July 31, 2025
Refugee Week, radio, and more!
What a whirlwind of a month it’s been at LRMN! From incredible community events to powerful campaigning wins, we’ve been out and about making noise, building connections, and spreading the message of sanctuary far and wide.
We’re still glowing from the success of our Power of Community day during Refugee Week, and what a day it was. With more than 200 people joining us on the hottest day of the year, our community came together in full force to celebrate strength, resilience, and solidarity.
From crafting flower crowns and making seed paper to the beautiful voices of the LRMN Women’s Choir, the day was filled with connection and creativity. We also ran CV workshops, free headshots, Anti-Raids training, and advice stalls – something for everyone.
A heartfelt thank you to all our brilliant partners and volunteers, and to our guest speakers Cllr Oana Olaru-Holmes, Katya Griffin, and our CEO Alan Robertson for their powerful words.
We also took part in the University of Greenwich’s Refugee Week Fair, sharing our message with students, staff and partners. And at Cutty Sark, we ran a Borough of Sanctuary outreach stall, chatting to the public and gathering new pledges for sanctuary.
After a great response to our Refugee Week specials, we’re excited to be launching a new monthly radio show on Sister Midnight FM, starting Tuesday 5 August, from 12pm–2pm, and continuing every 4 weeks after that.
Each episode will spotlight stories from our community, woven with the music that has shaped people’s lives and journeys. This is about more than awareness; it’s about confidence-building, connection, and change.
We are so grateful to Sister Midnight FM and SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS for giving space to migrant voices and helping us share them across South East London.
We’re also so proud to congratulate our Lewisham Community Champions, who completed their multi-month training programme this July. Designed to empower our core Community Forum members to lead campaigns on the issues that matter most to them, the training covered media, storytelling, and grassroots advocacy.
Champions met with local leaders and learned from experienced campaigners at Asylum Matters, Citizens UK and the NRPF Partnership, gaining practical tools and real-world insight into how to create change. Equipping community leaders with practical tools and direct experience not only strengthens their ability to advocate, but helps shift systems that often feel out of reach.
Thanks to the GLA and Lewisham Council for supporting this programme, and to the Greenwich Champions who joined us to mark the occasion.
Following the launch of our Advocacy Guide, we’ve been stepping up our work on healthcare access for migrants, especially for mothers who have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth.
This month, our campaigners visited Board of Director meetings at all three major South London hospital trusts: Lewisham and Greenwich, Guy’s and St Thomas’, and King’s College Hospital. They shared moving stories and delivered spring-themed gifts to honour care and renewal, calling for an end to migrant charging in NHS services.
We’re now planning a regional roundtable in partnership with South London Listens, Citizens UK, Save Lewisham Hospital, and Patients Not Passports to keep pushing for a compassionate, just system. Early conversations have been promising, but there’s still more to do.
It was hot, it was sunny, but nothing could stop our amazing LRMN team and volunteers from walking 10k for the London Legal Walk to raise essential funds for our immigration advice services!
This annual event is an opportunity to raise awareness and money to support people navigating complex legal challenges. The funds we raised, £665 in total, will help ensure our services remain free and accessible to those who need them most.
By coming together to walk in solidarity, we not only raised funds but also showed our commitment to standing alongside migrant communities. Thank you to everyone who donated, cheered us on, and helped make this possible.