Stockport City of Sanctuary is a grass-roots movement focused on making Stockport a welcoming and safe place for refugees and sanctuary seekers. We are part of the City of Sanctuary UK movement, which spans across communities in the UK.

We believe in the power of community and that sanctuary seekers should be welcomed, supported, and celebrated as valued members of society.

What we do:

Our efforts are driven by six core objectives-

1) Welcoming Sanctuary Seekers

We work with local communities, businesses, and faith groups to create a network of support for sanctuary seekers.

2) Sanctuary Awards Program

We support organisations that demonstrate exemplary commitment to inclusion and hospitality by awarding them the Sanctuary Award.

3) Advocacy

We engage with the Stockport City Council and other stakeholders to secure formal recognition of Stockport as a City of Sanctuary.

4) Community Events

We host workshops, cultural celebrations, and public forums that foster understanding and solidarity.

5) Raising Awareness

We use various media to highlight the challenges refugees and sanctuary seekers face, while also celebrating their contributions to society.

6) Building Capacity

We strengthen local groups and volunteers, enabling them to provide meaningful assistance to sanctuary seekers.

How to access:

We invite everyone—individuals, organisations, and institutions—to join our mission. Together, we can make Stockport a beacon of hope, compassion, and inclusion.

For more information please check our website or email us at info@stockport.cityofsanctuary.org

At Stockport Race Equality Partnership we support and advocate for Ethnic Communities within Stockport including Refugees.

We aim to integrate communities in Stockport, influence decision-makers, improve health outcomes, tackle food poverty, align services and funding to better support EDC, strengthen EDC-led organisations.


Services include:

• Knowledge Forums: regular events that bring people from all backgrounds together

• Educational events: at key times of the year, e.g. Black History Month, Hate Crime Awareness Week.

• Brave Spaces: cross-cultural conversations to help us build back better.

• Bring together key NHS, social care and other partners to improve the services our communities receive.

• We can represent ethnically diverse communities in Stockport to the Council, the Mayor, GMCA, our MP, the NHS and others.

To Access:

You can drop into our EDP Advice hub every Tuesday

Please contact us via phone or email if you need our help or know of someone who needs our help. Also if you would like to work with us, have a project you would like to collaborate on or if you would like to volunteer with us and help your local ethnically diverse community.

​If you need culturally appropriate support and advice when facing systemic racism and are a resident of Stockport then please get in touch.

If you are an organisation in Stockport that needs to better support ethnically diverse people thrive to make your company more inclusive and less institutionally racist then please get in touch too.

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Stride Partnership is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that provides accommodation and basic reintegration support services to refugees within the North West of England, predominantly focussing on the Greater Manchester region and Lancashire.

We primarily tailor our training and events to refugees that have intentions of gaining a tenancy within the UK. Further to this, we provide educational events on budgeting and on integrating in diverse communities.

Housing - To provide accommodation to newly granted refugees who might otherwise struggle.

Support - Providing a short to medium term support network as a refugee acclimatises to their new environment.

Integration - Making use of services to help the refugee integrate into the local community as naturally as possible.

Partnerships - Working with other refugee and migrant services that can provide support when requested.

To Access:

Contact us directly via telephone or email, or if you are making a referral for someone else, this should be done via our client referral form which can be found at https://stridepartnership.org.uk/referral/ .

St Thomas’ and St Luke’s work alongside several other local churches to support asylum seekers and refugees who are based in our town. This ministry is an important way in which we can show God’s love to people who have had to leave their homes and face very tough situations.

Our ministry to support asylums seekers includes: Home visits. Team of visitors from our churches visit the asylum seekers at the addresses where they are living to befriend them and to offer support and assistance.

Services Include:

• Language classes- On Thursday afternoons we provide weekly English classes for those who want to come along and improve their English language skills. The classes take place in St Thomas’ Church Hall.

• Social- On Sundays, we provide a drop-in for those who want to come along for a drink and a chat or to play games. These socials take place in St Thomas’ Church Hall.

• Discipleship Group- This is for those who speak Farsi. It is aimed Christians and those who want to learn more about the Christian faith. The group meets on-line on Wednesdays. Please contact Sue Thomas on 07877704645 for the Zoom link.

• Compass meets at Emma and Antony Billington’s home each Monday. Come for a drink and a chat or to use the Wi-Fi. We are happy to help with making phone calls, writing letters and emails, and sorting any problems online. If you would like to attend and don’t know the address then please contact Emma on 07922 091896.

Support for Wigan Arrivals Project supports asylum seekers and refugees who are living in the Wigan Borough.

Our vision is for everyone living in Wigan to feel welcome, to be given an equal chance to build a decent life, and to know where and how to access support when necessary.

SWAP provide practical hands on support through a range of services, including 1:1 advocacy and case work, educational and support groups working across Wigan Borough.

We also have close working relationships with a large number of specialist providers that we can signpost people to. Please note that SWAP does not give legal advice on immigration matters, and we are unable to help clients to fill in legal forms, but we can signpost people to agencies that provide this help.

How to access

Referrals accepted by email. Clients can drop-in but prefer if they call ahead.

We assist Farsi-speaking asylum seekers and refugees to access resources and Information. We offer various services to provide individuals with the assistance they require. We also advocate for them when necessary and make referrals to relevant agencies.

Our primary objective is empowering individuals to seek information and access resources confidently.

Mentoring - Our goal is to help individuals start their professional journey. Our mentors offer guidance to help them improve their skills and reach their full potential. 

Cultural Events - We organize regular cultural events and celebrations engaging the broader Farsi-speaking community.

We provide information and guidance on several issues. A few are listed below:

• Housing Applications
• HC2 Certificate
• New Universal Credit Claim 
• Council tax support Application 
• Opening a bank account
• Registering for a GP
• Provisional Driver's license
• ESOL Registration
• Travel Document Application
• BRP card Issues
• Fee Waiver Application

To Access:

There is no drop-in service. Please contact Taban via phone or email for more information.

An open-access art space for people seeking asylum, run by HCPC art therapists alongside artists with experience of displacement. No skill or experience needed.

The Oasis centre offers support to address the needs of people in crisis situations.

We have four interlinked projects focusing on different areas of support required through a period of crisis.

Re-build

Our Re-build project offers emergency provisions such as food and clothing, a cafe which is open four days a week offering hot nutritious food, and our own dedicated crisis support team who can signpost to relevant agencies and support with the root cause of the emergency such as debt or mental health difficulties.

Re-engage

Through our re-engage project we help everybody to feel like part of the community. We offer wellbeing support activities such as trips and social days, leisure activities such as board games, quizzes and workshops. In addition our community support team are on hand to help with the process of re-engagement.

Re-skill

Through our Re-skill programme, we provide a relaxed and encouraging setting to learn and practice. Clients are given the opportunity to develop the pre-requisite skills necessary for a functional lifestyle and successful employment. We introduce them to literacy, numeracy, home economics and art in a creative and non-threatening way. This one year programme includes: Urban Art; Cookery Workshop; English For Everyone; Maths Made Easy and Science workshops.

Have a dedicated community support team who can help you fill in forms, write appeals and apply for benefits. Also have emergency food and clothing packs available. Run English, Maths, Science, ESOL, Cookery and History lessons, and offer volunteering opportunities in their kitchen.

The Sudanese Community of Bolton is a voluntary organisation. Its main aim is to help vulnerable people from black ethnic backgrounds and refugees from Sudan.

Our main aim is to aid refugees and those seeking asylum in their transition into a new life in a different country. We do this by offering information, advice and guidance, as well as helping members with social, cultural, psychological and communication issues.

We also offer educational and recreational programs. Members of the community can use the recreational facilities at our centre such as our table tennis and pool tables, and a community football team, as well as connect with others of similar backgrounds.

The Community hosts Eid prayers and gatherings at both Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.

Also we host Quran lessons for kids with plans to re-open our weekend supplementary school. The Community also hosts trips for its members.

We organise termly trips and fun activities so the young people we support can practise their English in a relaxed environment and visit local attractions.

Our Welcome Centre is an open and safe space for asylum seekers and refugees to make connections and build community. All our varied activities that we hold during our Welcome Centre help our members to establish belonging in their new home in Bristol. We provide practical signposting support to our members who present us with their challenges or concerns. We want to ensure our members have access to the right information and support services to help them as they navigate the complex asylum and immigration systems. Social Space every Tuesday from 11am to 2pm: We have board games, art, laptops and a football table available to our members. A hot halal meal is served at 1pm. Our doors close at 2pm.

We connect refugees and asylum seekers into local communities, while promoting regular exercise, benefitting both physical and mental wellbeing. Walk With Me provides opportunities to practise spoken English, meet someone new, and to explore the neighbourhood or new spaces.

We are currently running group walks twice a month for asylum seekers.

The charity was established in 2009 to support French speaking asylum seekers and refugees living in the Greater Manchester especially in Salford. The charity now has a wider remit of helping the local community in Salford and surrounding areas such as Cheetwood, Cheetham Hill.

We support people who are in the transition points of their lives: Asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and second generation of British citizens. Most of our activities aim to alleviate isolation and depression, including emotional wellbeing, social, physical and recreational activities.
It currently operates a variety of projects including, drop in sessions to provide general information, advice and advocacy services, volunteering programme, mentoring, Homework club and after schools’ club.

We also provide social and recreational activities for older members of the community. The problems we deal with include: unemployment, homelessness or vulnerable housed, mental health, discrimination, social and economic deprivation, loneliness and isolation.

Our helpline (07427672139) offers practical support over the phone or online to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. It’s a confidential service for those aged 12 and over and opens from 6 am to 10pm 7 day a week.

Call if you want someone to talk to. We love to listen and we will help you through this difficult time. our volunteers speak French, Lingala and Portuguese.

Our Welcome Centre is at the beating heart of BHN - a welcoming, intercultural space, where those with insecure immigration status and lived experience of being a refugee and/or asylum seeker can come and be part of a supportive, safe and cohesive community. The Welcome Centre is built around a delicious hot lunch, but also offers breakfast, teas and coffees, creative activities (games, art, music, sewing), English classes and even a barbershop! We deliver additional services in partnership with Herbalists without Borders, Ashley Community Housing, SARI and the mental health charity MIND. Our Advice Team (which offers case support work and advocacy) also meets with accommodated members at the Welcome Centre.

The Welcome Centre is now open in Weston Super Mare. Come and see us at 12 Waterloo Street, Weston Super Mare, BS23 1LG Currently open: Mondays 3:30pm – 5pm – Kids’ club (Year 1 – Year 7) Tuesdays 11am – 3pm – Free shop, lunch, tea and coffee, WiFi, signposting Wednesdays 3pm- 6pm – Ukrainian Hub (alternate Wednesdays, see below for dates) Fridays 11am – 3pm – Free shop, lunch, tea and coffee, WiFi, signposting Saturdays 10am – 12 noon – Kids’ club, activities and help for children age 5-11 years old and their parents and carers.

For many asylum seekers this social space is a home away from home, especially for those who are insecurely housed, homeless or living in inadequate accommodation. A warm and welcoming social space offering: Tea, coffee and snacks A free hot lunch Haircuts Art table Games An opportunity to meet new people and make friends referrals and signposting to other services in the city No appointment needed Membership Bristol Refugee Rights’ members are people currently in the UK asylum process or who have recently been granted refugee status when they first get in contact. Members must be living in the Bristol area.

Our drop-in Welcome Centre offers a safe place for refugees and asylum seekers to meet and provides weekly community meals, signposting support and more.

Mondays 10-12: Register as a member, get advice, signposting support, tea and coffee available.

Social Space every Tuesday from 11am to 2pm: We have board games, art, laptops and a football table available to our members. A hot halal meal is served at 1pm. Our doors close at 2pm.

How to access

Drop in.

Weekly drop-in services:

MONDAY:

English Classes
Beginners 10:30-12:30
Intermediate 10:30-11:30 / 11:30-12:30 / 13:00-14:00 / 14:00-15:00
Advanced 14:00-15:00


WEDNESDAY:

English Classes
Beginners 10:30-11:30
Intermediate 10:30-11:30 / 11:30-13:30


THURSDAY:
(WOMEN ONLY)

English Classes
Beginners 10:30-12:30
Intermediate 10:30-12:30
Entry 2 (WEA) 10:00-12:00


FRIDAY:

English Classes
Beginners 10:30-11:30
Intermediate 10:30-11:30

Welcome Wednesday is a wonderful space for people who are relatively new to the UK and our city to connect with others, as well as our youth team – it’s been so popular that we’ve now extended it to an extra session on a Thursday too! If you're a young refugee or asylum-seeker living in Bristol, come along to this regular drop-in session at The Station. Meet new people in the city, improve your English, and get some extra support in a safe environment. Share your story, get your voice heard and have fun – Our youth club has table tennis, football table, Playstation, Pool table, and we provide some free food. When young people face such complex challenges, youth work can enable them to build relationships and connect with others. This provides them with a lifeline in a new and unfamiliar country. We've had to implement a pre-booking system, as spaces are limited to 35 young people a session.

West African Development (WAD) provides Pre-Entry ESOL classes, introducing basic entry level to learning English, building confidence skills and developing understanding in reading, writing and speaking needed for life in the UK.

They also offer budgeting and Life in the UK courses. In addition, WAD also provides volunteering opportunities, housing support, help with form filling, referrals to further advice and guidance, digital skills support, and opportunities to take part in their African heritage workshops and programmes.

From the requests from our community member to be involve in other activities and the positive idea of some members who experienced stress and finding difficulties leaving kids and young people with no activities during a school holiday. The majority of our community memberships are facing the same problem due to financial hardship parent cannot afford taking children away during the holiday time and also working parent during the school holiday find it difficult to leave children alone with no activities.

West African Development (WAD) organize a special holiday activities program and provide children and youth with activities like: Arts and Craft, Hair weaving, Drumming and Dancing, Sport and Football and Trips.

West African Development (WAD) together with the Worker’s Education Association offers an accredited Community Interpreter’s course which recognize and accredit bi-lingual skills, increasing basic skill levels in the Community and giving people confidence to progress to further study and employment.

WAD also providing a translation service to support people who have English as a second language.

This service will enable more people to successfully complete training courses and increasing their chances in life.

WAST is a charity based in Manchester supporting women asylum seekers. We fight for women's rights and raise awareness of the injustices in the UK immigration system.

We provide vital support, including a destitution fund and well-being activities, to help women survive the asylum system. We offer a weekly drop-in support group where women can find essential information and connect with others.

We work with women asylum seekers in Manchester, offering support and advocacy to improve their lives.

We run a fortnightly an anti deportation group, a weekly food bank, choir, domestic violence self help group ( when we have the funding), a basic English group and more.

We also provide a phone tree for emotional support when members go to sign, and help to look after any property or belongings if they are detained. In addition we support to help keep in contact with a solicitor and additional immigration advice.

How to access:

Drop in service during hours listed.

Bella, the yoga teacher, offers a relaxing space where women from different backgrounds can unwind through movement, breathing and meditation. To join, just turn up or email ahead to check capacity.

Wonderfully Made Woman is a charity that supports women who have experienced trauma, abuse, or mental health challenges. Their main aim is to empower these women by providing a safe space for healing, personal growth, and connection.

The organisation works primarily with women from diverse backgrounds, including those facing domestic violence, mental health issues, or social isolation. They offer various services, including workshops, support groups, and one-to-one mentoring. For example, women can attend workshops on self-esteem and confidence-building, or join support groups where they can share their experiences and receive encouragement from others.

Referrals to Wonderfully Made Woman can come from local agencies, social services, or individuals seeking help directly. They also collaborate with other organisations to ensure comprehensive support for their clients.

In addition to personal development, the charity hosts community events that promote well-being and connection among women. These events create opportunities for social interaction and help to foster a sense of belonging.

Overall, Wonderfully Made Woman aims to empower women by providing the resources and support they need to overcome challenges and build a brighter future, helping them to feel valued and confident in their lives.

To access:

Register to participate in drop-in sessions via: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScij-Yu3-9dnbUGlYEnE80QovkNw1veEkGg8dlF7WR_tT6g9A/viewform

Contact Help Line- 07354471340

Yaran Northwest supports members of the Middle Eastern and, in particular, the Iranian community in Manchester with a wide range of psychological needs and social disadvantage who wish to integrate and strengthen their confidence and self esteem.

Services include:

• Psychological service: One-to-one and group counselling/psychotherapy for middle eastern, in particular Farsi speaking residents, across Greater Manchester including new immigrants, families and couples who need urgent help and support in health and well-being

• Advocacy service: Assists people from Middle Eastern background and covers improving their confidence, developing their basic skills in learning English, understanding the world of work, and guidance in seeking jobs and self employment.

• Peer support Groups, workshops, community based programmes and professionally led self-help groups for those in the community experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues alongside a spectrum of life issues too.

• Rolling programme of classes and activities including Life in the UK and ESOL.

How to access:

To make a referral please complete the referral form at the bottom of this page: https://www.yarannorthwest.com/?page_id=895

Please check our website, or call or email us for more information