Salusbury World was founded in 1999 to provide vital support to the high numbers of newly-arrived families who were being housed and schooled in Brent, North West London.

Since then, Salusbury World has successfully been working with refugee children and families from across London, by believing in their capacity to realise their rights and potential despite the challenges they face in rebuilding their lives.

Our small team of staff, and posse of 120+ volunteers, deliver a variety of projects united by a common goal to support children, families and individuals to overcome the barriers that prevent them from participating fully in life in the UK.

#SalusburyWorld4Refugees is a campaign to engage the wider community and to ensure we can continue to deliver a variety of projects to support our families.

Christine's Story

"Christine" is one of the teenagers we have supported over the years through our mentoring project. We provide one-to-one educational guidance and support to refugee and migrant pupils.

"We came right at the beginning of the war. My Dad thought it would be a good time for us all to come to England. I didn't speak any English. At the beginning I felt that 'this isn't a place I want to live, this isn't the right place for me'. I felt scared. I thought I would get kicked out of school. I was scared not to have any friends. I told my mum I didn't want to go back to school after the first day.

In Year 8, I had my first Salusbury World mentor. Over the years I had four. I often got them to help me with Maths. We also did quizzes and read books together. Sometimes it was hard doing mentoring after a long, tiring day but they were all kind and helpful and after talking to them, I could talk more in class.

I came on some Salusbury World trips. I liked going to the zoo, too, and also climbing. I couldn't walk the day after climbing!

I loved writing poetry with Simon. My mum was really proud at the book launch party.

I've got a place at college to do BTEC Level 3 extended diploma in Science. That will take 2 years and I then want to study Biomedical Science at university."

Brave New Voices

We collaborated with English PEN for three years on the Brave New Voices project, funded by John Lyon's Charity. This bought together writers, poets and newly-arrived young refugees and asylum-seekers in a celebration of creativity, translation and multilingualism. Students in Capital City Academy and Newman Catholic College enjoyed a run of workshops with established poets, Simon Mole, Raymond Antrobus & Rosie Harris. At the end of each year beautiful anthologies were published and launched at a celebratory event at the Free Word Centre.