October 01, 2026
What happens when a community comes together?
Lewisham’s migrant and refugee communities are constantly evolving, and so are the conversations around how we can respond to their needs.
Our recent forums have been full of ideas, updates and opportunities to work together, bringing organisations, partners and community members together to share knowledge, raise important issues and look at what comes next.
The most recent Lewisham Migration Forum (LMF) brought organisations and partners together to hear the latest updates, including developments around the Lewisham Borough of Sanctuary.
A key part of the session was a discussion on ‘Building an Anti-Raids Sanctuary in and beyond Lewisham’, led by Cllr Tam Hau-Yu and Cllr Wellington Gil. Lewisham Anti-Raids also joined us to deliver a ‘Know Your Rights’ and Community Safety session, helping attendees understand their rights during immigration raids, how to support people who may be affected, and how to do so safely within the community.
The forum also provided an opportunity to reflect on the findings of our recent LMF survey and begin developing an action plan based on members’ feedback. Responses highlighted the importance of the forum as an informative space for co-design, collaboration and amplifying the voices of migrants and people with lived experience.
Almost 90% of respondents said they would like more opportunities to network and take part in roundtable discussions with other organisations.
Members also identified four key areas for future training: data mapping; practical skills and capacity building; lived experience and community outreach; and signposting and frontline resources.
The latest Community Forum also gave members the chance to hear updates on LRMN’s recent Refugee Week event, progress with our migrant charging campaign and changes to the Community Forum itself.
We were also joined by Better Gym, The Bike Project and the Loved and Wanted Programme, who introduced services and opportunities available to our community. The Bike Project shared information about free bikes available to Lewisham residents seeking asylum or with refugee status, while Better Gym spoke about free gym memberships for individuals who have been granted refugee resettlement status in the last 12 months.
The Loved and Wanted Programme also shared plans to strengthen connections between libraries and local communities. Every library will deliver focused activity in one flagship branch, working closely with community organisations and hosting three information days where local, regional and national services can come together to share information.
These conversations are what make our forums so valuable. Together, we’re creating spaces where people can exchange knowledge, build relationships and, most importantly, turn community voices into meaningful action!