How Your Business Can Make a Difference for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Making sure that refugees lead integrated, fulfilling, happy lives requires a collective effort spanning individuals, businesses and governments. Businesses are more than just profit-generating machines, they have the unique ability to create lasting change not only in the lives of displaced people but in our society as a whole.
If you’re looking to enhance your corporate social responsibility and shape a more compassionate world, then choosing to support refugees and asylum seekers is a powerful step in the right direction. Read on to find out how your company can support our work at Refugee Action Kingston.
*Statistics from Harvard Business School
Donations
One of the most direct ways your company can support refugees and asylum seekers is through donations. At Refugee Action Kingston, these can be:
Financial contributions, enabling us to provide essential support to our clients, through advice, advocacy, education and wellbeing.
You might also choose to sponsor a particular event with us that highlights the contributions of refugees and asylum seekers to our community.
We are always looking for clothing donations. Organising a clothing drive with your employees for good-quality clothing is always greatly appreciated by the team at Refugee Action Kingston and our clients.
As well as clothing, we are also in need of other essential items, as well as computers, phones and other IT devices.
Volunteers from Regeneron helped make beautiful backpacks for our young people to have for their summer activities exploring Richmond Park and Kew Gardens.
Employ Refugees
We have seen an increasing trend for asylum seekers being granted permission to work while their claims are being processed if they are on the government’s shortage occupation list. Once their refugee status is granted, individuals can work in the UK without restrictions and are covered by the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998. People can also be granted Humanitarian Protection for up to 5 years or Discretionary Leave to Remain for up to 3 years. They are also entitled to live and work in the UK. We firmly believe that refugees bring with them a plethora of skills, knowledge and insight which can be invaluable as part of a diverse team. For more information on employing refugees, the Refugee Council produced this guide. Likewise, we can help if you would like to employ a refugee. Find out more here or contact us today.
Volunteering opportunities for your employees
We have worked with a number of companies over the years, who have supported our work by volunteering for us. Recently, we worked with the staff at eBay, who helped restore bikes to be given out to families, pulled together goodie bags for young people and volunteered at a number of our events! Volunteers from Regeneron helped make beautiful backpacks for our young people to have for their summer activities exploring Richmond Park and Kew Gardens. Events like this help foster creativity, team cohesion and emotional wellbeing. You could encourage your employees to volunteer their individual skills or get in touch with us today to see if you could help as a team with one of our future projects.
Staff at eBay helped restore bikes to be given out to families, pulled together goodie bags for young people and volunteered at a number of our events!
Cross-marketing initiatives
We're always looking to establish relationships with companies throughout South West London and beyond. We can co-create campaigns, including blog exchanges, social media promotions and events. By using both of our resources, reach and influence, we can create messages that are mutually beneficial! You can become a leader in your field by advocating for refugee rights and cementing your authentic commitment to corporate social responsibility.
If you’re interested in supporting refugees and asylum seekers, please get in touch today and find out how we work with companies and other organisations.