A MESSAGE FROM DAVID ARCHIBALD
Chair of the Justice and Peace Refugee Project Steering Group
Throughout 2025 we have continued to support clients using our Justice and Peace Refugee Project.
The rhetoric around asylum seekers has worsened in the last year, and our clients in the hotel have been subject to especial harassment. Our Refugee Project remains a place where people seeking asylum are made welcome, are offered a hot beverage and support. We are not in a position to take up personal casework, but we do signpost clients to other services that are available.
Due to the generosity of donors, we also provide basic food bags to all our clients and for those who are destitute, a monthly supermarket voucher currently worth £45. We also have been able to fund a small Christmas bonus voucher for our clients.
Working with the SVP we have also been able to provide good quality second hand clothing and homewares to our clients. This is an extremely valuable service as so many people arrive with only basic clothing, often unsuitable for our climate and do not have the money to buy more.
We continue to benefit from the insight, organisational skills and commitment of Azad Hasan, our project co-ordinator. Azad has continued to build up links with agencies such as Action Foundation, WERS , the Red Cross and other organisations. The project is a member of Newcastle City of Sanctuary and Azad regularly attends meetings with the other partners.
We are grateful to the diocese who give us logistical support such as safeguarding advice, training and DBS checking, financial advice and HR support.
Read more in this Annual Report 2026 and thank you for your continued support.