International Care Network

International Care Network ICN is based in the Bournemouth area and is a charity which provides a warm welcome for members of the refugee and migrant communities.

Our Christian charity believes that we should “welcome the stranger” and works to help refugees and migrants from all faiths and backgrounds to rebuild their lives in the UK. We help them to overcome obstacles in settling here. We help them by giving them advice and support on immigration, employment and in finding accommodation. In addition, we offer English classes for those who are not able to

access mainstream education. A particular recent focus has been supporting women and children through home visits and homework clubs.

A great way to celebrate the courage of refugees and migrants is to watch a film on the topic and have a chat about it. ...
19/06/2026

A great way to celebrate the courage of refugees and migrants is to watch a film on the topic and have a chat about it.

Each year the Refugee Week Film Festival organisers curate a selection of short and feature-length films exploring themes of displacement, migration, belonging, and community. The films invite reflection, conversation, and connection – whether you watch at home or gather others for a shared screening.

This week, ICN and the Parks Foundation joined forces to host a screening to watch and discuss some of the short films selected for the festival:

‘This year marks the third year we have hosted a film night during Refugee week. We have found that this has created great conversation and given a chance to reflect with others on migration. Every year we have seen deep compassion from those attending that often leads to people thinking in a deeper way and even wanting to volunteer. Seeing people come together and discuss with love and care is really special: especially with some Service Users attending the screening as they wanted to share their experience!’

If you would like to join in, you can find a screening or stream the films at home for free during Refugee Week. Visit https://refugeeweek.org/take-part/film-festival/ to find out more.

18/06/2026

📚 Today we are focusing on the power of books to help us understand the world and make sense of our place in it.

Books are invaluable for those working to improve their English language skills when they come to the UK. Our Book Club gives service users a chance to read and discuss together and runs alongside our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses.

If you would like to give the gift of language, you can find out more about our Sponsor-a-Learner campaign on our website – link in bio! 📚

Books can be powerful tools to help us understand the world. For thousands of years, stories have been our way of making...
18/06/2026

Books can be powerful tools to help us understand the world. For thousands of years, stories have been our way of making sense of the world and our place in it. They help us better understand other people, and ourselves too. Today, we have almost an infinite number of incredible stories at our fingertips.

Books by and about refugees can help us see the refugee experience through the eyes of individual people and can help us grow our compassion and inspire us to take action.

Books are also invaluable for those working to improve their English language skills when they come to the UK. Our Book Club gives service users a chance to read and discuss together and runs alongside our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses.

If you would like to give the gift of language, you can find out more about our Sponsor-a-Learner campaign on our website
https://www.icn.org.uk/giving/sponsor-a-learner/

One of our most popular community activities at ICN is our cooking class. The group meet regularly to share some of thei...
17/06/2026

One of our most popular community activities at ICN is our cooking class. The group meet regularly to share some of their favourite recipes and learn from each other’s cultures.

Even when we don’t share languages, backgrounds or traditions, we often find that we all love to gather around the table and share a meal: food is a universal language!

Some of the women who take part in our cooking class shared their favourite recipes.

This Refugee Week, as we celebrate the courage of refugees, as the saying goes, ‘let’s build a longer table, not a higher wall’ – why not try out a new recipe and invite someone to share it with you?

Download the recipe cards from our blog
https://www.icn.org.uk/about-us/blog/

This Refugee Week, we are celebrating the remarkable courage of those who are rebuilding their lives her in the UK. Swim...
16/06/2026

This Refugee Week, we are celebrating the remarkable courage of those who are rebuilding their lives her in the UK. Swimming Teacher Samira shared with us how she has been inspired by the courage of refugee women who come to her lessons:

"Swimming is about so much more than learning a skill – it is about building confidence, overcoming fears, and discovering inner strength.

Working with refugee and Muslim women has been an inspiring experience. Many of the women come to the pool feeling nervous or uncertain, but I have seen incredible courage as they take those first steps into the water. Each small achievement, whether putting their face in the water, floating independently, or swimming their first length, represents determination and resilience.

What inspires me most is how these women support one another, celebrate each other’s progress, and grow in confidence with every lesson. Their willingness to face challenges and keep moving forward is a powerful reminder that courage is not the absence of fear – it is taking the next step despite it.

Swimming creates opportunities for physical wellbeing, connection, and empowerment. It helps women feel stronger, more independent, and more confident both in and out of the water"

This Refugee Week, we are celebrating the remarkable courage of those who are rebuilding their lives her in the UK. Cour...
16/06/2026

This Refugee Week, we are celebrating the remarkable courage of those who are rebuilding their lives her in the UK.

Courageous conversations are happening all the time at our regular Conversation Corner group for women.

It requires courage to meet new people, find ways to communicate and speak honestly: but one service user shared with us how it has made a huge difference in her life…

"I want to express my deepest gratitude for Conversation Corner. When I first arrived in this country, everything felt so unfamiliar. I came from a place where I would simply go to school and return home. No social gatherings, no community spaces. When I moved here, I felt lost, scared to speak, and unsure of where I belonged. But the moment I walked into Conversation Corner, everything began to change. At first, I was so shy, embarrassed by my language, nervous to even join in. But you all welcomed me with such warmth. You gave me a safe space to practice, to stumble, and to grow. You gave me confidence when I thought I couldn’t speak, and you helped me find my voice. This is not just a group to me; it’s a family. You gave me opportunities I never dreamed of helping me speak better, connect with others, and feel like I truly belong. Thank you for being part of my story and for changing my life."

It’s Refugee Week!At ICN, we are proud to take part in the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the con...
15/06/2026

It’s Refugee Week!

At ICN, we are proud to take part in the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

For refugees around the world, courage is often a daily necessity. It is the courage to face unknown journeys, learn new languages, navigate unfamiliar systems, or simply to wake up each morning and step into an uncertain world.

Courage isn’t always loud or bold. It can be found in simple acts: opening your door to a neighbour, trying new food, reading a book, or watching a film that changes your view of the world. It can be speaking up, asking for help, sharing your story – or simply having the courage to be yourself.

Through art, stories, and community, we celebrate the courage that lives within us all – and how connection helps it grow. 

So stay tuned - this week we will be sharing some of the inspirational ways that the folks we are connected with show courage every day!

05/06/2026

We’re finishing up Volunteer Week with one final amazing stat - an incredible 23% of volunteers at ICN are also service users themselves, or have lived experience as a refugee.

ICN has a board of trustees who are all volunteers - today one of the trustees shares his from own experience and why he felt it was so important to get involved.

We want to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of these volunteers who are going the extra mile to help others who are going something they know about first-hand.

Volunteers are making a huge impact every day at ICN - thank you to all of you for your kindness, dedication and willingness to help! 💙

Address

200 Holdenhurst Road
Bournemouth
BH88AS

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4pm
Friday 9:30am - 1pm

Telephone

01202 589 395

Website

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