Action for Refugees in Lewisham, or AFRIL, has come a long way since we first opened to the public in 2007.

We began by providing a free advice service for refugees and asylum seekers, as well as a supplementary school (Rainbow Club) for children aged between 5 and 11. We are now proud to celebrate the fact that we work with over 200 families in the London Borough of Lewisham.

In 2008, we secured funding for the second year of Rainbow Club, as well as funding from the Community Learning Programme at Lewisham Council for Computer and Family ESOL Classes.

Our Advice Service is receiving an increasing number of referrals, and each day presents new and challenging cases which invovlve giving advice to refugees and Asylum-seekers about accessing benefits and legal entitlements.

In October 2008, we opened our Wednesday weekly day centre, which initially offered sewing classes and a hot lunch, and thanks to funding from Awards for All we also offer English classes.

Our challenge is to find more volunteers, recruit more people for our Management Board and find more volunteers to assist in our projects as classroom assistants or in our office with the administration and advice services. If you have spare time please do volunteer as there is always a vacancy. If you would like to help us, please get in touch.

For more information, please take a look at our general leaflet or our Rainbow Club leaflet.