Jesuit Refugee Service UK

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Jesuit Refugee Service UK

Jesuit Refugee Service UK accompanies, serves and advocates on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons.

We have a particular concern for asylum seekers who are detained under the immigration rules or who are left destitute in the UK. JRS UK accompanies refugees and forced migrants, our brothers and sisters, serving them as companions and advocating their cause in an uncaring world. We have a particular concern for those who are detained under the immigration rules or who are left destitute in the UK. This work is carried out in the spirit of mutual respect, dignity and solidarity with the refugees and forced migrants, and in collaboration with other organisations. Our aims are to support refugees and forced migrants in the UK by:

- Providing a warm welcome and practical support at our weekly Day Centre for destitute asylum seekers;
- Offering pastoral care and service such as legal liaison for those held in detention centres;
- Facilitating creative self-expression, peer support and personal wellbeing;
- Engaging in a dialogue with policy and decision makers to promote values of justice and dignity. Volunteers are integral to the work of JRS UK and we are enormously grateful for the time and energy they contribute to our work.

12/10/2026

Faith comes alive through service. 💙

Yesterday, JRS UK joined the Annual Volunteering Fair at Newman House, London, as the community celebrated the feast of St John Henry Newman.

The day began with Mass, where the homily reflected on three pillars of Newman's vision: liturgy, theology, and parish life. A beautiful reminder that faith is something we celebrate, reflect upon, and live through our relationships with others.

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet Catholic university students, share more about JRS UK's work, and explore how volunteering can make a difference in the lives of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

Through friendship, welcome, and accompaniment, our volunteers help create communities where everyone feels valued and supported.

A heartfelt thank you to Newman House for inviting us and bringing people together through faith, community, and service. 💙

If you'd like to find out more about volunteering with JRS UK and how you can get involved, visit: www.jrsuk.net/volunteer/

10/10/2026

Today, as we mark World Homeless Day, we are highlighting the deep impact that rough-sleeping has on people seeking safety's mental and physical health.

Over the years, we have seen a significant rise in homelessness amongst refugees due to government policies.

Refugee friends have shared feeling paranoid, anxious and depressed due to not having a consistent space to rest, privacy and being unable to maintain a routine.

Learn more about the impact of homelessness on people seeking safety at www.jrsuk.net/destitute-and-in-danger-report

06/10/2026

Looking for ways to get involved this autumn? Here are four quick ways that you can get involved over the next few months!

From volunteering in our activities, to, donating clothes and essential items to our shop, running with refugee friends, or reflecting on the realities of displacement in your prayers, we would love your support

Interested in learning more? Head to https://www.jrsuk.net/what-can-i-do/

05/10/2026

Last week Fordham University's London Campus donated blankets, warm clothes and other essentials to our free shop.

Every donation helps refugee friends access vital items, especially as we prepare for the winter months.

If you're looking to donate but not sure what items we need, head to our website at www.jrsuk.net/current-needs

04/10/2026

The spirit of Cable Street reminds us that real change begins when ordinary people choose compassion over fear.

Together, we can build communities of belonging.

02/10/2026

Last week, as we marked World Day of Migrants and Refugees, supporters, partners, volunteers, and friends joined us across the country to call for a more welcoming society. See what we got up to! 👀

🪧 Defend Asylum Campaign 💌 On Monday, together with Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN), Diocese of Plymouth, Caritas Diocese of Brentwood, and SVP England & Wales, we delivered hundreds of postcards to Downing Street, calling on the government to defend asylum and honour the dignity and rights of refugees and people seeking safety

🎓 Inaugural JRS UK WDMR Lecture 🎤 On Wednesday, Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza spoke at the first-ever JRS UK Annual Lecture. Chaired by Julie Etchingham, the lecture focused on the importance of accuracy for refugee children, as the Commissioner warned that children treated as adults and placed in detention represent a "shocking failure" of the asylum system

🗣️ Outreach with Jesuit Young Adult Ministries | London 🍠 On Thursday, we spoke with members of the Jesuit Young Adult Ministry about Catholic Social Teaching and the Church's welcome to refugees

🎙️ Raising awareness over the airwaves 📡 We delivered 12 radio interviews across several regional news outlets to spread the word about our Defend Asylum campaign, calling on the UK government to 1️⃣ Restore the right to asylum 2️⃣ Put dignity and protection at the heart of the asylum system 3️⃣ End immigration detention

🙏 Prayed with refugees 🛐 We visited two churches to share our work and pray together on the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, with prayers rooted in accompaniment: walking alongside refugee friends with compassion, dignity, and hope

👟 Running in solidarity 🏃‍♀️ Our amazing team took on the Vitality London 10,000 on the World Day of Migrants and Refugees to raise vital funds for people seeking sanctuary. Thank you again to Fran from Courses in Philosophy, Theology, Spirituality & Justice, John from Jesuit Young Adult Ministries | London, the 6 Jesuit novices Anton, Francois, Greg, Paul, Petr, and Stepan, and to everyone who donated

Whether you signed a petition, attended an event, shared a post, tuned into an interview, or prayed with us: thank you for standing alongside refugees this World Day of Migrants and Refugees and always 🤝💙

30/09/2026

📣 Go Team JRS UK! 📣 Thank you to everyone who cheered us on at the Vitality London 10K this World Day of Migrants and Refugees! 🏃💙

🫶 You can still show your support for our wonderful runners - Fran from London Jesuit Centre, John from Jesuit Young Adult Ministries, and the 6 Jesuit novices Anton, Francois, Greg, Paul, Petr, and Stepan - by donating to our JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/campaign/jrsuk-london10k

👟 And if you're looking to join Team JRS UK in raising vital funds for people seeking sanctuary, sign up to run with us at the London Landmarks Half Marathon in April 2027: https://www.jrsuk.net/london-landmarks-half/

28/09/2026

👟 Team JRS UK took part in the Vitality London 10K this weekend to raise vital funds for people seeking sanctuary.

👏 Thank you to Fran from , John from and the 6 Jesuit novices Anton, Francois, Greg, Paul, Petr, and Stepan for walking alongside refugees this World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

💙 If you're interested in supporting Team JRS UK, there's still time! Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue accompanying refugee friends by providing advice, practical support, and solidarity.

🔗 Visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/jrsuk-london10k

27/09/2026

🙌Today as we reflect on this World Day of Migrants and Refugees, we wanted to share the powerful message from Francois, a Jesuit Novice running for JRS UK to support people seeking sanctuary🏃‍♀️

📢Listen to his message and prayer for refugees now!

26/09/2026

Tayeb* was just 16 when he fled Sudan and came to the UK seeking safety. When his age was wrongly recorded, he was detained at Harmondsworth IRC and treated as an adult. With support from our Detention Outreach Team, he secured an age assessment and was eventually released into care.

Tayeb is one of many children we've supported after being wrongly identified as adults and detained. No child should experience detention. In fact, detention has a devastating impact on people and should have no place in our asylum system at all.

You can read more about children caught up in the asylum system in our Autumn newsletter: www.jrsuk.net/autumn2026/

*Name changed to protect identity.

Address

Hurtado Jesuit Centre, 2 Chandler Street
London
E1W2QT

Telephone

+442074887310

Website

http://www.jrsuk.net/

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