Sanctuary Services Map Belfast

ACSONI was established in 2003 to target the needs and facilitate belonging among individuals from the continent of Africa, the Caribbean (West Indies) and other families in Northern Ireland with these linkages.
We offer drop in services including Food Bank support, Immigration Clinics for visa and other immigration queries, Jobs & benefits support, Digital inclusion drives, Toy and Clothes drives for disadvantaged families and individuals.

• Immigration Clinic
• Mental Wellbeing Referrals
• Victims Advocacy
• Housing Advocacy
• Anti-Bullying in Schools Advocacy
• Mixed race and newcomer parents groups

Ubuntu roughly translating to “I am because we are” is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and delivered by Barnardo’s with teams in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Hertfordshire. It supports communities and organisations working with children, young people and families arrived seeking international protection. The project has three strands: Ubuntu Youth Voice Network (empowering young people 12+ to influence change), Ubuntu Practitioners Network (sharing practice and advocacy), and a Community Development strand (training, resources, and support to build integration and wellbeing).

We are working to make Belfast a welcoming environment for refugees, asylum-seekers and newcomer communities. Wherever they go in our neighbourhoods we want them to feel safe and to find people who welcome them, support them, include them in their activities and celebrate what they can contribute. We want to build that same culture of welcome in our schools, workplaces, entertainment centres, places of worship and all public spaces. We hope to work with the public services, both at policy level and on the frontline, to ensure that an ethos of civility and welcome pervades at all times.

BURC delivers services supporting migrants and local communities, including free online English classes run by Volunteer Tutors. Through CBPES, BURC provides sector-specific English and employability support, plus guidance on cross-border work, taxation and social welfare. The welfare advice service helps with benefits, Universal Credit and digital access, with outreach for those facing barriers. BURC also runs leadership training and supports the Frontline Humanitarian Negotiators’ Network, helping resolve community tensions and strengthen local support systems.

The team supports refugees and asylum seekers to reduce health inequalities and improve wellbeing by understanding their health and social care needs and promoting access to services. The team coordinates the Trust implementation of the NI Resettlement Scheme to address barriers to services, and promote rights-based, needs-led integration through advocacy and training. The Community Inclusion Officer provides personalised support to help individuals and families access HSC and community services.

BHSCT in collaboration with the PHA and the SPPG, has established an evidence based Nurse-led service for new entrants to Northern Ireland. The project provides a variety of clinics to support the health and social well-being of new immigrants , asylum seekers, refugees, targeted children 0-16 years.
This service aims to support all new entrants by offering screening, health education and sign posting to other services.
Support in registering with GP/Dentist.Opticians.
Blood screening for TB, HIV and Hepatitis B&C
Delivery of Mantoux/BCG programme for children
Direct referral pathways

The Children’s Law Centre currently provides free advice and support to asylum-seeking families experiencing difficulties accessing essential services, including healthcare, education, and housing. The service is available to families with children and aims to ensure that they are able to access the support and entitlements to which they are legally entitled. All advice is confidential, independent, and provided without charge. Accessing this service will not affect an individual’s immigration or asylum status.

Conway is a community-based charity delivering adult education, ESOL integration programmes, a refugee Homework Club, and the international music group Tunes Translated. Accredited courses include GCSE English and Maths, Essential Skills, and OCN ICT. Other courses include arts, crafts, aromatherapy, Tai Chi, cooking, Spanish, and photography. Free services include IOM & Belfast Health Trust outreach clinics, and supporting refugee families through ESOL, educational support for young people aged 9–17, and opportunities for cultural integration through music and community learning.

Hosford Homelessness Services has over 25 years of experience providing services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Our aim is to create a society where everyone has a place to call home. Our mission is to provide accommodation and support to enable people to break out of homelessness, maintain independence, and realise their potential. As part of these services we have a 26 room hostel, tenancy support services for people in the community at risk of homelessness, Women's group, health and wellbeing and gardening groups.

We help young people, women and children who are struggling due to domestic violence, discrimination and inequality. We support families from the minority ethnic background due to the nature of the experiences that people from minority ethnic backgrounds go through. We help people in Belfast who are experiencing racial discrimination and we have over 140 families that we help. We also run homework programmes, cookery clubs, creative clubs and dance clubs for young people as well as sports and trips to places outside Belfast.

Forward South Partnership (FSP) is an independent charity that works with community, schools, business, public and private sector partners to help regenerate and sustain a healthy and prosperous South Belfast. We are part of a citywide structure known as the Belfast Area Partnerships who have led community regeneration initiatives over the past 25 years. We like to think of ourselves as that “one stop shop” — a service that is there to help anyone navigate and link into all the interesting places, spaces, neighbourhoods, assets and services which make up South Belfast.

Happy Women's Group is an organisation to support women and girls, and ethnic minorities within the local area who are newly arrived to Northern Ireland, are seeking asylum or settling. Happy Women's Group offers help with physical and mental health; emotional wellbeing; linguistic, social, economic and cultural challenges by providing assistance around emotional health; social isolation; bereavement; advocacy; signposting/facilitating (referring people to statutory or voluntary organisations) and supporting victims of female genital mutilation through partnerships, training, and community bui

Housing Rights works with people who are homeless or in housing need across Northern Ireland.

We help the public through the provision of advice, advocacy and mediation work.

We are Immigration Advice Authority registered (formerly known as OISC) but we do not provide immigration advice.
We do, however, provide advice on the housing related element once leave to remain, for instance, has been resolved.

Instagram: @housing_rights
TikTok: @housingrightsni
Facebook: @HousingRightsNI
LinkedIn: @HousingRights
Bluesky: @HousingRightsNI

Include Youth supports unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee young people up to the age of 25. The services we provide include:

• ESOL classes
• Young Women's weekly group
• Essential skills qualifications through out Give & Take programme
• Employability support
• One - to - One support for young people at risk of CSE
• 6 weeks mental health one-to-one programme

We offer free, independent and specialist legal advice, casework and representation in the areas of social security, employment and immigration.

Migration Justice is a project of Law Centre NI. Our resources and legal briefings are aimed at people seeking sanctuary, and those supporting them from the community and voluntary sector. Always free to download, our publications aim to help you understand the immigration and asylum landscape in Northern Ireland.

Ormeau Road Library provides a free, welcoming, and inclusive space for everyone, including newcomers. Services include free membership, access to books and eResources, free Wi-Fi, public computers with free access to translation software, print facilities, workspace, information support, children’s activities and community events. The library offers a welcoming, safe, environment where people can spend time, access services, learn new skills and connect with their local community. To find other libraries in Belfast please visit www.librariesni.org.uk

LORAG manages:
Shaftesbury Community and Recreation Centre: open seven days a week and available for hire and community use with:
Sports hall
Dance studio
3G pitches
Community garden

Lower Ormeau Youth Hub: ideal for meetings, gatherings, group work, particularly for children and young people

LORAG has a community garden - Gairdín Abhann/River Garden, available for community use.

The John Murray Lockhouse is being refurbished and will open in spring 2027 as a wellbeing centre and cafe.

LORAG delivers a range of services outlined below from these venues.

The MSHT NI team provides services to male survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking while they are going through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) process. Services can only be accessed after they have entered the NRM through a first responder organisation (PSNI, Health Trust etc). Once in the NRM the referral is sent to us and we provide 1:1 support throughout the process which can include provision of accommodation, registration with GP and other relevant services, casework support during the NRM process, referrals and signposting to specialist services.

The Migrant Workers’ Union NI is a grassroots, migrant-led organisation supporting migrant and migrantised workers, including asylum seekers and refugees, across Northern Ireland. We provide advocacy, signposting, community support, and anti-racism organising around issues including exploitation, unsafe housing, discrimination, hate incidents, and modern slavery risks. Our work focuses on dignity, solidarity, and helping people seeking sanctuary access practical support safely and without fear.

STEM is a tenancy support service providing support & assistance to people whose tenancy may be at risk due to harassment or intimidation because of their ethnicity.

• Available to people from M.E. backgrounds who have a tenancy in Greater Belfast, & have experienced or are at risk of experiencing harassment or intimidation
• It is one of NIACRO’s APAC services, which works to improve social inclusion and remove barriers to integration.

* NIACRO STEM; Supporting Tenancies for Ethnic Minorities, can provide services for Refugees BUT NOT asylum seekers. Recourse to public funds required.

NSPCC aims to stop child abuse and keep children safe across the UK. Childline (NSPCC) is there 24/7 with free, confidential support for children under 19years. In Northern Ireland, our Belfast and Foyle hubs work with children, families and professionals, offering therapeutic support to help children to move forward following abuse. Translation services provided for face to face support and on our websites. For more information or referrals, visit our website; https://www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/our-impact/our-work-uk/northern-ireland/

Queen's University Belfast offers a range of supports to refugees and those seeking asylum, to suit the needs of people at different academic levels and career stages, from short-term courses to scholarships at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Through our Civic Engagement team we provide: Sanctuary Coffee Mornings; annual Information Fairs, including health, immigration advice, employment, education opportunities; tailor made workshops such as CV writing and Academic English courses; guided tours to University facilities; event support for partner organisations, and more.

RR NI is an independent volunteer-led group providing a safe space for LGBTQIA+ refugees and people seeking sanctuary in NI.
We support queer people seeking sanctuary by:

• running monthly, confidential, social meet-ups in Belfast
• signposting to existing support services (hate crime, sexual health, refugee support etc)
• advocating for members’ safety within the asylum system
• supporting to understand rights and entitlements
• promoting inclusion within local communities
• supporting members to navigate the asylum process

LGBTQIA+ refugees and people seeking sanctuary can get in touch directly.

Refuge Language offers English language support and community-based learning for refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants aged 16+. We provide accredited and non-accredited courses, group activities and signposting to local services, with a specialist focus on IELTS exam preparation. Our classes take place in welcoming community venues and classrooms across Northern Ireland, and our goal is to support integration through language.

We offer;

• Food and clothes support on a referral basis
• A programme of community activities and classes e.g. English, Baking, Creative Arts, Pottery, Sewing, Football, Guitar and Photography
• Opportunities for volunteering and employability skills workshops
• Those seeking asylum can register for food and clothes support by bringing their ARC card or Bail 201 and Mears Occupancy Letter. Those with other Refugee status will need a referral letter from an charity or agency that can assess their need.

Whiterock Child & Family Centre is a welcoming community-based organisation supporting children, young people, and families across the Whiterock and Upper Springfield areas of Belfast. We provide practical, emotional, and community support to help families overcome challenges, build confidence, and strengthen relationships in a safe and supportive environment. We have a range of services including the family support hub, English classes, casework support, workshops and craft and sport classes.