We're delighted to announce that RSD's new Chair is Helen Hartstein. Read more about Helen and the departing Chair, Jenny Longford here.
More detailsAbout Us
We are an independent charitable company, based in Exeter and serving the whole of Devon (within the Devon County Council Boundary).
We were formed in 2001 in response to the impressive local volunteer support to asylum seekers dispersed to Exeter (2000-2004). We initially formed a charity called Refugee Support Group Devon (charity commission no: 1092410), then chose to become a ‘company limited by guarantee without share capital’ in 2011 when we changed our name to Refugee Support (Devon) Ltd.
Charity Commission no. 1143884
Companies House no. 07731995
Our Vision
Our vision is to support our clients in feeling safe and more settled in Devon during their journey as asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants.
Our Mission Statement
Our mission is to better support the evolving needs of our clients by strengthening our organisational resilience.
In delivering our mission we strive to put those we work with at the centre of our processes. We welcome and seek out cooperative and partnership working with other organisations which share our priorities and values.
We aim to...
Provide relief to refugees and their families living in Devon who are in conditions of hardship or distress
Support refugees and their families in settling in the local community and to preserve and protect their wellbeing
Provide a voice for the local refugee community
Promote education of the general public about the issues relating to refugees and asylum seekers
Offer a voluntary service with opportunities for training and skills development available to service users and the wider community
Please see our Business Plan 2024-27 for further information on our work.
Our Staff Team
We currently operate with a team of 9 staff (8 part-time) who are supported by around 80 wonderful volunteers at any one time.
Our Trustees
Refugee Support Devon is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees, who ensure efficient running of the organisation and adherence to all legal requirements. Currently we have ten Trustees in post, all with different experience and expertise.