Always on
This project successfully funded on 9th January 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Suffolk Refugee Support Winter Appeal
Ipswich, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Crowdfunder is secure
Your payment details are protected
Aim
We need to raise urgent funds to support vulnerable asylum seekers across Suffolk who are suffering from trauma, isolation and fear
Who we are
We are an independent charity and the only specialist refugee support organisation in Suffolk. Our mission is simple but vital: to ensure that asylum seekers and refugees can live integrated, fulfilled and contributing lives in their new communities. For more than 25 years, we have been here for people when they need it most and have nowhere else to turn.
Why our work matters
The people we support often arrive with acute needs. Many have survived unimaginable experiences — war, extreme violence, the loss of loved ones, torture, persecution and exploitation. They then face a hostile and complex system that can strip away dignity and hope. For some, we are the first sympathetic ear they encounter after a long and traumatic journey in search of safety.
“Thank you for your work and for everything you do for people like me – those who arrived stressed, distressed, and unsure of what to do. I can finally say that my life is gaining new colours and directions, and a significant part of this is thanks to you.”
We help people settle, begin to rebuild, and start to look to the future.
Urgent needs in Suffolk
Increasing numbers of asylum seekers are now being placed in new and often remote parts of Suffolk, far from any support services. Many arrive late in the day, disorientated and unaware of where they are or who to turn to.
Sometimes the limited support they are entitled to breaks down, leaving families unable to feed their children. In other cases, Home Office support is removed in error, pushing people into sudden destitution.
How we help
This is where we step in. When other systems fail, we aim to meet people’s needs as soon as we know about them.
We provide:
- Emergency items and destitution support
- Advice to ensure people are receiving the support they are entitled to
- One-to-one guidance to help people navigate the asylum system
- Support to access health services, education, English classes and volunteering opportunities
- Financial support with school uniforms and access to transport
- Outreach visits and appointments at our offices to provide reassurance, practical advice and a warm, human welcome
For many people, this can be the first time in a long while that they begin to feel safe, valued and heard.
Why we need your help
Our services are extremely cost-effective: every pound supports our frontline work, and volunteers add huge value across our services. But we receive no direct funding for supporting newly-arrived asylum seekers. As the system becomes harsher and vulnerable people are placed in isolated areas, our resources are at full stretch.
We are now facing an imminent shortfall.
Your support will directly determine how many people we can reach with a warm welcome, essential advice and the vital assistance they need to begin rebuilding their lives.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made