About the Lifeline Service
In 2022, our Lifeline Service supported 1,737 destitute refugees and asylum seekers needing advice, shelter, and crisis support at crucial stages in the asylum process. Our Room for refugees Programme provided shelter through volunteer hosts for over 4,000 refugees from Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen. Our Ukraine Programme has so far sheltered over 500 Ukrainian refugee families. We distributed almost £100K from our Emergency Relief Fund – a genuine lifeline. These life-saving payments are primarily used for food, essential clothing, hygiene products, baby items, or travel required to access doctors, solicitors, or Home Office appointments.
This year's winter appeal has so far benefited 530 beneficiaries (328 adults and 202 children) from 48 countries, including Iran, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Eritrea, Yemen, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Palestine, and Somalia. The annual appeal is supported by our supporters, individuals, social housing providers, trade unions, the EIS and its branches, the Quakers, the Iona Community and companies. This vital appeal directly helps refugees and asylum-seeking families get a little reprieve during this freezing weather when many services will shut down and strikes are expected.