Portsmouth City of Sanctuary (PCoS) hosts a weekly Refugee Hub in Portsmouth, 10am-12.30pm on Mondays. All displaced people needing asylum guidance are welcome to attend.
The Refugee Hub is a multi-agency collaboration with organisations that come to help, such as, Portsmouth Library, The Hive, The Moving On project, Vista, Portsmouth City Council Community Connectors, 432 nomads, Action Asylum, Hampshire Constabulary and Baby Basics.
At the Hub, trained staff and volunteers can help people seeking asylum by providing orientation casework to displaced people. We offer support and signpost sanctuary seekers to key statutory agencies in the City who are there to help asylum seekers and refugees.
In addition to the Hub, we are the only refugee charity providing 1-2-1 face-to-face casework throughout the week. This includes trained staff delivering a pop-up hub for asylum seekers at emergency dispersal accommodation in the City.
We work alongside Portsmouth City Council’s early help teams and social workers supporting families. We attend multi safeguarding statutory meetings with key organisations in the City, all working towards providing safety to security for new people sent to Portsmouth.
We provide access to key skills and activities as soon as someone is dispersed into the City of Portsmouth, that help people seeking sanctuary. Our projects encourage integration, so that new people to the city feel welcome. This stops sanctuary seekers feeling isolated and empowers them to build skills through volunteering whilst making friends and improving their well-being.
We have worked with the Portsmouth Libraries (awarded Library of Sanctuary) , Aspex Portsmouth (awarded Gallery of Sanctuary) and charities that provide volunteering opportunities for sanctuary seekers.
Projects led by PCoS
- Action Asylum which gives people seeking sanctuary a chance to volunteer, working with local people who also volunteer. The work can be anything from gardening to filmmaking.
- Sports Activities include strength and conditioning training for women, football for men over 18 and boxing for men and women.
- HAVEN is a female-only space, that has a programme of activities available to those who have suffered gender violence.
- English classes are free and open to everyone at the Refugee Hub.
- Creative Community offers arts organisations and individual artists the opportunity to form a strong community with asylum seekers and refugees who are keen to showcase their creative talents alongside members of the local creative community.
- Kitchen of Hope gives our sanctuary seeking volunteers the chance to use their skills and knowledge to cook dishes from their home countries.
- LGBTQ+ Monthly Club is part of a project called Colour Me Safe supported by funding from Arts Council England.
If you are an organisation working with migrants and need assistance, please do not hesitate to email us at info@portsmouth.cityofsanctuary.org.
If you would like to attend the Refugee Hub for the first time, contact referrals@portsmouth.cityofsanctuary.org
Asylum Seeker testimonial:
“I feel very happy. I have made friends and attend English classes at the Hub. My asylum claim is still with the Home Office. The caseworker at the Hub helped me to find a solicitor. I no longer feel lonely in the city.”
Health Visitor testimonial:
“I phoned everywhere to get specialist advice for my client. I am very pleased that she received help and guidance from the PCoS Refugee Hub.”
Non-statutory agency testimonial:
“PCoS diverse partnerships and knowledge in the city gives me confidence when referring clients for advice and support with them. Many of our clients can now access English lessons in the heart of the city whilst making friends and connecting with local support services. Their volunteers and staff are friendly and knowledgeable.”
The Refugee Hub is part of the PMRS (Portsmouth Migrant and Refugee Service) project at PCoS, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
