Supporting someone in my church through the asylum system

What guidance is available for clergy on supporting asylum seekers?

The Church of England has updated its Guidance Document for Clergy on Supporting Asylum Seekers (January 2025). The document can be accessed here.

The document includes information on ministering to people who are in the asylum process, as well as how to respond to requests for assistance (such as writing letters of support).

The first part of this handy guide from Praxis might also be useful in learning about how best to support people (and is written with people who have experience of the immigration system).

Where can I find information about the asylum system in the UK?

The toolkit on The Right to Remain Website is a recommended resource for non-legal professionals who are supporting people through the UK asylum and immigration system. It is a very helpful resource to understand the process of claiming asylum.

The Refugee Council website also provides information and guidance for refugees and those supporting them.

This infographic, produced by the Compassionate Communities team for Refugee Week 2022 helps us understand current UK resettlement pathways, and how our church communities are supporting refugees, migrants and asylum seekers within this system.

In what different ways are churches supporting those in the asylum system?

The Dioceses of London and Southwark, and Caritas Westminster worked together to collect and tell the stories of our church communities welcoming asylum seekers.

Find below our Stories of Welcome told through film, and in a pdf brochure.

Where can I find information about what asylum support a person is entitled to?

The Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP) has a number of helpful factsheets on the different types of support available to those in the asylum system.

• Section 95: the support available to people whose claims for asylum are ongoing.
• Section 98: Temporary support while waiting for Section 95 support.
• Asylum support for dependants.
• Section 4: the support for refused asylum-seekers – those who have come to the end of the asylum process, been refused asylum and exhausted their appeal rights.

How can our church support asylum seekers who are placed in local hotels?

Offering Welcome Boxes

A number of our London churches partner with the organisation Welcome Churches to offer Welcome Boxes. These boxes are offered to newly arrived asylum seekers, as a way of letting them know that the church cares about them. The boxes are personalised for each person and can include practical items like t shirts, pyjamas, nice toiletries, plus toys and books for children, as well as things like chocolates, candles, or a handwritten note. It’s a very practical way of showing the love of Jesus. You can read about the welcome boxes experience of one church community here.

Tips on supporting asylum seekers in hotels

If you are considering supporting any asylum seekers in hotels in your parish or borough, we have compiled a document with tips and suggestions, which you can download below.

If you’d like more support, or to find out if there is a local group you can connect with, please do get in touch with the Compassionate Communities Team.

If you have a specific query that isn’t covered, please contact us using the button below.