About us We are a group of volunteers whobefriend and support asylum seekers and refugees in the Southampton area. Find out how we work, our partners and supporters how to refer people to us and see our newsletter. | Get involved There are so many ways you can help!You can train as a visitor, organise events, help raise money and awareness or simply make an online donation. | About asylum Want to learn more about the issues?Meet some of the asylum seekers we’ve supported, and get the facts about asylum seekers and refugees. |
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SWVG events
SWVG events include fundraising opportunities, talks and workshops.
Our events page lists events past and future.
Experiences
On the radio
Film
The short film North Star Fading is based on the testimonies of three Eritrean women who made the journey from Eritrea to the UK overland through Ethiopia, Sudan, Libya, the Mediterranean, Europe and to the UK. Two of the women were sent back to Eritrea after failed asylum cases and one of the women made the journey again and was successfully granted asylum in the UK on her second attempt.
Stories and Analysis from Refugee Action
- We won’t rest: more than 235 organisations pledge to carry on fight against Government’s anti-refugee laws 28/04/2022Some of the UK’s biggest charities have said they will ramp up their fight against the Government’s unfair refugee policies. More than 235 names from... The post We won’t rest: more than 235 organisations pledge to carry on fight against Government’s anti-refugee laws appeared first on Refugee Action.
Sponsor Claire’s ride to Liverpool!
Our amazing volunteer Claire Pigott will cycle from Southampton to Liverpool to raise money for SWVG, and highlight the unnecessary cruelty of forcing people to travel to Liverpool at their own expense for a 5 minute appointment just to hand in documents in person to make a new claim for asylum.
Click here to read more from Claire and donate.
Please give
Help us to improve the lives of asylum seekers in the Southampton area and support those that are destitute. SWVG is run by volunteers; very little money is spent on overheads.
Ukrainian refugees
SWVG cannot match people to Ukrainians. Register your interest on the Government "Homes for Ukraine" scheme website. This does not commit you to housing a family. Do read the frequently asked questions.
More information about how you can help.
Words from someone seeking asylum
SWVG, no words are enough describe what you are to me. You're my best friend. You're my family. You gave me hope when I had no hope. You gave me strength to go on in this trying moment. All your visitors are awesome.
Words from a visitor
The strength of clients is humbling: their resourcefulness, courage coming here and not being welcomed or believed. There is a sense of personal responsibility and respect and not letting each other down.
Refugees have always been part of the UK – it’s #WhoWeAre.
With over 350 other organisations we’re calling for a better approach to supporting refugees that is kinder, fairer and more effective.
LEARN ABOUT IMMIGRATION
You may want to read this excellent briefing on immigration from the BBC, January 2020