Portsmouth City of Sanctuary is proud to partner with the national Action Asylum initiative, which facilitates volunteering opportunities for people seeking sanctuary, whilst making a difference to the environment in which they live.
Action Asylum Portsmouth connects asylum seekers with local communities. They are offered voluntary work that can improve their neighbourhood with a focus on climate and biodiversity. Part of this work connects to Climate Action and The Wildlife Trusts and for Portsmouth, the local Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust.
There will be more of a focus on beach cleans, community gardens and green spaces.
The Action Asylum project helps asylum seekers to meet friends, learn new skills, grow in confidence and alleviate their mental trauma. See example below of when asylum seekers helped Rowner Community Trust with support from Gosport Council.
Portsmouth City of Sanctuary volunteers plant trees in Rowner
The Portsmouth Action Asylum Project Leader is John, who has a wealth of experience that nurtures ecology and community through empathy, creativity and artistic expression.
Mission Statement
Action Asylum provides opportunities for asylum seekers to volunteer alongside local people in their communities. The opportunities include improving their local neighbourhood and protecting the environment. This supports people’s well-being, encourages integration and shared learning, and demonstrates the contributions asylum seekers can make to our society.
Project Aims
- Provide volunteering opportunities for people seeking asylum and local people, to improve the environment through conservation and community efforts.
- Promote integration and shared learning by connecting people seeking asylum to their local communities and so promote better mental health and well-being.
- Improve public perception of people seeking asylum.
Action Asylum Evaluation Report 2025
We’re thrilled to share the findings of our independent evaluation report, conducted by Dr. Chris Stone at the University of Nottingham. This report highlights the incredible impact of Action Asylum’s work—empowering people seeking asylum and local communities through volunteering.
Key Findings:
• 2,302 volunteers engaged in our programs
• 57,255 hours of volunteering contributed to communities
• Planted 18,500 trees across the UK
• Volunteers from 102 different countries
If you are an asylum seeker in Portsmouth and would like to take part in a community project, or you are an organisation who aims to improve the environment in which we live, please contact John by emailing [email protected]
Follow us on Intagram @action.asylum.portsmouth
