South London Refugee Association celebrates makeover boost

South London Refugee Association scooped the prize

Submitted by South London Refugee Association

A charity that supports refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants in South London is gearing up for a headquarters makeover after winning £1,000 worth of decorating and DIY materials.

South London Refugee Association has scooped the prize from Leyland SDM through its Give London a Lift campaign. Decorating and DIY specialist Leyland SDM, which has 31 stores across London, is giving away £10,000 worth of materials this year through the scheme.

South London Refugee Association will visit Leyland SDM’s store on Tooting High Street in Tooting, in London, to collect all of the materials needed to revamp its centre in Streatham, in London.

David Drozdziak, development manager at the charity, said: “We’re thrilled to receive this prize from Leyland SDM. It’s a huge boost for us. We work to provide advice and a welcome to refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants in South London as they build settled lives for themselves and their families.

“We help those who find themselves in extreme difficulty, often finding themselves homeless and destitute. These DIY materials will allow us to have an appropriate space for those we work with to visit to attend classes and groups, enjoy hot lunches, learn English, get advice and make new friends.

“We can fully decorate our centre and that means we don’t have to spend our limited cash resources, instead, putting it directly to help those people fleeing from oppression or persecution.”

South London Refugee Association offers a range of services including weekly drop-ins at their centre, specialist youth services and counselling.

This year’s Give London a Lift campaign is being backed by former England and Arsenal footballer Paul Merson. Entries are open until the end of October.

Paul Gerreli, marketing director at Leyland SDM, said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to support South London Refugee Association and the work it does in London. We’re committed to supporting the communities in which we are based, and this is another example of that.”

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