25 years of making a difference in the lives
of people seeking sanctuary in North East England

Group of people sitting at tables, socializing, and playing with wooden blocks inside a community hall.
Stacks of colorfully wrapped Christmas presents in metal carts and on a table outdoors, labeled with "Mothers' Union."

Founded in 1999, West End Refugee Service has supported refugees and people seeking asylum across Newcastle and the North East for over 25 years. Alongside our essential advice, advocacy and support services, we have developed a wide range of programmes designed to help people feel safe, connected and able to move forward with confidence.

From helping newly arrived people understand life in Newcastle through our New to Newcastle project, to building skills and confidence through Skillsmatch, and supporting mental and physical wellbeing through our activities and community programmes, our work is shaped around the real needs of the people we support.

Over the years, WERS has delivered projects including befriending, clothing support, family groups, volunteering opportunities and social activities. As needs change, we continue to adapt — developing new ideas, responding to gaps in local support, and working closely with our Board of Trustees to make sure people with lived experience help shape our direction.

At the heart of WERS is a simple belief: people seeking sanctuary deserve more than survival. They deserve safety, dignity, opportunity and a place in the community.

Since 1999, we have:

  • Helped over 10,000 people seeking sanctuary

  • Supported individuals from more than 60 different countries

  • Handed out over 80,000 food parcels

  • Worked with over 50 local organisations to provide volunteer placements

  • Distributed over £1,000,000 via our Hardship Fund

  • Handed out 1000’s of Christmas shoe box gifts to our clients

  • Offered more than 100,000 hours of one to one support

But this isn’t enough. In the future we plan to relaunch our befriending scheme, offer more localised health drop ins, expand our activities programmes and continue to support our clients with their everyday needs. Everyone deserves to have their basic needs provided for no matter what their status.

We hope that in the next 25 years there will no longer be a need for our services,
yet if needed, we'll be stronger

Three men in a kitchen preparing food, with large trays and many plates of rice on the counter.

Right now the need for our services is more urgent than ever due to the cost of living crisis and current government policies. Please help us continue our work however you can.

  • £5 could helps us to pay for a bus ticket to an essential appointment with Home Office for our service-user

  • £20 could provide an hour of one-to-one support for someone who has fled their homecountry because of war

  • £43 could provide a homemade, delicious meal for 40 people seeking asylum during our Weekly Welcomes

  • £78 could provide 45 minutes of vital translation services to help individual to access specialised services

  • £183 could provide one displaced person with 6 weeks of Skillsmatch training