Making a difference
Last year we supported 940 adults and nearly 700 children.
People came from 717 different family groups and 61 countries of origin.
Making a difference
Last year we supported 940 adults and nearly 700 children.
People came from 717 different family groups and 61 countries of origin.
Last year we…
Gave out nearly 800 winter coats, just under 1,000 pairs of shoes, over 1,100 sets of new underwear, almost 650 food parcels and over 1,200 toiletry and hygiene packs
Gave 500 Christmas presents to children in emergency hostel accommodation
Helped an average of 115 people each week at our Essentials Centre with clothing and household basics
Supported around 30 people each week at our Wednesday community drop-in
Set up a new Family Support Project, helping children into education and providing 160 children with school uniform
Set up a new partnership with The Spires Centre to support individuals who risk street homelessness after receiving leave to remain
Personal stories
Entering education
When I was trying to find a place in sixth form, no high school or college was accepting me because of my age and having foreign grades. I tried several colleges [across south London] but had no luck.
Then I heard of a place left in one last sixth form college but I was certain they wouldn’t accept me because of the above reasons. The Coordinator contacted the college and explained the situation. They accepted me on my foreign grades and even though I was a year older than what Year 12s usually are.
Randeep*, aged 17
It was really hard and stressful for me. It was a new continent and everything about schools and education is different. I can say that my biggest worry in the first and second month was school. For two months I was depressed. Then we met the Family Support Coordinator at CRDC. She found me a temporary place at [a specialist centre]. I improved my English and maths and I became more confident.
I felt very good. Going to college is the best experience I ever felt because I never went to one in Afghanistan. I will like to study more and I will make my mother and CRDC proud of me.
Samina*, aged 16
I needed a place in Year 11 which is really hard because of the GCSE and I tried contacting every school in Croydon and every school told me no. So I asked CRDC Coordinator to help me out for my Year 11 GCSE as there were no place for me. She tried her best to get me in a school, she sended email to the Council to help me out and she also emailed the school daily and like for 2 months I didn’t had any school so I was depressed, but she helped me and finally I am in a school and glad I can do GCSE this year.
Harmohan*, aged 15
Falling through the cracks
When Arjun*, his wife and his two young daughters arrived at our Centre, they had already spent several nights street homeless. We met the family’s immediate needs and settled the children with toys. After housing them for a night in a hotel, and several hours of casework, statutory authorities agreed to house the family. Arjun later said:
They didn’t take my case seriously, even though I had all the required documents. I knocked on every door, reached out to organisations, and appealed to charitable people. Luckily, I found this organisation [Croydon Refugee Day Centre].
There was an interpreter who was very kind, and a volunteer who had a heart as pure as snow and a warmth like fresh water. They both helped me immensely with my paperwork and assisted in finding a home, a school, and a doctor. I had never met anyone with such genuine kindness before. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support you have given to me and my children.
* Not their real names.
Working with Crystal Palace FC
Our collaboration with CRDC has enabled us to build on their strong connections within the local community to better support asylum seeking children and young adults with regular weekly physical activity.
Specifically, CRDC have facilitated our presence in previously un-accessed accommodation so we can promote our programmes with asylum seekers directly, leveraging their personal relationships with families and individuals – built through the Family Support Programme – to accelerate the trust-building process with Palace For Life coaches and, subsequently, more efficiently signpost the correct services, including procuring playing kit for those most in need.
Our partnership has already seen almost 40 new asylum-seeking children and young adults access our services and we look forward to continuing our fruitful relationship to better serve these under-resourced communities.
Head of Community Engagement – Palace for Life Foundation
Working with Crystal Palace FC
Our collaboration with CRDC has enabled us to build on their strong connections within the local community to better support asylum seeking children and young adults with regular weekly physical activity.
Specifically, CRDC have facilitated our presence in previously un-accessed accommodation so we can promote our programmes with asylum seekers directly, leveraging their personal relationships with families and individuals – built through the Family Support Programme – to accelerate the trust-building process with Palace For Life coaches and, subsequently, more efficiently signpost the correct services, including procuring playing kit for those most in need.
Our partnership has already seen almost 40 new asylum-seeking children and young adults access our services and we look forward to continuing our fruitful relationship to better serve these under-resourced communities.
Head of Community Engagement – Palace for Life Foundation
