Drop-In for Asylum Seeker Families
Thank you so much for this award, @JVN. The LJS and the LJS Asylum Seeker Drop-in Management Committee feel really honoured in receiving such an amazing accolade, and we are delighted to be added to the ranks of so many inspiring award winners. #Awards #AsylumSeekers #Jewish pic.twitter.com/LSBhrWsinP
— The LJS (@The_LJS) March 3, 2021
The LJS Drop-in for Asylum Seeker Families has been successfully operating since June 2014. On one Sunday afternoon every month since then, we have continued to extend a warm welcome to families who have been made destitute while seeking asylum in the UK
We offer our guests a safe and welcoming environment in which to relax, a hot and nutritious meal, a supervised children’s play area, good quality second-hand clothing, nappies, a shopping contribution, and a small travel reimbursement.
The Drop-in is operated entirely by volunteers. To watch a short video about what we do, please click here
To find out more about volunteering or other ways of supporting the Drop-in, you can email the Asylum Project here
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the drop-in has been limited in its activity, so to view our Drop-In Annual Report from 2019, please click here
Update on the LJS Drop-In for Asylum Seeker Families
The loyal volunteers of the Drop-In team welcomed our guests to Covid secure events in the Montefiore Hall in October, November and December 2021. We provided legal advice, money, clothing and toiletries to our guests, as well as bags of food. Those who could not attend in person received vouchers.
However, since May, we are thrilled to report that the LJS Drop-In is back in full force. We are really excited to be back to happy in-person events, and hope that the LJS Asylum Seeker Drop-In will continue to thrive throughout 2022.
Many of our guest families travel for several hours and receive a wonderful welcome on arrival. Smiling faces are everywhere, and we have received Festive greetings- often initiated by our guests! One of our guests informed us that she has been granted 'Leave to Remain' by the Home Office. We all stopped to applaud her, and she pledged that she wishes to continue attending, but now as a volunteer!
A nine year old boy informed me of all the stations on the London Transport Map which he has studied assiduously. He was also proud to state that he can plan International trips for anyone.
We are always looking for new volunteers to join our phenomenal team. It is an incredibly rewarding project to be involved with and makes for a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Anne, Cindy, Clare and Hannah - May 2022
