Welcoming Refugees to Bristol
Bristol Refugee Rights was set up as a voluntary organisation in 2005 to uphold and champion the human rights of asylum seekers and refugees. We provide a place of welcome in Bristol where asylum seekers and refugees can meet and be supported to play a full part in the life of the wider community and also campaign for the human rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Bristol Refugee Rights aims to deliver a ‘user-led’ service that addresses the practical, psychological and human rights needs of refugees and asylum seekers by: … (full text about).
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Map; Address: Bristol Refugee Rights, (FAO A.Edgington), Assisi Centre, St Nicholas of Tolentino, Lawford’s Gate, Easton, BRISTOL, BS5 0RE, UK;
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Welcome centre: The centre – which opens on 2 days a week at Newton Hall, Easton, receives about 140 service users each week and now has more than 500 registered service users from 34 different countries. About two thirds of these are men and one third women. A large majority are under 30, 50 are children.
Service user’s comment: “At home you have stress – when you come here people welcome you with such a nice smile – you pull yourself out of your misery and when you come out you can give a smile back.”
Service user’s comment: “Here I get help and can find out where to go and who to see – eg to go to the Hub for housing. I have help in learning English from my teacher.”
The Centre Co-ordinator organises and directs the Welcome Centre. 50 regular volunteers bring many skills to the centre. Without them the centre could not function. About a quarter of these first came to the centre as service users themselves. The volunteers’ generosity and commitment make the centre a real place of welcome.
We have provided placements for 5 students, from Bristol University and UWE social work courses, and the City of Bristol Community Volunteering course.