If you’ve just arrived in the Chichester area as an asylum seeker or refugee, you will probably need some items urgently for survival, like food and warm clothes, then other things to help you settle in including household equipment and social support. Here’s a list of where to find everything you might need:
FOOD
Contact us if you need food urgently, and we’ll organise a Food Bank box.
Go along to UK Harvest’s fantastic weekly Pop-Up Pantry events. You need to take your own bags and can fill them will lovely fresh produce for £3.50 a bag. Their friendly staff and volunteers are happy to advise on how to cook different items and making healthy food on a tight budget. Pop-Up Pantries are also pretty social, so you might meet new friends there.
CLOTHES & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
Contact Therese Brook, who runs the Chichester Rotary Club Clothes Bank.
There’s a very popular free clothing pop-up for women only at My Sister’s House in Bognor every month. Bring your own bags, fill them with high quality clothes and enjoy a chat over tea or coffee with other women. For details, call 01243 697800 or email office@mysistershouse.info.
If you are pregnant or have babies and/ or young children, contact us for a referral to Little Bundles, a charity that can provide everything from maternity clothes to nursing bras to potties and toys.
SOCIAL EVENTS
Contact us if you would like details of our weekly drop-in, where you will be welcomed and be able to chat to others from all over the world. Tea and goodies are usually available.
We also hold a weekly morning women’s social group, which is followed by women’s English lessons when our volunteers look after young children so women can focus on their learning. Contact us if you would like details; we may also be able to help with transport.
SPORT & EXERCISE
Young refugees and asylum seekers aged 14-22 can join our Nations United football team. Contact Manager Duncan Barratt for details.
Duncan is also working on a building a cricket team, which will not be age restricted.
Exercise classes for women and girls only is held at the Swanfield Community Centre in Chichester. Please contact Shalufa on 07827 972168 for details.
OTHER LOCAL REFUGEE SUPPORT
Rural Refugee Network supports refugees in the Petersfield area.
There are a lot of new local groups supporting Ukrainian refugees and sponsors in the area – search for them on Facebook or ask neighbours. Here’s a useful page on local language support and social events.
sanctuaryinchichester.org 