International Work
We can offer help through…
English Conversational Classes
Conversation opportunities and classes happen all across Southampton to help people to be more connected with others and improve their English. Hosted by local churches and volunteers:
-Monday at Above Bar Church
-Wednesday (9.30 - 11am) at New Community Church
-Thursday (5-6pm) at Burgess Road Library, organised by Christchurch
-Wednesday (Above Bar & Christ Church)
Ask for access via: southamptonenglishpractice@gmail.com
Weekly online English practice using Google Classroom
Email southamptonenglishpractice@gmail.com for the log in details.
Friends International
Friends International works to support international students that are studying in the UK to help them to build community and overcome any challenges.
You can look at their website here.
Accessing practical help and support (e.g. food and deliveries)
Volunteers from a range of churches are available to provide practical support. Please see our food page for support with food, or email info@lovesouthampton.org.uk for any more specific requests.
Support for Hong Kongers
City Life Church has created a website to support people arriving from Hong Kong and to signpost places they can go for additional support.
Support for Ukrainians
Various organisations moved fast when the conflict in Ukraine started to provide support services for any Ukrainian refugees coming into Southampton. You can find out more about the services that are available through the links below:
Accessing immigration information and help
Help is available from the following organisations:
CLEAR
Mail - reception@clearproject.org.uk
Website: www.clearproject.org.uk
Call: 023 8022 1111
The Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group (SWVG)
Mail - info@swvg-refugees.org.uk
Website: https://swvg-refugees.org.uk
CLEAR, the Red Cross & the Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group
We are blessed to have organisations like the Red Cross and the Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group - all of whom work together in the Avenue Multicultural Centre (AMC) based at Avenue St Andrew’s Church - serving this group of people with special expertise, including immigration information and help and English Language learning. We value the work of these groups very much, and the fact that they all continued to serve the needs of internationals through telephone-based and online work during the current lockdown.
As Love Southampton we work closely with CLEAR, and are glad to signpost people to all three of these organisations.
Alongside this, we are excited by the work that individual churches do to support internationals, and are committed to working together to ensure that those internationals, who are in need during this time, are offered the best support possible to help them as we come out of the pandemic.