Friends Without Borders (Portsmouth) originated in 1994 as the Haslar Visitors Group,
where a group of volunteers visited men at the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre in
Gosport. Now, Friends Without Borders (Portsmouth) runs a drop-in centre to provide relief
for immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees who are suffering hardships or distress or in
need, particularly but not exclusively, in the City of Portsmouth, by the provision of financial
and other assistance and raising the awareness of the general public.
There are many reasons why people around the globe leave their home to rebuild their
lives in another country. Some no longer feel safe and are fleeing persecution or torture,
millions flee from armed conflict and violence. Other people may believe they have a better
chance of finding work or furthering education. A migrant describes someone who has
moved from their home country to cross borders. A person seeking asylum has left their
country to seek protection from human rights abuses or persecution. In the UK, a person
seeking asylum has not yet had their claim processed. During the application process,
people seeking asylum in the UK are not allowed to work. A person becomes a refugee in
the UK when the Home Office agrees that the person applying for asylum meets the
definition supplied by the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention and they are given
refugee status documentation.
On average, we help around 40 to 60 clients each week at our Thursday drop-in, through
providing casework, English conversation classes, refreshments and signposting. Over the
last year, we have supported clients from 60 different countries, recently including
Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Nigeria, Sudan and Syria. If current plans go
ahead and the Haslar IRC reopens, Friends Without Borders would look again at
establishing a visitor group.
where a group of volunteers visited men at the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre in
Gosport. Now, Friends Without Borders (Portsmouth) runs a drop-in centre to provide relief
for immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees who are suffering hardships or distress or in
need, particularly but not exclusively, in the City of Portsmouth, by the provision of financial
and other assistance and raising the awareness of the general public.
There are many reasons why people around the globe leave their home to rebuild their
lives in another country. Some no longer feel safe and are fleeing persecution or torture,
millions flee from armed conflict and violence. Other people may believe they have a better
chance of finding work or furthering education. A migrant describes someone who has
moved from their home country to cross borders. A person seeking asylum has left their
country to seek protection from human rights abuses or persecution. In the UK, a person
seeking asylum has not yet had their claim processed. During the application process,
people seeking asylum in the UK are not allowed to work. A person becomes a refugee in
the UK when the Home Office agrees that the person applying for asylum meets the
definition supplied by the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention and they are given
refugee status documentation.
On average, we help around 40 to 60 clients each week at our Thursday drop-in, through
providing casework, English conversation classes, refreshments and signposting. Over the
last year, we have supported clients from 60 different countries, recently including
Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Nigeria, Sudan and Syria. If current plans go
ahead and the Haslar IRC reopens, Friends Without Borders would look again at
establishing a visitor group.
Friends Without Borders, All Saints Centre, Commercial Road, Portsmouth, PO1 4BT, mobile 07546 502143
Our registered charity number is: 1194005
Our registered charity number is: 1194005
