Campaign by 
Story
It's very nice because you don't know anybody when you come from your country. Here people come from any country. We meet people, it's nice. We're happy." - Ahmed"
All donations will be used to support asylum seekers to overcome poverty, feel welcome, and rebuild their lives through:
- Hot and nutritious community meals
- Arts and crafts, sewing and games
- Wellbeing support and activities
- Volunteering opportunities and training
- Trusted information and advice
The history of our Welcome Centre
20 years ago, a group of Bristolians realised there was little support for refugees and people seeking asylum who were new to Bristol. They established our Welcome Centre so refugees and people seeking asylum could access community, vital support and a warm welcome.
Since then, it has become a bustling community hub offering a warm welcome, nutritious hot meals, wellbeing activities and a supportive community for more than 1,000 people a year. We open our doors twice a week, 48 weeks a year.
In the face of rising hostility, this has become more important than ever.
The impact of our Welcome Centre
After coming to our Welcome Centre…
- 96% of people say they feel less isolated
- 90% tell us their wellbeing has improved
- 95% say we supported them to find new services or opportunities
- 97% feel more welcomed and supported
“I feel less stressed after coming here. The support I received - whether through emotional support, practical help, or simply having someone to talk to - made a significant difference in managing my stress. Knowing I wasn’t alone in what I was going through helped me feel more grounded and supported.” - Yara
The need for our Welcome Centre
The people we support tell us our Welcome Centre is a lifeline in helping them rebuild their lives after fleeing war or persecution.
They have left their home country to find safety but are instead met with hostility, unsafe housing and extreme poverty. When they arrive, they are provided with very little support or guidance so must navigate a new country alone, often in an unfamiliar language - for example finding a school for their children and registering for a GP. This leaves people feeling isolated and unwelcome.
“My wellbeing and mood have improved since being supported by Bristol Refugee Rights. I feel more hopeful and less alone. The help I received made a real difference in how I see my situation and my future.’’ - Aso
Our Welcome Centre is a safe space away from this hostility where people feel part of a community and can access the support they need to overcome complex challenges and rebuild their lives. We are often the first place new asylum seekers come to when they arrive in the city - the route to access other services and communities across Bristol.
“Bristol Refugee Rights allowed me to get to know Bristol, make friends, keep busy. 95% of what I have done in Bristol is down to BRR.” - Maria
Why we need your support today
Over the last few years, we have seen a rise in anti-migrant protests and hate crimes. These are fuelled by stories in the media which often do not reflect the real life experiences of refugees and asylum seekers. They create fear and anxiety, and make people seeking asylum feel isolated.
“You have made my day as I was feeling terrible and scared before talking to you.” - Nahom
Safe and welcoming spaces like our Welcome Centre are increasingly vital, but are few and far between. We need to raise £10,000 to keep our doors open for more than 1,000 people seeking asylum a year.
How your donation will help
£10 will buy lunch for 5 people seeking asylum
£25 will train a person seeking asylum to volunteer at our Welcome Centre
£40 will cover the cost of a specialist appointment to support a person seeking asylum to access essential information, improve their wellbeing and find community
Aariz's story...
When we met Aariz and her children, they were new to Bristol with no support networks or established community. Aariz spoke little English, her children didn’t have basic essentials like clothes and she hadn’t been given any information about her rights to asylum support or legal advice. She told us about the huge impact this was having on her mental health:
“I was really scared mentally, feeling distressed, nervous, frightened. I was thinking if anything happened to my kids, I would end my life.”
Our Welcome Team supported her to get essential items, access English language lessons and understand her entitlements in the asylum support system.
“It was very beneficial, I got legal advice, help with registering at doctors and enrolling my children at school. I finally found safety, I felt at peace, any help I needed there was a way of getting it."
Aariz regularly comes to our Welcome Centre where she has enjoyed different activities, practiced her English, and volunteered in our community kitchen. She told us that social activities centred around sharing a meal have really helped her - she feels less isolated and part of a community, and wants to continue providing social support for others through her volunteering.
“It’s important because the social activity is helping me and I hope that I can do the same thing with others. My situation would be very bad if I did not have Bristol Refugee Rights.”
You donation will support people in similar situations to Aariz. Thank you for considering supporting out Welcome to Bristol campaign. If you have any questions or would like any further information, please email fundraising@bristolrefugeerights.org.
Thank you to Niki Groom for the illustrations - they capture the energy of our Welcome Centre so well.