Help to self-help

Many asylum seekers have lost everything on their flight and suffer from the after-effects of violence and persecution. Once they arrive in Britain, they often have trouble orienting themselves in the complex asylum system. This can lead to migrants who are in need of protection ending up in prison, living in fear of deportation and suffering state of uncertainty or lethargy. Practical, legal and psychological problems prevent them from achieving psychosocial wellbeing. At the ICRM those affected learn better ways of coping with psychological pressures. They benefit from education and leisure activities and receive guidance concerning their asylum status. The refugees thus regain their independence piece by piece, enabling them to rebuild a life within society.

Comprehensive Integration

The ICRM project combines psychological provision with practical support, e.g. with searching for accommodation and work, managing money or the asylum process. It is centred on promoting independence, combating isolation and building sustainable and resilient social networks. Besides practical and psychological support the ICRM therefore offers group activities such as English language courses, art lessons or Pilates sessions. With the support of ICRM projects, migrants are given the space to explore their traumatic experiences and hopes for the future, and integrate more fully into the new system.

Project Support

In 2017 the Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation supports the programme with an amount of 40‘000,- GBP. For 2020 - 2022 the ICRM will receive a project contribution of CHF 50’576 for the development of a stable fundraising programme. An additional CHF 17’500 are granted in 2020 for costs arising as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. These are invested in emergency parcels distributed to the ICRM’s clients.