Ealing & Acton Support Enterprise (for now)

Logo reading 'communities not camps'

Our thoughts are with the men who today were moved into Crowborough camp.
They came to the UK for sanctuary. Instead they've been used as a political tool, their suffering used to demonstrate this Government's commitment to cruelty above everything else.

“Anyone who needs me to be their neighbour is my neighbour.”

Tune in to Songs of Praise at 1.15pm on BBC One this Sunday to hear from our hosts Andrew and Jane, and how opening their home is a key part of their faith.

So we’ve abandoned X/twitter, at least until there are substantial changes there. @groktr.bsky.social bikinis were the last straw (what’s it doing here by the way?) So do give us a follow if you’re a refugee from anywhere, including the other place. #refugeeswelcome

Great way to start the term/2026 with biryani donated from our local mosque, lots of familiar faces, some new ones in urgent need of our help and some fab @thefelixproject.bsky.social
spiced apple cakes. Building community one week at a time…

Lovely story of welcome from Yorkshire. We try to do the same with @easeealing.bsky.social in west London.

An Acton nativity and a new crisis at Christmas time | Seen & Unseen

Thank you. I thought while writing it of my visit to @easeealing.bsky.social two years ago for @seenunseenmag.bsky.social: www.seenandunseen.com/acton-nativi...

Last drop-in before the summer break saw the children playing, the craft table in full flow, and lots of goodies from @cityharvestnyc.bsky.social @vodafonegroup.bsky.social and others to distribute. See you all in September #refugeeswelcome

Outrageous use of language! The @bbc ought to think harder. But also this could be the introduction of safe, legal routes which we’ve all been looking for. No-one wants smugglers or small boats. A proper application process (like for the Ukrainians) is what’s needed.

They could save the money on enforcing this by letting asylum seekers work.

For about two minutes!

@refugeeweek.bsky.social continues in #Ealing with our communities joining together to make art speak for us… alongside #UWL students… bringing colour and joy

Wonderful @RefugeeWeek fun at @johnperrynps yesterday. And they were so pleased to see Z, our lovely volunteer barber, offering free haircuts to young (mostly) and old. #refugeeswelcome

Integrating different cultures as two of our asylum-seekers leave today’s drop-in with a generous haul of groceries courtesy of @felixprojectuk and @CityHarvest_LDN #refugeeswelcome

Lots of young children at our drop-in this week. Early half-term? Luckily we had plenty for them to do, including the famous, free haircuts. Z will be snipping more at @johnperrynps @RefugeeWeek celebration. #refugeeswelcome

Lovely to see people volunteering to prepare the best roast potatoes in west London. Whatever else our brilliant cooks serve, there’s ALWAYS roast potatoes (most asylum-seekers can’t access ovens, so a real treat) We need a LOT - enough for 100 or more each week. #refugeeswelcome

All ready for our big clothes and (about 25) suitcases to #Ealing’s asylum seekers & refugees tomorrow. Thanks to @Goods4Good, #BigYellow, other donors & volunteers/new volunteers from @opdc.bsky.social

Good to be part of the launch of #Ealing becoming a Borough of Sanctuary.
So proud of one of our asylum-seekers, who spoke no English when she arrived, learnt only with us for a year, making a speech in English to a full hall including Ealing’s mayor & @blerinahashani.bsky.social
#RefugeesWelcome

Our barber had such a busy day yesterday… several chaps (as usual), a couple of kids wanting sharp, razor cuts, and Ros: pillar of the church who leads our art, knitting and crocheting activities. She emerged looking very smart and tidy #refugeeswelcome

There’s a first time for everything. This Thursday we tried out a choir (not a church choir, just a happens-to-be-in-a-church choir!) so everyone could have a go at singing. Really generous of a local conductor to volunteer to start it up. #RefugeesWelcome

Government considering sending failed asylum seekers to Balkans Home Office officials have discussed proposals to set up overseas "return hubs"

It doesn't matter if it is Rwanda, or Balkans, it doesn't matter if it is classed as offshoring or outsourcing and it doesn't matter if it is Tories or Labour doing it, shipping people who were seeking safety to a random third country is inhumane, and potentially illegal.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Our K usually volunteers as a barber. And much appreciated too. But yesterday he applied his cutting and chopping talents to making the prettiest salads we’ve seen in some time. So appetizing. (And yes, those fasting could take some home to eat later) #refugeeswelcome

More new people arrived today. We see about 40 applications to attend a month. And of course others get status or get randomly moved away or find themselves with English classes all Thursday. And others we see regularly for a year or more.. #refugeeswelcome

Ho for #BigYellow today - have to keep our stash of nappies somewhere as there’s no room in the church. Suddenly no size 4s. Thanks to #Goods4Good for providing them #refugeeswelcome

We are three years old today! And celebrating by looking for our first paid role: a two day pw operations manager. You need empathy with refugees, skills with volunteers and organising, a little IT and to be local to Acton. Appealing? See here for details: drive.google.com/file/d/10lO_...

Was also thinking that….

@easeealing.bsky.social @westlondonwelcome.bsky.social @zoejardiniere.bsky.social @asylummatters.bsky.social @loucalvey.bsky.social @alfdubs.bsky.social plus those lovely starter packs.

Small boats: Union and bishops criticise refugee citizenship ban Some 147 signatories of a letter say the recently-implemented rule will

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Our volunteer barber had several clients today. Wonderful to see what a difference a sharp haircut makes to a chap “My wife will love this” says M, as he emerges… #RefugeesWelcome

It was a joy to tell J at 2200 on election night, that he would NOT be deported to #Rwanda. Today, it was a joy to celebrate his brand new refugee status. But we bottled telling him he could now never be a citizen because of how he arrived in the U.K.

Over the moon to hear our last @RefugeesAtHome guest, J, has finally got refugee status after a long haul, detention at #BrookHouse for #Rwanda, bailed to us and a wait of over two years for an interview. Hope to see him at @EASEealing drop-in tomorrow.