Latest news and updates from the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants.
Our register grew by 43% in the last 18 months
Over the last 18 months, the Centre has seen more people seeking our services as a result of increasing processing times of asylum cases in the UK and the cost of living crisis.
No matter who walks through our door, the Islington Centre is committed to meeting their immediate needs, such as a hot meal, community, and referrals to essential services.
Those seeking long-term support sign up to our Centre register. Over the last year, we increased our register from 130 to around 186 to serve 43% more people with long-term case management through the Support Service and participation in courses over the Spring term.
Despite this large increase in those served in a long-term capacity, the Centre is seeing a growing waiting list of those requesting to be registered at the Centre. The Centre is working hard to seek additional funding and resources to continue being responsive to the growing needs.
A Message From Luca
Read a short but powerful tribute to the Centre from Luca Silvestrini, the Artistic Director of the award-winning dance company Protein. A close friend of the Centre, Luca helps oversee a weekly dance session at the Centre.
“I am very proud of the relationship that Protein and Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants (ICRM) have developed over the last 10 years. Since my first visit to the Centre in 2013, I have felt a strong connection with the ethos and work that Andy and his staff and volunteers have been delivering with so much passion and care, providing a welcoming, learning and creative space for everyone visiting.
“As an artist who strongly believes in community practice and in the social, physical and mental benefits of participatory arts, I have found in ICRM a perfect partner to start and develop important and ambitious projects for and with refugees and asylum seekers.
“Together with the support of The Place, we have managed to establish a much loved and popular weekly dance session at the Centre and a very successful intensive performance project, There and Here. First piloted in 2015, There and Here has recently matured into a bigger project and won Community Project of the Year at The Stage Awards 2023. We were so pleased that an extract of the work was specifically restaged to celebrate ICRM’s 25th anniversary at Amnesty International, London in November last year.
“As a migrant myself, I am deeply connected to this work and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see the positive effects of these creative practices amongst the Centre’s clients; as their bodies begin to relax and stretch, they naturally and freely start dancing to music and let go of all their life struggles and pains.
“Within this safe and creative activity, participants have felt encouraged to share their traditional dances and music as well as their lived experiences and emotions, which have strongly moved and provoked those who came to see them perform. I have also enjoyed seeing the start of new friendships and artistic collaborations among the participants and with our dance artists.
“With no doubt, these projects have hugely impacted my artistic practice and strengthened Protein’s ongoing commitment to socially engaged art. ICRM and its people have now become so important to me, on a professional and personal level, and we are determined to continue this amazing journey together, looking at providing more creative opportunities to celebrate and empower the lives and skills of displaced people and communities.”
Staff Stories (Andy)
Staff Stories is the name of our behind-the-scenes series where we introduce members of staff in greater detail to show who – and what – makes our Centre such a success. Next up we have Andy Ruiz Palma, our Chief Executive.
How long have you been with the Centre?
I started at the Centre in the summer of 2000. I came from another charity project and started the Centre’s English classes teaching to mostly asylum seekers who lived in the area. I thought I was going to be teaching a one-year course, which was when the funding was due to run out. But one thing led to another and the demand for English classes increased. The funder was supportive of the success and we developed a whole project teaching and supporting the clients.
Why did you join the Centre?
Coming from another charity with a little funding remaining from a larger project, we were looking for a place to deliver English classes to refugees and asylum seekers. We found a very small developing project in the crypt of a church in Islington which was a perfect place to get stuck in teaching and attract new clients.
How did you get into this sector and what is your experience?
I trained as an English teacher in Highgate and taught in Thailand for a year. I then returned to the UK and taught English in Cambridge and London. I then settled in London where there was a demand for teaching refugees fleeing war and persecution from amongst other countries Albania, Kosovo, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia. I wanted to take my English teaching to where it would make the most difference, however small or large that may be.
It was challenging and intense at first, and I remember in the first few lessons we completely ran over time because the students were so into learning. They were making huge strides just in their first exposure to the language. Their desire to learn and integrate into the community was palpable and energising. I then went on to learn through experience and training on the job. There have been many challenges working in this sector but each one provides a fresh new perspective and helps to better understand the sector and those working in it and how to get the best out of it for the clients.
What does your role involve?
It is my role to lead the charity in its direction and instil the values that have developed over the years. A welcome to all, inclusion, creating opportunities, listening, acting practically and supportively. I work with all the clients, staff, volunteers and trustees to drive the mission forward and pull everything together to ensure the best for all our clients. In the day-to-day all of this takes many forms: it can be as office based as organising pensions and payroll, preparing the accounts or more hands-on talking to a client new or existing about a current issue or working with partners; it can be meeting with staff individually or collectively, forming new programmes or projects, creating and developing systems, writing policies, managing risk, speaking to funders and not to forget lots and lots of emails! Developing a strategy is one of the key parts to bring everything together. We have recently launched our new three-year strategy.
What do you love most about what you do?
It has to be the clients. Without them, there is no Centre. Every single client brings value and a fresh perspective to the work of the Centre. It is the moment of meeting a new client that creates a spark that helps to light the way forward.
Tell us something surprising about you.
Completely unrelated to the Centre, I helped start up the Circus society at University and went on to juggle with fire and breathe fire as a busker on the streets. I recommend juggling to all but I advise leaving out the fire!
Islington Giving Crisis Appeal
Islington Giving has released a video of one of our clients, Diana, talking about the positive impact donations can have during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Islington Giving is an organisation that works closely with local charities and community organisations to address poverty and inequality in Islington.
In 2022 it launched the Islington Giving Crisis Appeal, to help people and families who have been “experiencing deprivation even before the cost of living crisis” in Islington, which is one of the most unequal boroughs in the UK.
Our Centre forms part of a network of local voluntary and community organisations across Islington that have partnered with Islington Giving to help people with food, heating, and lighting costs.
As Diane puts it in the video, “Thanks to you, the Centre was able to offer a safe space with a warm welcome for refugees and asylum seekers.”
the other side of hope
We are delighted to see that the Islington Centre’s outstanding contributions to the second online edition of the other side of hope magazine – the collection Patchwork of Hope – are now live!
Edited by immigrants and refugees, the other side of hope: journeys in refugee and immigrant literature is a UK-based literary magazine edited by refugees and immigrants. It publishes fiction, poetry, non-fiction and book reviews by refugees and immigrants from across the world.
In the print version of the other side of hope (Autumn 2022), we were proud to have our communal poem of the same title published in this exciting new publication. This online collection extends this work to showcase the individual voices of some of our clients, who contributed poetry, letters, reflections on reality, a love story and art.
The communal poems were created during our popular weekly Art and Writing Hearth, where clients write and draw to create communal art. Run by Sita Brahmachari, Ros Asquith, and Jane Ray, these classes have given clients a space to express themselves artistically and socially, firing up their creative instincts in the process.
As Brahmachari puts it in the collection’s short introduction, “‘Patchwork of Hope’, like all the most beautiful quilts, recognises the work of individuals as part of a collective.”
You can read the full collection here: https://othersideofhope.com/vol-22-online.html
Silent Auction
In celebration of our 25th Anniversary, we would like to invite all to take part in our silent auction – which has just gone live!
Part of our 25th Anniversary celebration event at The Human Rights Action Centre in Amnesty International’s UK offices, the auction features some fabulous prizes, including original artwork, an ‘at-home’ Italian dining experience, a bottle of Moet Champagne and so much more.
To see what is available in the auction please visit this page. The auction closes at 10pm on Wednesday, November 30th.
If you are coming to our event, we look forward to welcoming you. But the auction event is open to everyone so please join in and share widely. For all the folks who won’t be able to attend but would like to support the vital work that the Centre does, this is a great way to contribute.
25th Anniversary Celebrations
We are delighted to announce that the Centre is celebrating 25 Years of Welcoming and Supporting Refugees at a special event on 30th November 2022.
Tickets are now available for a 25th-anniversary event that will be held at 6:30pm at The Human Rights Action Centre in Amnesty International’s offices, which are located at 17 – 25 New Inn Yard, London, EC2A 3EA. Everyone with a connection to the Centre and members of the local community are all welcome and should expect food, drinks, a silent auction, art, poetry, performance, and much more.
Alice Bever, a Centre volunteer who is coordinating the anniversary event, says that the ‘aim is to invite current and new supporters of the Centre into our world for an evening that is both fun and purposeful’.
‘During this post-lockdown shift, it is important to remind the local community of why we are here, why this work is vital and who this organisation serves,’ she adds. ‘It is equally paramount that we showcase the talents, interests, stories and joy found in and around the Centre, spanning clients, partners, volunteers, staff, and the board.’
The Centre was founded in 1997 in the crypt of a church in Islington to help local asylum seekers in the borough. Ever since 2000, when our current Chief Executive Andy Ruiz Palma joined, it has expanded to deliver a broad range of activities to refugees and asylum seekers from across London, becoming a registered company in 2009 and registering as a charity in 2010.
Throughout this period, we have helped hundreds of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, resiliently forging a strong reputation within the sector against a backdrop of central government funding cuts and – most recently – pandemic. This unmissable event will serve as an opportunity to share stories about the Centre and the many refugees and migrants who have passed through its doors, reflect on successes and what makes it so special, and look forward to a prosperous future.
The event will begin at 6.30pm and will feature exhibits by artists, items to purchase, a silent auction (made live before the event – more to follow!), and an opportunity to speak to clients, volunteers and staff and find out more about the work of the Centre.
Food will be available to purchase and there will be a bar. Tickets are £10 (plus booking fee). All proceeds raised will go towards our vital work.
Condolences
Today, as the nation mourns Her Majesty The Queen, we send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family.
As we all come together today in today’s shared experience we remember all those who are suffering loss across the world.
Throughout her reign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II showed an unwavering dedication to the service of others and great care for those in need.
She will be greatly missed by people around the world for her dignity, her sense of duty and the great efforts she made to bring nations together.
Lloyds Grant
We are happy to reveal that Lloyds Bank Foundation has awarded the Centre an unrestricted two-year grant of £50,000 that can be used to support any activities that will help us continue providing intensive, holistic support to refugees and migrants in our community.
Lloyds Bank Foundation, an independent charitable trust funded by Lloyds Banking Group, partners with small and local charities to help people overcome complex social issues. Funding is provided for core costs, developmental support and influencing policy and practice.
According to the Lloyds Bank Foundation, charities like ours ‘are underfunded, under pressure and too often ignored’ and require someone who will ‘listen, understand and respond to charities, funding them for longer and providing developmental support to grow stronger and become more sustainable’.
Anna Giokas, the Centre’s Head of Fundraising and Communications, said this grant is ‘fantastic news’ that ‘gives us confidence as we move into the academic year ahead’.
‘There is so much we want to be able to offer the refugees and asylum seekers who come to us but the cost of living crisis means we face uncertain times and a difficult fundraising landscape,’ she adds. ‘Having the support of Lloyds means we can continue to develop and we are looking forward to working closely with them.’
Staff Stories (Cassia)
Staff Stories is the name of our new series, where we hope to introduce members of staff in greater detail to show who – and what – makes our Centre such a success. Next up we have Cassia Lewis, our Support Service Caseworker.
How long have you been with the Centre?
I started in February 2022 and am just coming up to 6 months with the Centre. It was an interesting time to join the team as we were all slowly coming out of lockdown and everyone was adapting. In a way, this was a good time to join since I was learning the new ways in which the Centre would run at the same time as everyone else!
Why did you join the Centre?
I have always been very aware of the experiences faced by migrants integrating into a new country and rebuilding their lives. My grandmother came to the UK from Germany at the end of the War, she spoke no English and she didn’t know anyone. This was a time before ESOL classes and friendship groups and I know how incredibly challenging it was for her. Her experiences really shaped my understanding of the obstacles faced by migrants. I knew I wanted to work in an organisation where I could support people through this journey.
How did you get into this sector and what is your experience?
I gained a lot of experience as a volunteer initially before then moving into full-time work in the sector. I began as a volunteer with a small local organisation called Welcome 2 The UK, which is a community support group for newly arrived migrants and asylum seekers. They worked closely with a local branch of Citizens Advice who then reached out to me with an invitation to join their Immigration Department. Whilst at Citizens Advice I began studying for exams in immigration and asylum law which I am still working towards.
During this time I was also working as a volunteer mentor for a charity supporting survivors of trafficking and modern slavery. The training opportunities and support offered by all of these organizations were brilliant, and I learned so much working in this way. I would recommend volunteering to anyone who wants to gain an insight into the charity sector.
What does your role involve?
As a Support Services Caseworker my role is very varied. It could involve supporting clients to access healthcare or education. Sometimes clients have needs that are best supported by specialist charities or partner organisations and then my role involves making the appropriate onward referral. There are times when clients need us to advocate for them and you must become a voice on their behalf. On a day-to-day basis I could be writing supporting statements, contacting solicitors, the Home Office or local authorities in the morning, and registering clients with dentists, arranging hosting placements or making welfare calls in the afternoon.
What do you love most about what you do?
Working in an organisation that does such important work is a real privilege and I feel lucky every day that I get to be a part of that.
Tell us something surprising about you.
I spent two years studying British Sign Language!
Church on the Corner
July 2022
Much to the Centre’s delight, a local church, Church on the Corner, recently donated £3,960, a huge sum which will go towards our Support Packages and make a huge difference for clients who are experiencing destitution.
To celebrate this gesture and connect with the church’s congregation, Anna Giokas, our Head of Fundraising and Communications, will speak at the church on Sunday, 31st July.
She will discuss what we do, our identity and ethos, key challenges of the last few years, our plans for the future, and information on how the wider community can support our work. One of our clients will also attend to tell their individual story at the event, which is open to the general public.
Based on Barnsbury Road, Church on the Corner’s home is an unassuming, stripped-back old pub, where worship is a blend of the traditional and the contemporary (Church of England).
“At the moment, we are thinking very carefully about our role as the church within our community, and how we might reach out to it more, hence our desire to engage more in the wonderful work of the Islington Centre,” said Emily Hockley, a member of Church on the Corner’s church council.
“We believe in the high importance God places on providing welcome and care to the marginalised, and the offering of dignity, home, and family to everyone is a central aspect of our faith, so the Centre’s priorities align well with ours.”
Proud To Pitch In
July 2022
As part of its Proud to Pitch In initiative, we are delighted to announce that Greene King IPA has awarded the Centre a grant of £3,000.
Proud To Pitch In aims to pay grants to grassroots and community sports clubs across the United Kingdom. From the Centre’s perspective, this grant will ensure that at least 65 clients will feel physically better and empowered to overcome the issues they face through our gym, yoga, and exercise classes, as well as our sports discussion group.
Finding ways to exercise can be very difficult for asylum seekers and refugees. Some of the main barriers include a lack of English and cultural knowledge about how to get involved, a fear of feeling vulnerable in an unknown situation, and a lack of funds.
After all, asylum seekers waiting for a decision from the Home Office about whether they can remain in the UK must survive on less than £6 per day – leaving nothing for exercise classes, groups or clothes to train in.
“Opportunities to regain a sense of physical well-being are crucial for refugees and asylum seekers as they strive to create a new life here in the UK,” says Anna, our Head of Fundraising and Communications. “Thank you so much to Greene King for awarding us this grant, it is going to make a big difference to people here.”
Staff Stories (Anna)
Staff Stories is the name of our new series, where we hope to introduce members of staff in greater detail to show who – and what – makes our Centre such a success. First up, we have Anna Giokas, our Head of Fundraising and Communications.
How long have you been with the Centre?
I started in February 2020, just a few weeks before the first lockdown. Although a challenging time to get started, it was really inspiring to see how the charity reinvented itself to reach people during the pandemic.
Why did you join the Centre?
My dad came to England in 1973 to get away from the right-wing military dictatorship which ruled Greece at the time. I know how hard it can be for people in those early years of coming to England, and I wanted to help refugees and asylum seekers who, like my dad did, find themselves alone in a foreign country. When I met Andy, I saw his dedication and how much he cared, and I thought that this was a place which was genuinely making a difference.
How did you get into this sector and what is your experience?
I got into fundraising by quite a circular route. I trained as a journalist and worked as a news reporter for about five years before taking an MA in Creative Writing. When I finished, I knew that I wanted to do something worthwhile and started applying for communication jobs in small, grassroots charities. My first job was at a small charity for people with learning disabilities.
What does your role involve?
My job title is Head of Fundraising and Communications, which is as varied as it sounds. My main responsibility is to secure funds from trusts and foundations, which make up around 80% of our income. I really enjoy making applications and getting to know the different funds. I also get to work with our corporate partners and I oversee our website and social media.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love going into the Centre and meeting people – it’s such a good atmosphere. It’s impossible to describe. But what I love most is knowing that the money I bring in helps people who really need it.
Tell us something surprising about you.
I once spent two years living in a bungalow in a village called Little Snoring. It was as eventful as it sounds!
Refugee Week 2022
June 2022
On Wednesday, 22nd June 2022, we are marking Refugee Week 2022 in style. Staff, volunteers, clients and some of our partners will come together for an exciting day at the Centre, hosting a series of special activities.
Among other activities and the usual camaraderie, we will be offering hot meals provided by The Food from the Heart Campaign organised by the Caring Family Foundation, a dance performance involving clients (coordinated by Protein Dance) will keep everyone on their toes, and there will also be a special make-up workshop for those interested in cosmetics.
“Refugee Week has always been an important time for our community. It helps to raise awareness about the issues our clients face and gives us all the opportunity to celebrate our diversity and shine a light on the great contribution made by refugees,” says Andy, our Chief Executive.
“This week will be our time together to have fun, share experiences through workshops like dance, choir and makeup, have lunch together, and share stories and hopes. The celebrations will be underpinned by our amazing team of staff and volunteers who will continue to support our clients this and every week.”
Joseph’s Powerful Testimony
Many clients of ours come to us to voice their appreciation for the positive impact that the Centre has had on their lives.
One such client is Joseph, who received financial assistance, education and immigration advice, and benefited from mental well-being support and other group activities.
Over on our client blog, Joseph describes how the Centre became a lifeline during difficult times. Like many of the people who come to us, Joseph had no recourse to public funds. He used the Centre as, in his words, “a coping mechanism for my mental health and wellbeing, due to the Home Office’s harsh and inhumane immigration policies”.
To read Joseph’s story, including how the Centre helped him return to education, see his blog entry: https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/2022/06/14/josephs-joy/
Plan A Consultants Donate Toiletries and Become Our Latest Partner
June 2022
We would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to everyone at Plan A Consultants – our newest partner – for their amazing support.
On June 8th, Ellie Smith and Gail Lewis gave up their lunch breaks to deliver an
array of toiletries to the Centre. Donated by staff at Plan A Consultants, they will make a substantial difference to the refugees and asylum seekers who received them.
Many people who come to us are destitute. This means that basics like toothpaste, soap and sanitary products are often too expensive, and too difficult to access.
Following on from this donation, we are delighted to say that we have recently formed a partnership with Plan A Consultants, a bespoke Design Management firm based in Clerkenwell.
We very much look forward to working with them in the future!
Macquarie Group Easter Bake Sale
A huge thank you to the Graduate Volunteer Network (GVN) at Macquarie Group for everything they are doing to support us.
In April, the team raised a fantastic £1,500 at their Easter-themed bake sale when nine GVN members volunteered throughout the day to run a stall. Cupcakes and decorative kits, among other items, attracted the attention of Macquarie staff, who raised £750on the day which Macquarie generously matched.
For a charity of our size, this makes a huge difference. This contribution is enough to provide nineteen clients facing destitution with food, digital credit, travel expenses, and essentials for a month.
Thank you Macquarie Group and the GVN!
5000 Attendances
May 18th, 2022.
Over 5,000 attendances have already been recorded by The Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants for both online and in-person sessions since the start of 2022.
Spanning English language classes, physical wellbeing events, Centre visits, and other activities, we are extremely proud to see how engagement with services continues to rise year on year.
According to Chief Executive of the Centre, Andy Ruiz Palma, the Centre’s vibrant community – which comprises people from 39 countries including, among others, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Turkey, Syria, China – has taken fantastically well to the online-physical blend of services, aided by the Centre’s ramped-up Digital Inclusion efforts.
‘Before Covid,’ said Andy, ‘we never could have imagined running an online school for our clients!’
In greater volumes than ever before, clients are bringing new issues and needs – social, medical, and linguistic – to the attention of staff and volunteers. During and even after the COVID-19 pandemic, this has meant an intensification in workload. But these challenges, he said, have been overcome creatively and positively because of the ‘resilience of the amazing staff and volunteer team’.
‘The commitment of the clients has also helped to build our community throughout this challenging period,’ he added. ‘There has been lots of learning for us all to get things moving forward so we can better support our clients online and in-person.’
What explains the consistency of the weekly attendance levels?
‘The quality of the sessions, professionalism, open-mindedness and flexibility’ of the Centre’s dedicated team of staff and volunteers, he explained, continues to ensure that ‘some of the most vulnerable people in our society’ are helped and empowered.
Sing in the Spring
Thank you so very much to Bellow Fellows and Islington Choir for raising £2251.72 towards our work at a wonderful evening held at St Luke’s in West Holloway.
‘Sing in the Spring’, held on March 25th, included a Ukrainian lullaby, sea shanties, drinking songs and some beautiful choral pieces. More than 160 tickets were sold and all proceeds raised from ticket sales and the bar in the interval will go towards the Centre.
At the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants we work with 176 people from all over the world who have come to the UK seeking sanctuary. Of those, 78 people are experiencing destitution and we keep them from hunger by sending them support packages every fortnight. For those people, the money raised at ‘Sing in the Spring’ will literally be a lifeline.
It was a warm, uplifting evening and our heartfelt thanks go to Dom Stichbury of ‘Bellow Fellows’ and Ryan O’Riordan from ‘The Islington Community Choir’ for everything they did to make it so special!
If you belong to a group or an organisation which could raise funds for us, please get in touch. It doesn’t need to be a big event — we have a growing register and all donations are welcome.
Christmas Cards 2021
We are so proud to present this year’s Christmas Card featuring the art and poetry of Ntela. The card was designed in the Art and Writing session facilitated by Jane Ray, Sita Brahmachari and Ros Asquith.
Swallow’s Kiss and Little Amal at the Southbank Centre
Swallow’s Kiss was performed at The Southbank Centre on Saturday 23 October.
Swallow’s Kiss, by our artists in residence writer Sita Brahmachari and illustrator Jane Ray, follows the story of seven year old Blessing and her family as she discovers a bag of lost paper birds with wishes written in different languages on their wings.
The tale was inspired by the experiences of people at the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants.
The event welcomed Little Amal to London and involved music by members of the Islington Centre Refugee choir and the Songworks choir.
Who is Little Amal?
‘Little Amal’ is not so little at 9 foot tall. She’s walking from Syria to raise awareness of the plight of refugee people. You can find out more about Little Amal and follow her journey here.
For more information, click here: https://southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/family-young-people/welcome-wishes?eventId=882847
Macquarie Group
A huge thank you to Macquarie Group for inviting our Chief Executive Andy Ruiz Palma to join an online event in celebration of #Refugee Week. Andy was in conversation with Anita Huynh, Senior Vice President at Macquarie Group, whose parents escaped Vietnam after the war in 1975. The conversation was led by Farzana Islam, Macquarie Group Foundation, EMEA and Harry Jobson of the Macquarie Graduate Volunteering Network, which has supported us all year with fundraising events.
The event was live streamed to Macquarie’s European offices and covered Anita’s personal experience and the issues that refugees face in the UK and wider Europe and what actions we can take to support the local communities in which we live and work. It was a great opportunity for Andy to raise awareness about what we at the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants are doing to help people feel connected and improve their lives. Thank you Macquarie Group!
Swallow’s Kiss
In celebration of Refugee Week we are delighted to announce the launch of Swallow’s Kiss, a beautiful children’s book inspired by the experiences of people at the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants.
Swallow’s Kiss, by our artists in residence Sita Brahmachari and Jane Ray, follows the story of seven year old Blessing and her family as she discovers a bag of lost paper birds with wishes written in different languages on their wings.
For a sneak peak of Swallow’s Kiss please click the download button below:
You can buy your copy of Swallow’s Kiss here: https://pop-up.org.uk/shop/
Wendy Hawley’s Lockdown Journals
Wendy Hawley has supported us in our work with an art exhibition through Hanley Art Gallery in previous years and is now promoting her Lockdown Journals in support of the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants and The Felix Project.
The Lockdown Journals are priced at £10 for one or £16 for both Journals.
Please contact Wendy directly on aush.wenh@gmail.com for purchases and any queries.
To view samples of the lockdown journals please click the download button below:
Session Delivery
We are currently working fully online, we continue to support our community with sessions via Zoom please click the button below to see our full timetable.
Art & Writing – Rainbow Hearth
We continue to hold our weekly Art & Writing sessions with Jane Ray and Sita Brahmachari, to view the work created at our Rainbow Hearth please click the button below.
New Sessions
New and upcoming sessions in our online world:
– Sports Appreciation
– Baby Group
– Reflection Session
Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants 