service
Free
In need of impartial and confidential advice? We run a weekly community advice clinic, offering advice and guidance on a range of subjects as well as emotional support.
Key information
Eligibility
Age Group
- 19 - 20 years
- 21 - 30 years
- 31 - 40 years
- 41 - 50 years
- 51 - 60 years
- 61 - 64 years
- 65 - 69 years
Ethnicity
- Asylum seeker or refugee
Language
- The refugee needs to be able to speak enough English to communicate without an interpreter
What is this service?
We aim to connect lonely asylum seekers and refugees in London to local volunteers - befrienders - who want to make them feel more welcome and help them connect with the wider community.
People are matched on a 1-to-1 basis. Befrienders commit to meeting the refugee they are matched with socially, once a week or fortnight, over a period of 3 months. Befrienders are not social workers, case workers or legal experts and cannot help with asylum claims or housing applications; instead they provide an opportunity to learn more about British life, practise speaking English, explore the city and discover the many free things it offers
What we offer?
- Walks in the park
- Exploring the local area
- Help practising English
- Visiting London sights
- Exercising together
Good to know
- Cost: Free
- Wait time: Three weeks
- Meeting up: We match the refugee with someone who lives close by and once we have introduced the pair, it is up to them to make arrangements for their meet-ups
- Additional information: ...
- Keeping updated: Take a look at our website, the films on our homepage and the page for refugees. [https://www.hostnation.org.uk/refugee](https://www.hostnation.org.uk/refugee)
- Meeting up: We match the refugee with someone who lives close by and once we have introduced the pair, it is up to them to make arrangements for their meet-ups
- Additional information: People commit to an initial 3 month period, meeting up at least once a fortnight, if not every week, for a few hours each time.
- Additional information: People commit to an initial 3 month period, meeting up at least once a fortnight, if not every week, for a few hours each time.
- Keeping updated: Take a look at our website, the films on our homepage and the page for refugees. [https://www.hostnation.org.uk/refugee](https://www.hostnation.org.uk/refugee)
- Signing up: Refugees and asylum seekers need to be referred by someone - a caseworker, social prescriber, therapist etc. - who knows them. The referral form is here: www.hostnation.org.uk/refer.
- Signing up: Refugees and asylum seekers need to be referred by someone - a caseworker, social prescriber, therapist etc. - who knows them. The referral form is here: www.hostnation.org.uk/refer.
What people say
We are better than good friends. We will be friends for life. It’s made a big difference to my life.
