Kent Refugee Help (Charity number 1120185) is a UK-based nonprofit organisation dedicated to supporting refugees and migrants who are held in prisons in London and Kent. The charity provides legal advice and representation to help individuals navigate their immigration and asylum cases while incarcerated, ensuring they have access to justice and support throughout the legal process.

Activities and Services

Kent Refugee Help offers comprehensive assistance that includes:

• Access to legal advice and immigration representation regulated and accredited by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). This includes telephone advice via a dedicated helpline, which operates two days a week, and one-to-one consultations in prison settings, either in person or via video link.
• Continued support for refugees and migrants after their release from prison, including signposting to local services, ongoing assistance, and small emergency cash grants.
• Engagement and involvement of refugees and migrants within the organisation itself, valuing their experiences and insights to help shape and develop the charity’s policies and advocacy efforts.

Advocacy and Community Engagement

Kent Refugee Help actively promotes the rights of refugees and migrants and participates in broader campaigns against hostile immigration policies. The organisation encourages community involvement through volunteering and donations to enhance its work supporting vulnerable populations within the criminal justice system.

The charity has been operating for over a decade and continues to seek trustees with expertise, particularly in financial matters, to strengthen its governance and impact.

Kent Refugee Help’s work is unique in focusing specifically on the intersection between the immigration system and the criminal justice system, providing vital legal and social support to a group often overlooked in refugee aid.

This summary reflects information available from the organisation’s official communications and public charity records.

[1] https://kentrefugeehelp.org.uk/about-krh/ [2] https://kentrefugeehelp.org.uk [3] https://kran.org.uk [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/4030121 [5] https://www.influencewatch.org/organization/kent-refugee-action-network-kran/