Registered Charity
21 - 50 
About us
Who we are
Introduction
We are the only specialist charity working with people seeking asylum, and new refugees, who are rebuilding their lives in Calderdale. Renowned for our holistic and person-centred approach, we provide a welcoming, safe and inclusive space.
We are a community of just over 20 staff, 150 volunteers, and over a thousand 'Centre Members' from 86 countries. Our Centre Members are people who are seeking sanctuary in Calderdale. People with lived experience of seeking asylum are represented in our staff, trustee and volunteer team, and their insights and experiences, together with those of our Centre Members, shape what we do.
Our services
We help with advice on immigration and asylum, and offer one-to-one support with welfare, housing, health, and access to wider services.
We offer English language classes, information talks, sports and arts activities, trips and volunteering opportunities. We also run a befriending and integration service, and we provide awareness raising talks to schools, businesses and organisations.
Our centre has a free shop of donated clothes, a hair and beauty salon, chill out room and garden, and we also refurbish bikes and second-hand tech.
On Mondays and Thursdays, we provide a cooked lunch at our Welcome Cafe, which is free and open to everyone.
Our culture and values
WE BELIEVE IN
Sanctuary
We provide a welcoming, inclusive and safe space without judgement.
Community
We share food, stories and build relationships together.
Diversity
We respect our differences and celebrate our unique contributions. As equal citizens of the world, we enrich Calderdale.
Collaboration
We do things with, not for people. We listen to and respond to those who come through our doors. ‘Nothing about us without us.’
Growth
We empower one another to uphold our human rights and reach our potential, by learning and thriving together.
Code of Conduct
We have a Code of Conduct, co-written by staff and trustees, which we expect all staff and volunteers to adhere to. This is available on request.
Equality, diversity and inclusion policy
We are just completing a year long advensture into Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, working with consultant Nogozi Lyn Cole.
The process has involved over 200 people and we are almost ready to share our EDI Policy and Action Plan.
We have an Inclusion Sub-group comprising staff and trustees who have lived experience and represent a range of nationalities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, and ages. This group recently led the EDI process and also drives our Experts By Experience (EBE) programme. Our EBE group is made up of Centre Members from a range of backgrounds, and then meet every two months to feedback and shape what we do.
We aim to foster a culture of inclusivity and respect, and have established safe channels for feedback and reporting of any instances of discrimination or unfair treatment, ensuring that concerns are addressed promptly. By integrating these elements into our organisational framework (through our Code of Conduct and Policies), we strive to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.
