Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants

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Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants

We work to offer people the emotional support, practical tools and sense of community they need to build a happy life in the UK.

We work together to build a safe, positive experience of community where people can share their gifts with one another and strangers can become friends. Our aim is to help people gain the skills they need to make a new life. We believe in looking after the whole person - attending to each person's practical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual well-being. We know that it takes time to find a way to belong, especially after leaving one's own country under traumatic conditions, so we strive to give people that time. Our particular concern is for refugees and asylum seekers who don't yet speak English and so find it hard to communicate. We provide free English speaking classes, as well as classes in the Creative Arts, access to ICT and practical help. Please check our website or contact us for more information. Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants
Cross Street Baptist Church
16-18 Cross Street
London
N1 2BG

020 7354 9946

08/10/2026

We'd like to extend a very warm welcome to the 44 new people who registered at the Centre last week! Each new member of our community came by to register, meet staff, be placed in the correct English class level, share initial hopes and goals, and to begin orienting to our offering. As part of the community, members will now have access to our full timetable of classes, casework support, and financial assistance. The 222 people in our community are working to build a new life in the UK and the Centre is proud to be a hub of welcome, support, and friendship. We love to see this community grow!

05/10/2026

October is National Free Wills Month. Making a Will can be a positive way to think about the people, values and causes we care about,and the difference we would like to leave behind.

Through our partnership with FreeWills.co.uk, you can make a fully comprehensive, legally binding Will online for free, with your Will checked by a solicitor.

One supporter of the Islington Centre shared: "I feel a deep pride that by specifying a legacy gift, something special will continue in my memory."

Find out more about leaving a legacy at our link in bio or islingtoncentre.co.uk/leave-a-legacy

01/10/2026

📣 Calling healthcare professionals! 🩺 We’re looking for guest speakers for our 30‑minute online Wednesday Wellness class (Wednesdays, 11–11:30am). We welcome nutritionists, pharmacists, nurses, doctors, ophthalmologists, community health workers, retired professionals, and more. Share your expertise and support our community’s wellbeing. 💛

Go to islingtoncentre.co.uk/volunteer to find out more.

28/09/2026

✨ A strong start to the new year at our women's yoga session with .org.uk! ✨

Over the last year, Nisaba has led women's yoga sessions each month for our community at on Upper Street. Classes focus on movement and embodiment, supporting our community a space to get active and take time for personal wellness. At our first session back, we saw some familiar faces along with some who were trying yoga for the first time.

We are so glad to continue this incredible partnership with Nisaba and look forward to another year of classes together!

25/09/2026

Last week, our CEO Andy Ruiz Palma joined Small Business Britain at the House of Lords for the launch of the Cedar Review, a new report exploring refugee entrepreneurship in the UK.

The report highlights the incredible achievements of refugee entrepreneurs who are building businesses, creating jobs and contributing to their communities. It also sets out eight practical recommendations to tackle the barriers refugee entrepreneurs face, from access to finance and business support to the right to self-employment.

The Cedar Review estimates that unlocking this entrepreneurial potential could contribute an additional £2 billion to the UK economy.

At Islington Centre, we see every day the skills, experience and ambition that people bring with them when they arrive in the UK. It’s fantastic to see this recognised as both an opportunity for individuals and a wider contribution to the UK.

22/09/2026

🏠 Can you help furnish a new home?

A couple of our community members have recently moved into new, unfurnished homes and are looking for household furniture to help make it feel like home.

We’re looking for items including:

🛏️ Bed and mattress
👗 Wardrobe
🍽️ Table and chairs
🗄️ Storage, shelves and cabinets
🛋️ Side or coffee tables
💡 Lamps and other home furnishings
🪑 A work table, chair or storage for creative work

If you have anything in good condition that you could donate, please contact [email protected] to arrange the details.

Your unwanted furniture could make a huge difference to someone starting a new chapter. 💙

15/09/2026

We’re recruiting volunteers for the new term (7 September–18 December 2026) and would love your support.

💙 English Class Volunteers: Help out at our range of English classes throughout the week online and in-person (daytime only, between 10am-4pm).

💙 Wednesday Centre Day Volunteers: Join us at our weekly social Centre Day as a Befriender or Welcome Desk Volunteer in-person on Wednesdays between 10am-4pm.

💙 Soft Pilates/Yoga Instructor Volunteer: Lead an online Yoga or Pilates class for 30/45mins on Fridays.

Click our link in bio for more info and to sign up.

10/09/2026

A new term started this week! It was so great to see so many familiar faces back at the Centre after our August break. We're looking forward to another great term together!

The Centre runs in-person every week:
✨ Tuesdays in Highbury
✨ Wednesdays in Angel
✨ Thursdays in Barnsbury

With more than 25 classes and sessions each week, there’s so much to get invovled in, from English and art to choir, dance, gym, digital skills, and more. 🎨🎵🧘‍♂️🧵

Our Support Service continues to be available to help with housing, health, immigration, education, and more. 💙

Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants is a place of welcome, friendship, and learning for people who have fled violence and persecution. Together we are a community of hope and solidarity. 🕊️

05/08/2026

That’s a wrap! 🎉 It’s been an incredible year at the Islington Centre since our first term in September. Every week, we’ve offered three in‑person days and five days of online activities, creating a vibrant, welcoming space for our community.

From English classes and casework support to art and fitness sessions, social clubs, shared lunches, cultural trips, and more, it’s been a full and joyful year. We’ve seen people grow in English proficiency, start college, find first jobs, move into new homes, gain permanent status, and build new lives in the UK. We’re proud to be a hub and landing place for our community of 227.

Classes pause for planning throughout August, though casework support continues. We will be back in September for another year of sessions, activities, and support. 💛

30/07/2026

A special flower arranging session helped us to celebrate our last Wednesday of the term. Designing flower crowns and arranging bouquets brought smiles and a real feeling of joy to everyone at the Centre. 🌷🌼🌸

This term we have loved partnering with Bread & Roses who hosted four sessions at the Islington Centre. They brought their incredible approach of floriculture therapy, harnessing the benefits of working with flowers to create welcoming spaces where women from refugee backgrounds can build confidence, learn new skills, and connect with others. We are proud to be a hub of support where we can host amazing partners and bring their mission to our community.

We're looking forward to seeing more floral designs next term! 💐

Address

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 17:00

Website

http://www.islingtoncentre.co.uk/

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