The LJS Drop-In for Asylum-Seeking Families provides warmth, dignity, and essential support to families navigating the UK asylum system. Once a month, we welcome 75–85 families to the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, offering £45 in cash—the only drop-in in London providing regular cash support—alongside a hot vegetarian meal, nappies, toiletries, seasonal clothing, shoes, a supervised play space for children, referrals, and a space of welcome. Founded in 2014, the Drop-In has grown into a vibrant, interfaith and intergenerational effort powered by over 200 volunteers, around 60% of whom come from outside the synagogue and many returning guests. Together, they prepare meals, run our stations, offer childcare, and ensure guests feel respected and cared for. Families also receive referrals to baby banks and local services for additional help. Rooted in the Jewish value of tikkun olam—repairing the world—we strive to create a space of welcome and solidarity in the face of the UK’s increasingly hostile asylum system. Your donation helps sustain this vital lifeline, ensuring families feel seen, supported, and safe every month.

Story

The Liberal Jewish Synagogue's Drop-In is a vital support hub for asylum-seeking families in London. With just one part-time staff member and more than 200 trained volunteers, we deliver monthly sessions which support 154 registered families from over thirty different countries, including 251 children.

At our Drop-In each family receives a warm meal, a small cash grant, travel reimbursement, nappies, shoes, school uniforms, clothes, toiletries, legal and baby bank referrals, community space, and access to a children’s play area. Our guests experience something too often denied to them: a safe, welcoming space where they can rest, connect, and be treated with dignity.

Unfortunately we only have enough funds to continue running until December 2025. It is no celebration that the need for our services continue, but the current state of the asylum system, it is evident that so many of our families rely on our support every month. Any support will go directly to supporting our families through our cash and travel reimbursements as well as purchasing food, nappies, and toiletries.

Thank you for considering donating to our valuable project.

Donation summary

Total
£100.00
+ £25.00 Gift Aid
Online
£100.00
Offline
£0.00

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