Southwark Refugee Communities Forum
SRCF wants four things:
Awareness of the role of Refugee Community Organizations (RCOs) and the skills they offer
Collaboration between RCOs, statutory and voluntary sectors
Integration of RCOs into mainstream structures and real refugee participation
Resources for the development of RCOs
Housing Surgeries
For newly-granted refugees housed in hotels who have received an eviction notice
… or are expecting to receive a notice
… or have been evicted and are now homeless or in unsuitable accommodation
We marked Refugee Week 2023 with a celebration at St Giles Church. We had dance performances from Albania and Bolivia … African drumming and Ukrainian bandurist … Eritrean coffee ceremony … face painting … henna tattoos … Ahwazi artefacts … legal and health advice … massage therapists. See more photos or download our PDF report
Streamlined Asylum Processing and Asylum Legacy Cases
We have information in various languages for adults from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Syria and Yemen who are claiming asylum. This includes contact details for Citizens Advice Southwark who can provide advice.
Southwark Private Renters Support is a useful website. If you want to know “How to Rent” or would like support there’s advice there for you.
“Preguntas Frecuentes” y “Obtener Apoyo” : también en español.
Winter 2022 Campaign : Polio Vaccination
There are 6,000 children in Southwark who have not had a polio vaccination.
Leaflets are available from https://www.healthpublications.gov.uk/
We have the leaflets here in English, Farsi, Arabic, Tiginrya, Spanish and Portuguese
Supporting Refugee & Migrant Communities in Southwark
Our Objectives:
WORKING to ensure that the voices of refugees and migrants are heard and their needs addressed
AWARENESS of the role of Refugee & Migrant Communities and the skills they offer
COLLABORATION between Refugee & Migrant Communities, the statutory and voluntary sectors
INTEGRATION of Refugee & Migrant Communities into mainstream structures
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES for the development of Refugee & Migrant Communities
Our Capacity Building Programme
SRCF offers capacity building support for local refugee & migrant community organisations to become active participants in the life of Southwark
“The Forum has helped us to shape local policies that have a major impact on our lives”
- Nihaya Al-Othmani, Arab Cultural Community
Hotdesking Project
The Hotdesking Project provides capacity building support to refugee and migrant organisations in Southwark, particularly to newly established and small refugee community groups that have no premises or adequate office facilities.
In This Together Project
SRCF is running an online project to identify and address the impact of Covid-19 on refugee and migrant communities, as they have proved particularly vulnerable to the pandemic.
Funded by Awards for All
Women Support Activities
Women’s Support Group
SRCF arranges group discussions for refugee and migrant women to connect with people from different religious backgrounds.
Women’s Book Club
SRCF offers group book readings for women to get together, make friends and improve their English.
Re-connect
This project provides refugee and migrant women with an opportunity to create their own online social media accounts on Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Zoom, etc
Two Wheels Project
SRCF is organising cycling training in collaboration with Southwark refugee and migrant communities with the aim of:
Assisting members of refugee and migrant communities to understand the benefits of cycling, in terms of health, finance and mobility
Providing refugees and migrants with an alternative way to move around London
Wellbeing & Mental Health Support
This project aims to:
address the cultural stigma around mental health among asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.
enhance access to local mental health services
improve the quality of life of those with a mental health problem
combat discrimination within refugee and migrant communities
promote social inclusion
Services We Offer with our Partners
Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, SRCF is now working in partnership with agencies in Southwark to provide online advice to refugees and migrants on:
Immigration
Benefits, housing & debt
Employment
Health & Covid-19 prevention
Mental wellbeing
Food banks
Free school meals
Get in touch if you need help in any of these areas!
