Asylum seeker’ means a person who has applied for asylum under the 1951 Refugee Convention on the Status of Refugees on the grounds that they have a well-founded fear of persecution should they return to their home country. ‘Refugee’ means an asylum seeker whose claim has been successful.

There are currently at least 5630 asylum seekers in London. The most common countries of origin are Albania (1124), Nigeria (465), Iran (423), Pakistan (384) and Iraq (369).

Most asylum seekers are unable to pay for their own housing. They are also unable to claim benefits. They are therefore provided with housing (initial and dispersed accommodation) by the Home Office via contracts with Serco, Mears Group and Clearsprings Read Homes. Asylum dispersal accommodation in London is provided by Clearsprings. Under this scheme, asylum seekers are not able to choose where they live.

At SWAN we are committed to supporting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. Why? Because everyone has a right to be treated with dignity. Everyone has a right to be safe from persecution and everyone has the right to make a better life. The stories we hear are heartbreaking and frustrating. We wish we could do more. But for now, we do what we can, whenever and wherever we can to help. It’s our duty as human beings to show compassion and empathy without labelling who is worthy of help. We all bleed the same and we all have human rights.

From 2020 SWAN has provided hundreds of Refugees/Asylum seekers with aid including clothes, shoes, coats, baby items, phones, hygiene products, supermarket vouchers and food. The food provided in hostels/hotels is often of a very poor quality and families are desperately in need of nourishment. Our Soup Kitchens provide refugees/Asylum seekers with hot food, fruit and treats.