the practical support asylum seekers and refugees need to start rebuilding their lives in the UK.
We pride ourselves on working in partnership with other local and national organisations in order to provide our service users with as many opportunities as possible. Many of these partners attend our weekly Drop-in and ARC is a regular attendee of the Blackburn with Darwen Asylum Seeker Multi Agency Forum.
ARC provides English Classes twice a week at different ability levels. These are free of charge, easily accessible and based around practical language learning. Each day we run different classes ranging from beginners to advanced.
ARC runs a weekly Drop-In for asylum seekers and refugees to meet, socialise and share food together. We offer a range of activities to participate in such as pool, table tennis and craft. Partner organisations working with asylum seekers and refugees locally attend to offer additional services.
ARC provides advice and signposting for asylum seekers and refugees such as help making phone calls, understanding letters or require general advice via casework appointment.
We provide social groups including a youth group and a football team, and always celebrate special events such as Anniversaries, Eid and Christmas.
