Working with refugees at the University of Plymouth

Our work with people who have been forced to leave their country due to war, violence, conflict or persecution

Refugee in national dress giving thumbs up sign

Working with refugees and partners around the South West and beyond, the University is committed to understanding and collaborating with displaced communities to support a brighter future. From students getting real-world experience with service users, to research exploring the concept of ‘home’, the projects and events taking place make an impactful difference to everyone involved.

Participants in Students and Refugees Together posing on a woodland shelter

Credit: START

Students and Refugees Together (START)

START was launched in 2001 to help refugees in the South West thrive in their local community while giving Social Work students valuable placement experience.

The organisation has positively impacted hundreds of lives through its partnership between student, service user and community, collaboratively working out what support is needed and how to achieve it. Find out how the organisation began from founder, and now volunteer, Avril Bellinger.

Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support (DCRS)

DCRS works with displaced communities to promote independence, prevent destitution and encourage integration into the local community.

Law and social work students from the University benefit from placement opportunities at the charity, while PhD students gain valuable experience through its befriending service. Representatives from across the University also sit on the DCRS Board of Trustees, with a personal and professional passion to help further the organisation’s mission.

Refugee research

The University undertakes a variety of research related to refugees, from health and wellbeing to arts and heritage.

Displacement Studies Research Network

This research network seeks to provide a voice for the displaced and facilitates a platform for research projects with our global partners.

AISHA: Resilient Refugee Women Project

This project addresses poverty alleviation and empowerment of women refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, will be examining the impact of grassroots micro-entrepreneurship on the lives of the women and their families.

Hope in Plymouth artwork depicting a boat in the sea heading towards Smeaton's tower in Plymouth UK.

Routes to Wellness

Funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), this study aims to co-design a peer support model for improving refugees’ mental health and wellbeing.

Justice and Imagination in Global Displacement (JIGD)

We are a research collective of multidisciplinary academics whose work deals with global challenges cross-cutting issues of social and spatial displacement (and associated harms), migration, memory and material culture, identity, race and ethnicity.

SAEP: Syrian Artisan Entrepreneurship Project

This two year project explores the resilience of Syrian refugee male artisans residing in Jordan and offers them a social enterprise training programme and mentoring.

Creative Associates - image from the Creative Recovery project, credit: Carey Marks

Creative Recovery: Mapping refugees' memories of home as heritage

Working with refugees and asylum seekers in the South West on visualising the meaning of 'home'.

Connecting with our community

Immigration and Refugee Law Clinic
The Immigration and Refugee Law Clinic provides information and assistance on issues of family life, long residence and naturalisation and registration for British citizenship.

Community English Classes
The University's English Language Centre (ELC) is delighted to offer free English language classes aimed at newly arrived members of the local community who are not able to access language support offered by other providers.

Sanctuary scholarships
Financial support package for students who may have difficulty accessing home fees due to their immigration status.

English Language Centre AERS presentations by International students

Plymouth Refugee Week (15–22 June 2024)

Free to attend

Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

In Plymouth, we have a packed schedule of engaging events, open days and activities hosted by a network of communities across the city.

Find out more about our Refugee Week events