Refugees Welcome North Somerset (RWNS) is a community led charity.
Established in 2016, RWNS started as a group of local people collecting aid for those in camps in Northern Europe and beyond. Volunteers have since worked with North Somerset Council to ready houses for vulnerable families arriving under the government’s resettlement schemes.
RWNS offers friendship and support to refugees, asylum seekers, and other displaced people across North Somerset.
Our work includes:
- Rehoming – preparing secure, comfortable accommodation for displaced people in the South West
- Donations – linking donations of items to those in need
- Befriending – our companionship service welcomes new arrivals and helps people settle into the area
- Welcome Centres – regular sessions for resettled refugees and newly arrived individuals
- Welcome Meals – opportunities to gain confidence and skills while sharing dishes from home
- Campaigning and fundraising – wider activities that support those in need of a safe place to go
- ESOL – Helping people to access community learning resources and education opportunities
How you can help
We’re actively seeking new volunteers to get involved. Volunteer roles include Welcome Centre Hosts, Tenancy Buddies and Employability Support Volunteers. See more information here.
Get in touch at volunteer.coordinator@rwns.org.uk – we’d love to hear from you!
We’re also looking for private rented accommodation for families seeking sanctuary. To find out more, please email Housing@rwns.org.uk
