Since opening its doors in November 2023, our Bournemouth Dignity Centre has become a lifeline for refugees and people seeking asylum on the UK’s south coast. With the growing number of people arriving in Bournemouth and surrounding areas, the Centre provides a vital space of welcome, where members can access essential services, connect with the local community and find a sense of belonging during one of the most challenging times of their lives.
Most Dignity Centre members have been placed in hotels provided by the Home Office, and the living conditions have created significant mental health challenges for people seeking asylum, who are unable to work, forced to share cramped rooms with strangers and reliant on three processed meals a day. A report published by the Helen Bamber Foundation and Asylum Aid in June 2024 highlighted the negative impact such conditions have on quality of life and the huge potential for (re)traumatisation for those housed in this way.
The Bournemouth Dignity Centre was designed to provide an antidote to these conditions: a hub of vibrant activity and community, responding to the needs of those we serve. It’s the latest example of what we do best: dignified support in times of urgent need.
At any given moment, around 20 members can be found in the Dignity Centre, using the space as much-needed respite from their cramped, isolating hotel accommodation. The team of amazing local volunteers, led by our incredible Coordinator, Zoe, offer a wide range of services that address the complex needs of people seeking asylum and refugees as they navigate life in the UK. Each week, our busy helpdesk assists about 80 people with important tasks such as filling out paperwork, making appointments and navigating the asylum system. We provide English lessons for around 60 people per week; and run music sessions twice a month with Seeking Refuge to bring people together, offering moments of levity, and a chance to unwind and express themselves. On Friday, it’s “Members Takeover”, where members play games, do puzzles and, thanks to Table Tennis England – through whom we were able to purchase a heavily discounted professional table – relax and laugh over a game of table tennis.
For those needing more specialised support, through close partnerships with experts, we offer careers advice to around 12 people per week as well as assisting with access to health care, education and mental health services. Alongside, we support members to apply for Universal Credit, set up bank accounts, find housing and apply for college or more comprehensive English classes.
As with all our Dignity Centres, members can access essential material goods through a choice-based shop system. Around 80 new members a month can select a Welcome Pack of weather-appropriate clothing and hygiene items. These packs include essentials such as jackets, jumpers, t-shirts, trousers, and new socks and underwear, along with hygiene products like soap, deodorant and shaving supplies.
One of the most exciting initiatives to emerge from the Bournemouth Dignity Centre is Dignity FC, a partner football club for people seeking asylum and refugees. Founded in February 2024 by player-coach Derick Ajang Ewang, who also plays for Bournemouth Poppies, the football club has quickly become an essential part of life for the 20+ players who train together three times a week. Hailing from at least 13 countries, including Sudan, Eritrea, and Afghanistan, the players come together to share their passion for the game and find some relief from the challenges of living in temporary hotel accommodations.
For many of the players, football offers a lifeline—a chance to build friendships, stay active and rediscover a sense of belonging in an unfamiliar environment. Living on an asylum allowance of less than £9 per week, many of the players face significant barriers to accessing sports, from not being able to afford membership fees to lacking football boots and equipment. With the support of local partners, Dignity FC is now in the process of affiliating with the Hampshire FA and is working hard to secure funding and sponsorship to cover costs such as FA fees, pitch hire and training equipment.
As we reflect on the past few months, it’s clear that the Bournemouth Dignity Centre has evolved into a community hub where people seeking asylum and refugees can reclaim their dignity, access critical services and find a sense of belonging. The partnerships we’ve built have been key to this success, and the passion of our staff, volunteers and members continues to drive us forward.
We’re excited to continue growing this project and find new ways to meet the needs of those who seek safety in the UK. Unfortunately, these needs continue to grow, with this last month alone seeing both an uptick in new arrivals to Bournemouth and, following successful asylum decisions, and increasing number of evictions from the hotels. With the cold weather fast approaching, people are left street homeless and destitute.
With your support, we can ensure that the Bournemouth Dignity Centre remains a place where dignity, hope and community flourish.
