10 asylum and refugee charities funded by BBC Children in Need

The total for these is £1,918,712

Notes: This data is from 360 Giving. You can search BBC Children in Need’s grants here, using the search box to try different keywords.

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£188,128 to CARAS (Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers) (across two grants)
CARAS is a “leading refugee charity in South West London” that provides “firm foundations for new-arrival asylum seekers to build happy and successful lives.”

Grants breakdown:

1. £118,370 was awarded 2023-10-06 (“This grant will fund a range of Youth Services and Youth Leadership activities for young refugees and asylum seekers. Activities will increase confidence, emotional wellbeing and improve relationships.”)

2. £69,758 was awarded 2016-10-11 (“This project will offer a weekly youth club and a Saturday club, as well as residential trips, to unaccompanied refugees. Young people will benefit through increased social inclusion, improved life skills and improved emotional health.”)

£252,402 to Indo American Refugee and Migrant Organisation (across three grants)
“IRMO exists to enable the development, agency, and participation of all Latin Americans and other Spanish and Portuguese speakers living in the UK, by responding to both immediate needs and structural inequalities. We do this by offering high quality information and advice services, opportunities for development and training, and a platform to seek social and systemic change.”

Grants breakdown:

1. £117,125 was awarded 2023-08-07 (“This grant funds a variety of family support activities and trips for young refugees and migrants, including from Latin American Communities. Activities will build confidence, increase wellbeing and reduce isolation.”)

2. £500 was awarded 2022-10-20 (“‘Cost of Living uplift: £500 to help projects meet their rising costs and respond to increased demand 31/10/2022’”).

3. £134,777 was awarded 2019-06-26 (“English classes, homework clubs, family support and trips for refugees and migrants, primarily from Latin America. Children will benefit through improved confidence, improved life chances and will feel less isolated.”)

£85,136 to Streatham Drop-in Centre for Asylum Seekers & Refugees (across one grant)
The Centre “is an independent small grass roots charity that aims to provide a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for refugee and asylum seeker individuals and families living in the London Borough of Lambeth and surrounding areas.”

Grant breakdown:

1. £85,136 was awarded 2018-10-23 (“A creche, information and advice sessions as well as trips for children and families who are refugees to the UK. Benefits include increased confidence, improved readiness for school and improved physical health.”)

£260,251 to Kent Refugee Action Network/KRAN (across four grants)
KRAN was “established in 2003 to support young unaccompanied refugees and asylum seekers”. Many of the young people featured on its social media are males (examples 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).

Grants breakdown:

1. £45,000 was awarded 2024-07-16 (“This grant will deliver a range of support services to young refugees and asylum seekers in East Kent, to encourage resilience and help them to adapt to any challenges they may face”).

2. £87,929 was awarded 2022-02-03 (“This project will deliver holiday well-being activities to young refugee and asylum seekers in Kent. The activities will result in increased leadership skills, reduced isolation and improved resilience.”)

3. £500 was awarded 2022-10-20 (“‘Cost of Living uplift: £500 to help projects meet their rising costs and respond to increased demand 31/10/2022’”).

4. £126,822 was awarded 2017-10-17 (“Holiday support activities (including English lessons, life skills and community engagement activities) for 150 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The project will increase children’s confidence, self-expression abilities and reduce social isolation.”)

£74,414 to Refugee and Migrant Justice (across three grants)
The charity offers “IAA Level 3-accredited immigration advice, helping asylum seekers, refugees, and vulnerable migrants with applications such as renewals, citizenship, and E-visas.” It also campaigns to “change unfair legal systems”, describing itself as “active campaigners, centring our clients' experiences to challenge and influence policies that harm refugee and migrant communities.”

Grants breakdown

1. £500 on 2022-10-20 (“‘Cost of Living uplift: £500 to help projects meet their rising costs and respond to increased demand 31/10/2022’”).

2. £2,927 on 2020-06-17 (“COVID19 - This grant will fund additional staffing time to support young refugees and asylum seekers who have had limited access to legal support due to Covid-19, this will improve their safety and independence.”)

3. £70,987 on 2019-02-28 (“Legal advice and support that will benefit children through helping their families confirm their status in the UK, improve their access to financial support and to help children lead happier and more secure lives.”)

£336,932 to Young Roots (formerly Refugee Youth Project) (across five grants)
Young Roots is a “London-based charity working with young refugees and asylum seekers aged 14-25 seeking safety in the UK.”

Grants breakdown:

1. £19,962 was awarded 2025-04-23 (“This grant will support the sustainability of youth development work for programmes and clubs supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Activities will improve relationships, improve mental health and increase skills.”)

2. £500 was awarded 2022-10-20 (“‘Cost of Living uplift: £500 to help projects meet their rising costs and respond to increased demand 31/10/2022’”)

3. £119,723 was awarded 2022-02-03 (“This project will run advice and support hubs with a range of activities for young refugees and asylum seekers. The activities will result in decreased stress, reduced isolation and improved communication skills.”)

4. £78,921 was awarded 2020-09-09 (“COVID19 - This grant will fund mental health support and advice services for young refugees and asylum seekers isolated due to Covid-19. The services will result in reduced stress and anxiety, increased communication skills and reduced isolation.”)

5. £117,826 was awarded 2018-10-23 (“This project will provide a range of activities and support services to young refugees and asylum seekers in Croydon and Brent. The services will decrease stress, improve communication and decrease social isolation.”)

£75,000 to Asylum Aid (across one grant)
The charity provides “legal advice and representation to people seeking asylum in the UK, lobbying and campaigning with the aim of achieving a fairer asylum process in the UK and advancing public and understanding of the position of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.”

Grant breakdown:

1. £75,000 was awarded 2024-02-14 (“This project will provide legal representation for 60 children in the asylum and trafficking systems. They will benefit through having a legal status, appropriate housing, education and access to mental and physical healthcare.”)

£57,660 to Swansea Asylum Seekers Support/ Swansea Bay Asylum Seekers Support Group (across two grants)
The charity gives “a warm welcome to people seeking sanctuary [the new left-wing term for asylum seekers] in Swansea through our twice-weekly drop-ins, and offer practical support, educational and recreational opportunities.” It “is a proud supporter and member of Swansea City of Sanctuary.”

Grants breakdown:

• £27,660 was awarded 2024-01-30 (“This grant will provide partial staff costs for a play scheme for refugee and asylum seeker children in Swansea. The intended outcomes are for the children and young people to be more happy.”)

• £30,000 was awarded 2017-08-10 (“This project will run play sessions for children and young people seeking asylum or with refugee status. They will have more fun, increase their confidence to express how they feel, and increase their enjoyment in forming relationships with others.”)

£222,322 to Asylum Support and Immigration Resource Team (ASIRT) (across three grants)
These grants were awarded from 2016-22. However, ASIRT permanently closed in September 2024. Based in Birmingham and the West Midlands, its objectives were to “1)TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS, REFUGEES AND THEIR DEPENDANTS IN BIRMINGHAM AND THE WEST MIDLANDS CONURBATION, WHO ARE IN CONDITION OF NEED, HARDSHIP AND DISTRESS, IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO RELIEVE SUCH CONDITIONS; AND 2)TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC, SPECIALIST ORGANISATIONS AND PERSONS SUBJECT TO UK IMMIGRATION CONTROL AND THEIR DEPENDANTS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT THE INCLUSION OF MIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS INTO THE WIDER COMMUNITY.”

Grants breakdown:

1. £500 on 2022-10-20 (“‘Cost of Living uplift: £500 to help projects meet their rising costs and respond to increased demand 31/10/2022’”)

2. £99,998 on 2021-04-28 (“This project will provide support for children and young people who are refugees or seeking asylum across Birmingham. The aim is to relieve the children and young people of destitution, increase their self esteem and help them gain new life skills.”)

3. £121,824 on 2016-10-11 (“This project will provide support for children and young people who are refugees or seeking asylum across Birmingham. The aim is to relieve the children and young people of destitution, increase their self esteem and help them gain new life skills.”)

£366,467 to Nottingham Refugee Forum (across 6 grants)
The charity offers “resettlement support, advice projects to address issues such as housing, welfare and healthcare, practical help to those who may be destitute, language classes to promote confidence and social inclusion, volunteering, LGBTQ+ and youth services.”

Grants breakdown:

1. £113,964 on 2026-10-12 (“This project will support refugee and asylum seeking children and young people in Nottingham who are experiencing complex challenges by providing activities and tailored support to build positive relationships, strengthen their wellbeing, and belonging.”)

2. £500 on 2022-10-20 (“‘Cost of Living uplift: £500 to help projects meet their rising costs and respond to increased demand 31/10/2022’”)

3. £29,672 on 2021-07-30 (“This project will provide weekly activities and befriending opportunities for refugee and asylum seeking young people to help improve emotional wellbeing, physical safety and sense of belonging, and be positively empowered.”)

4. £79,384 on 2021-04-28 (“This project will provide support for children and young people who are refugees or seeking asylum. Tailored support in accessing services and holiday programmes will help children to regain their childhood and integrate into their new communities.”)

5. £28,809 on 2018-05-08 (“This project will provide weekly activities for refugee and asylum seeking young people to help improve emotional wellbeing and relationships and support them to make positive independent decisions.”)

6. £114,138 on 2016-10-11 (“This project will provide support for children and young people who are refugees or seeking asylum. Tailored support in accessing services and holiday programmes will help children to regain their childhood and integrate into their new communities.”)

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