In December 2021, we awarded £86,240 to the Lewisham Refugee & Migrant Network (LRMN), from the Charity of Sir Richard Whittington for a three-year period, to support the frontline service which improves the lives of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Southeast London.

In 2022, the first year of the funding, LRMN was able to strengthen its organisation capacity, securing further project funding, increasing employee and volunteer numbers, continuing its campaign and advocacy work, and ultimately increasing the number of people they could support.

Case study provided by LRMN

“Sometimes life can be unpredictable. Cecile came to the UK to look after her ill daughter and her four grandchildren. But within a few months, her daughter sadly passed away. Quickly, Cecile applied for further leave to remain, and was given status, but with no access to public funds to look after four children. Soon, she fell into rent arrears and was unable to afford basic amenities or Home Office fees to extend her visa further.

“That is when we met Cecile. We helped her put in an urgent change of conditions application, so that she could access public funds and support her family. This was quickly granted, along with a fee waiver, so she could submit her application for Further Leave to Remain. Without our help, Cecile and her family would have been evicted, and she would have been undocumented. Cecile can now access the funds she needs to support her grandchildren without the worry of an expiring immigration status.”

Learn more about our Church & Communities programme here.