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Supporting asylum seekers, refugees, vulnerable migrants, and their families living in Devon since 2001.
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02 Dec 2025

Stand in Solidarity this Christmas | Refugee Support Devon Launches Christmas 2025 Appeal

Today, on Giving Tuesday, we’re inviting you to stand in solidarity with refugees and people seeking safety who are rebuilding their lives here in Devon, this Christmas.

At its heart, Christmas is a story of refuge - of seeking shelter, of kindness offered by strangers, and of hope that transcends borders. For over two decades, Refugee Support Devon (RSD) has been that hope for hundreds of people arriving here with nowhere else to turn.

Since last Christmas, we've been visited over 3,000 times by nearly 800 people seeking safety. Every one of them carries a story of resilience, and courage - and every one of them deserves a warm welcome.

But we cannot do this alone.

This Giving Tuesday, we’re launching our Christmas appeal with the goal of raising £5,000 to ensure we can continue providing vital support throughout 2026. At a time when hostility towards migrants and refugees is increasing, your compassion matters more than ever.

Your generosity fuels a small but mighty team delivering life-changing support across Devon, including:

  • English lessons that help people build confidence, connect, and find their voice in a new country.
  • Specialist training to help skilled refugee medical professionals requalify here in the UK  -  filling vital gaps in our struggling NHS while rebuilding their own futures.
  • An Immigration Advice Clinic accredited to IAA Levels 1 and 2, offering free legal advice in what is otherwise a legal advice desert here in Devon.
  • Drop-in sessions in Exeter twice a week - a hub of warmth and welcome, where people can get crisis support, share a cup of tea, and speak to a friendly face who listens and offers practical advice.
  • An Advisory Panel bringing together people with lived experience of the immigration and asylum systems in Devon. Their voices guide and shape everything we do, ensuring that solidarity is always a verb. 

Every week, people walk through our doors feeling anxious, tired, or alone - and leave feeling a little more hopeful.

“I feel like a human being again. Refugee Support Devon has put me back on track.”
 

This winter, your gift can make a real and immediate difference:

  • £5 - Tea, coffee, and biscuits at a drop-in session - a small comfort that helps someone feel welcome.
  • £10 - Travel costs so a refugee or asylum seeker can safely reach us or attend a vital appointment.
  • £25 - Textbooks, materials, and volunteer support for one English lesson.
  • £50 - A week’s worth of essentials for someone newly arrived in Devon.
  • £100 - An hour of specialist immigration advice that could change the course of someone’s case - and their future.

Please donate today and help us keep spreading kindness this winter.
Every pound helps us offer not just help, but humanity.

Together, we can ensure that Refugee Support Devon remains a safe, welcoming place for anyone who needs it.
Our Community Knows No Borders

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