Students and Refugees Together (START)

Who we are

START (students and refugees together) is a small local charity, developed from the needs of refugees living in Plymouth. Our mission is  ‘to work in partnership with families, individuals, and organisations to facilitate the transition of people from vulnerable, minority ethnic groups including those seeking asylum and those granted refugee status, from people in need to self-reliant contributors to their local communities’. We are an unique, independent organisation that offers support to refugees to enable them to live independent, fulfilling lives as members of their communities. We are experienced in providing a range of services that address the needs of individuals that strengthen community integration and reduce isolation. We utilise a ‘strengths approach’ that underpins our work guided by our values and ethics.

Our aims are:

• To advance education and to relieve financial hardship among members of ethnic minority groups including those seeking asylum and granted refugee status particularly in the provision of housing and other advice.
• To advance the education and training of members of ethnic minority groups including those seeking asylum and granted refugee status and their dependents in need thereof so as to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within a new community.
• The provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation for members of ethnic minority groups including those seeking asylum and granted refugee status and their dependents with the object of improving their conditions of life.
• To advance the education of students in training by providing and assisting in the provision of learning experiences which contribute to their personal and professional development.

We offer holistic support either by working on a one-to-one basis or through community activities. Our team also advocates and assists refugees to live within new communities or to move to new geographical locations. We provide various community activities that promote recreation and other leisure time occupations within the refugee communities – These activities seek to reduce social isolation, promote healthy living, and create volunteering opportunities. The aspect of our work linked with universities advances the education of students in training by providing learning experiences, which contribute to their personal and professional development.