Drop-in celebrated this Refugee Week for community support

Refugee and asylum seeker drop-in supports 570 people in its first year

The Salvation Army is celebrating its refugee and asylum seeker drop-in service in Accrington this Refugee Week with 570 individual people supported since its launch last year.

Awarded the Lancashire County Council contract at the start of 2023, which will run for three years, The Salvation Army in Accrington offers support to refugees and asylum seekers through providing a weekly drop-in service and has seen demand increase each week as people in the area seek specialist support and guidance.

The drop in facility operates out of the church and charity’s Lifehouse (hostel) Crossroads on Empress Street, Accrington, and sees a specialist support worker on-hand to help clients across Hyndburn access health, education, employment, benefits, housing and immigration support. Interpreters can be booked to help with any language barriers and food and clothing bank referrals are also available as well as support with finding a solicitor for people seeking asylum.

Drop-ins take place every Tuesday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and the one day a week service has already seen more than 500 individual people supported, just a year into the contract showing that it is in high demand. 

Lee Robinson, specialist support worker for The Salvation Army in Accrington said: “The people we see seeking our support are in desperate situations, leaving war-torn countries and taking horrendous journeys to just be safe. Our aim is to treat all individuals with respect and as we would like to be treated if we were in that situation, loving our neighbours and assisting them in integrating into the new culture that they want to embrace.

“We knew that there was a need for the service when it first launched but have been shocked to see demand grow each month. Thankfully we have never had to turn anyone away and everyone has left the drop-in with the information that they came for and a purpose and hope for the future, which has been wonderful to see.”

Refugee Week takes place from Monday, June 17, to Sunday, June 23, and celebrates the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

Refugees and asylum seekers that have accessed the drop in have come from countries including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. Men, women and families with children have been supported and signposted. 

For those individuals who may need legal immigration support, a representative from an immigration advice service is available once a month and this service can be booked in advance.

The Salvation Army has a long history offering practical support to people fleeing conflict, persecution and violence. This service in Accrington is part of The Salvation Army’s community work in Lancashire for supporting refugees and asylum seekers in partnership with local councils.