Drop-in Service

Our drop-in service, managed by Valentina, provides practical support to refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants in the local community. We help with accessing local services, securing legal advice, and navigating life in the UK. Support can be one-off or long-term, and we tailor help for complex needs. The drop-in support sessions take place twice a week (Tuesday & Thursday 2pm - 4pm) and is run by a team of trained volunteers who work closely with local and national organisations to ensure people are signposted to the right services as appropriate.

Advisory Panel

We have recently launched a Lived Experience (LEX) Advisory Panel - a group of clients who are asylum seekers and refugees living in Devon and involved in a range of our projects. This group meets regularly and informs the development of our services, ensuring everything we do is led, shaped, and informed by the people we support. Panel members receive mentorship and training from local community facilitators and our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Trustee lead, Shehany Warnakulasuriya.

Supporting Asylum Seekers in Devon Hotels

When the first contingency hotel opened in 2022, RSD played a leading role in bringing together local refugee support organisations to strengthen the local response to hotels that were being set up across Devon.

We currently provide direct support to residents in one hotel near Exeter for women, children and families. Our outreach coordinator, Souad along with a team of skilled volunteers, is regularly on site to offer frontline help with SIM cards, clothing for new arrivals, access to immigration advice and interpreting services. We also run a monthly donation day at the hotel distributing clothes, toiletries, toys and other essentials to the residents. Souad coordinates regular events and classes in partnership with volunteers and community organisations for the residents’ mental wellbeing.

Immigration Advice Clinic

RSD has been accredited by the Immigration Advice Authority (previously OISC) to provide free asylum and immigration advice since 2018.

Our team of trained and accredited volunteers (Levels 1 and 2), led by our Immigration Advice Manager, Alex, offer free advice to refugees and asylum seekers living in Devon, making us the only organisation outside Plymouth to provide this service at no cost.

We support clients with Exceptional Case Funding applications and assist those with No Recourse to Public Funds. When specialist legal help is needed, we ensure people are connected with the right legal representatives.

This service is only available to refugees and asylum seekers living in Devon. Unfortunately it is not available for EU nationals or their families.

Opening Hours: Please e-mail info@refugeesupportdevon.org.uk or call our office on 01392 682185 to make an initial enquiry.

Community Garden

Our community garden in Exeter is run by ourvolunteers and clients. They meet every Thursday from 2pm to 4pm and provide a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds to come together, grow food and connect with nature. Volunteers work alongside clients to plant, maintain and harvest fruit, vegetables which are shared with the community, particularly those living in the contingency hotel, and who have little access to fresh produce. The sessions offer a relaxed, supportive environment that promote physical and mental wellbeing, reduce social isolation and help people feel more connected to their community. The sharing of skills across cultures helps build confidence and friendships through food!

Community events

RSD runs events throughout the year to raise awareness and vital funds. Refugee Week in June takes pride of place, where we in partnership with other organisations, run a programme of exciting events during the course of the week, celebrating the contributions, creativity, and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

We also have a presence at events hosted by other organisations including Exeter Respect Festival, Exeter Pride, community fetes, and church events.

Please contact us at info@refugeesupportdevon.org.uk if you wish to hold a fundraising event on our behalf.

Refugee Resettlement Scheme

Our management of the UK resettlement scheme on behalf of and in partnership with the Devon County Council came to an end in May 2026. We are incredibly proud of the 34 families we have supported under this scheme since 2016. Many of the families are now independent and active members of their communities. We shall, of course, keep working with those families who still need occasional support through our Drop-in Service.

Education for Integration and Refugees as Medical Professionals (RAMP) projects

The Education for Integration project helped improve people's English, build their confidence, find work and connect with their community. Over the years, Refugee Support Devon’s team of dedicated, caring volunteer teachers have led online and face-to-face classes delivering ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and Medical English lessons. Clients have gained language skills, passed exams, and gone on to find employment in their field or in a new area of work. ESOL classes have helped clients to feel more confident, less alone and more integrated in society.

The RAMP (Refugees as Medical Professionals) project has supported qualified refugee doctors, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists and vets and helped them to improve their specialist language skills, take professional exams and continue on their journey towards professional registration and employment.

Both our Education for Integration and RAMP projects have now drawn to a close, but we are happy to report that existing and future online English lanaguage learners and volunteer teachers are transferring to our partner organisation, St Sidwell’s Community Centre, where they will continue to thrive. We have also established good relations with The Phoenix Project and REACHE Northwest, who are happy to support refugee doctors who need to improve their English and take professional exams (subject to availability).

For a list of useful RAMP resources and links, please click here.