ABOUT US

Since 1997, the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants has been a vital lifeline for thousands of refugees and people seeking asylum in London. We are proud to be a hub of services and support to our vibrant community of 225 individuals representing over 40 countries.

The people who come to us have been through extremely difficult times. Leaving your country because of war, persecution or torture takes real grit, determination and courage. But for many, arriving in London is just the beginning of a long journey towards settled status and a decent life. 

At the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants, our approach is compassionate and person-centered. On average, people stay with us for four years, during which we build strong, lasting relationships and walk alongside each individual as they learn English, navigate the asylum process, secure stable housing, and pursue education or employment. We offer a hybrid model of 3 in-person days per week and 5 days of online sessions and services to ensure accessibility.

For 29 years the Islington Centre has been more than a service provider, it’s a place of hope, healing, and human connection.

MISSION

Our mission is to offer people the emotional support, practical tools and sense of community they need to build a happy life in the UK.

VISION

We envisage a world where refugees, asylum seekers and migrants are integrated fully into their new communities with equal access to opportunities to progress their lives and fulfil their potential.

The Centre was founded in 1997 in the crypt of a church in Islington to help local people seeking asylum in Islington.

Our Chief Executive, Andy Ruiz Palma, first joined as an English teacher of a small class in 2000. Since then the Centre has grown to deliver a broad range of activities and became a registered company in 2009 and a registered charity in 2010.

Over the years we have served several thousands refugees, people seeking asylum and migrants from across London, forging a strong reputation within the sector.

Our Core Values are:

  1. Offering a warm welcome to all who come to us
  2. Working together to put the commumity first
  3. Care and compassion
  4. Respect and dignity for all
  5. Learning and improving our working model from our own learning
  6. Showing grit and determination to be here for our clients 
  7. Working together with our community to develop in line with their need

These values underpin our work and have been identified through experience, practice and self reflection. These are the values that we have built our model on and the values that have ensured commitment from funders and the successes attained by our community.

They are derived from direct experience from our community who have direct input and feedback in the practical work we do. See more about our approach and how we prioritise co-creation with our community.

It is these values that motivate the commitment of the staff, volunteers and wider supporters of the charity.

Our Charitable Objectives as described in our Memorandum and Articles of Association are: 

  1. To advance education and relieve financial hardship amongst those seeking asylum and those granted refugee status by the provision of advice, training and support. 
  2. To advance the education of the public in general about the issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum. 
  3. To advance the Christian religion by living out our love for neighbour and bringing the stranger of any or no faith into our community.* 

All work of the charitable company has been dedicated to the furtherance of these objectives.

* We welcome people of all faiths and none and have no religious affiliation. There is no requirement for personnel or clients to be of any particular faith. Our work has no association with any religious practices. The Centre began in 1997 in a church and the reference to Christianity in our Charitable Objectives remains as a legacy of our early beginnings.  We are proud to have partnerships with several local churches and many other organisations, which represent people of all religions.