ABOUT US

Background

Refugee Link is an organisation, which has its roots in refugee communities in the UK. It was founded as a not-for-profit training agency in London. However, people involved in Refugee Link became aware of the needs of refugees in areas such as Bristol. This awareness was combined with local property contacts and a realisation that accommodation and support for refugees in Bristol and regionally is a natural extension of activity for Refugee Link. The organisation made its name by supporting vulnerable refugees in Bristol, many of whom were receiving housing and support from other providers.

Refugee Link became aware of significant levels of unmet need within Bristol's refugee and other disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. Refugee Link exists to deliver services to refugees who need accommodation and support in Bristol. The organisation acquired a building, the White Swan hostel, in Easton, which has historically been used as a hostel and benefits from the fact that it is located in the heart of an area that is familiar to refugee communities and within which they will not feel isolated.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to deliver the best quality service possible by employing all the resources at our disposal with a view to becoming the leading provider of services and advocate for refugees within Bristol and the South West.

We will devote all our resources, capital, human and economical to the development of innovative and creative opportunities for service users and service users of the White Swan Hostel. We will encourage and work with stakeholders and other local organisations towards improving the social, economical and political environment in order to enable and assist service users to realise their full potential as independent citizens.

Our aims/objectives are directly based on our mission. We will seek to:

• increase our activity and profile by the creation of needs based facilities
• increase interest from stakeholders
• promote the support and integration of refugees in Bristol
• encourage and work with stakeholders in order to positively change the overall social and environmental experience of refugees, thus enabling them a better opportunity to participate and contribute in normal daily life.
  

Core Value

Refugee Link is committed to equality of opportunity and has a belief in the fundamental principle that every person has a right to good quality housing at affordable rents and quality support services and in its daily operations it will strive to achieve this ideal.

Accountability Statement

In order to achieve Best Value, Refugee Link will consult with its service users to provide the services they want at affordable costs. Also to demonstrate financial prudence and efficiency to the satisfaction of funders and lenders.