SLRA is a frontline community organisation which supports refugees, asylum seekers and migrants navigating the inherently racist and discriminatory hostile environment towards migrants. Our goal is to give marginalised people access to justice, and the opportunity to build a safe, stable and positive future. We have been working in South London since 1991 and we are a well regarded and trusted local service able to clearly evidence our impact.
Our Vision
Migrants are welcomed and valued members of our community.
Our Mission
To ensure that migrants in South London are active participants with access to justice and opportunity.
Our Values
KINDNESS | AGENCY | INCLUSION | RESPECT
Our work
Life for many of those we support is increasingly challenging. The effects of past trauma are compounded by the lack of access to specialist advice and support, discrimination, isolation and long delays in Home Office decisions. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis and cuts to legal aid leave many experiencing severe poverty and high levels of anxiety. Those we support are skilled and ambitious, but these barriers prevent people from learning, working, building community and moving forward in their lives.
We provide specialist legal advice and holistic casework, to navigate these barriers and enable individuals and families who are affected by harmful immigration or asylum policies and practices to regularise their immigration status, access rights and entitlements and move on from destitution and build the futures they want. A lack of access to free, high quality immigration advice and casework in general and particularly in South West London means that people too often have no route out of hardship and destitution and so face huge barriers to settlement and to realising their potential.
Alongside advice and casework, we offer opportunities to participate in positive activities and build much-needed support networks at our Community Hub, on special trips and at community events. We work with those in the migrant community, and through our Community Leaders programme individuals develop their community organising skills and influence the policies and practices that affect their lives. Across all our work we recognise the strengths, aspirations and agency of individuals, and aim to increase access to the knowledge and support needed to overcome barriers and thrive in the community.
” I was a teacher in Syria, then I came to the UK . I feel myself now, a lot of improvement, not like when I arrived: then I felt scared, now I feel a little bit confident. I was helped by SLRA and now I have started volunteering. I feel that here at SLRA we are like a big chain together, we all do what we can, it is an amazing team, like each one complete the other. I love this.”
