Join Us for the Launch!

We're launching our House Fund at a special Seasonal Celebration on Friday 28th November, 2025 at 7:30 PM in Sevenoaks.

The Challenge We Face

Since 2017, Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees has supported refugee families from Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine to rebuild their lives in our community. To date, we have supported 71 families across the Sevenoaks district, with many family members are now in employment, contributing to our local economy.

But there's a critical barrier preventing more families from moving forward: securing permanent housing.

Why Housing is the Urgent Priority

As we know, social housing is hard to find in our district. We have been largely dependent on identifying friendly private sector landlords to house families. This has never been easy, and there are changes in the housing market which may make it even harder. Local Housing Allowance rates have been frozen for several years while rents continue to rise, widening the gap between what families can afford and what landlords can charge. In addition, the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill, while positive for tenant protections, has made some landlords more cautious about letting their properties, further tightening the availability of suitable homes.

Many refugee families spend months, sometimes years, in temporary accommodation or bridging hotels. Life in these settings is severely constrained: families cannot properly settle, children struggle with educational continuity, and adults find it difficult to secure employment. Some families are even confronted by protesters, adding trauma to an already stressful situation.

Every time we can find a new property, we can help a new family to escape from this temporary accommodation and begin to truly rebuild their lives.

How the House Fund Works

In the right circumstances, we have been able to work with Kent County Council, Sevenoaks District Council, and landlords to unlock properties with funding from our generous donors.

Our House Fund provides flexible support to make housing possible:

Property preparation funding – helping landlords with work needed to prepare properties for refugee families

Fixed-term rent subsidies – bridging the gap where rents exceed housing allowance

Rental deposits – meeting landlords' upfront requirements

Rent guarantees – giving landlords confidence and security

How Your Donation Helps

Each pound you donate goes directly towards housing costs, helping families transition from temporary accommodation into independent, stable homes within our community.

All contributions, large or small, are very welcome, whether one-off or monthly donations. We can also reclaim Gift Aid on eligible donations, which increases your contribution by 25% at no extra cost to you.

Real Impact, Real Lives

In 2024-2025, our volunteers provided over 1,300 hours of English language tuition. We've helped several people pass the Life in the UK test required for citizenship. Had a family arrive and settle in the Sevenoaks district. Even had families achieve British citizenship — a milestone that represents years of hard work, dedication, and successful integration. We've also organised social activities, supported children's education, and helped adults find employment.

But without stable housing, all this progress is built on uncertain foundations.

About Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees

Since 2017, we've been helping refugee families rebuild their lives in the Sevenoaks district. We provide language training, housing support, household goods, and help with education, employment, and integration into our community.

We're a registered charity (No. 1184120) run entirely by dedicated volunteers, and we're proud to be part of a community that truly welcomes refugees.

Partnership and Collaboration

We work in close partnership with Kent County Council, Sevenoaks District Council, Sevenoaks Town Council, and the Refugee Council. We are supported by over 1,500+ people across our social media platforms and have 110+ active volunteers.

We would also welcome warm introductions to businesses or other organisations that you think may be able to help us. If you have connections to potential corporate donors, property owners, or grant-making trusts, please get in touch (Email: info@sevenoakswelcomesrefugees.org).

Make a Difference Today

Your donation to the Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees Housing Fund will:

✓ Help refugee families move from temporary to permanent accommodation

✓ Enable children to attend stable schools and make lasting friendships

✓ Support adults in securing and maintaining employment

✓ Give families the foundation they need to thrive in our community

✓ Strengthen Sevenoaks' reputation as a true Town of Sanctuary

No amount is too small. Whether you can give £10 or £1,000, your contribution will help open doors — literally — for families who have already overcome unimaginable challenges.