We are proud to share our Voices in Exile 2025 Impact Report, highlighting the collective impact of our staff, volunteers, partners, supporters, and the incredible resilience of the people we work alongside every day. 

Over the past year, we supported more than 1,000 refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants at risk across Brighton and Sussex through specialist immigration advice, homelessness prevention, food provision, ESOL classes, employability support, wellbeing groups, and wraparound resettlement services. 

At a time when refugees and migrants continue to face increasingly hostile policies, rising homelessness, and barriers to safety and stability, this report reflects both the growing need within our communities and the importance of compassionate, community-led support. 

A year of impact 

In 2025, Voices in Exiles: 

• Supported 1,009 clients across our services 

• Provided immigration advice and support to 364 people 

• Supported 770 clients through our generalist advice and casework service 

• Delivered 70 outreach sessions in asylum hotels and homelessness settings 

• Supported around 45 people each term through our weekly wellbeing, ESOL, and orientation groups 

• Provided practical support to around 115 households through our food bank 

• Distributed over £50,000 in hardship funding to people facing crisis situations 

Alongside these figures are the personal stories that sit at the heart of our work. Throughout the report, service users, volunteers, and staff share their experiences of rebuilding their lives, finding community, and supporting others in turn. 

One service user reflected: 

“Voices in Exile helped us build the confidence to start a new life here.” 

Another shared: 

“The most important thing for me was simple. Someone cared about me. I felt it.” 

Supporting people beyond crisis 

As well as meeting urgent needs, the report highlights our growing focus on long-term wellbeing, inclusion, and systems change. 

This year, we strengthened our campaigning and influencing work locally and nationally, advocating for: 

• The right to work for people seeking asylum 

• Safe and legal routes 

• Improved housing and move-on support 

• Better mental health provision 

• A more compassionate and fair asylum system 

We also launched new initiatives focused on lived experience leadership, participation, anti-racism, and community engagement, ensuring the voices of the people we support continue to shape our work and future direction. 

The people behind the work 

The impact highlighted in this report is made possible through the commitment and expertise of our staff team, alongside the contribution of volunteers, partners, funders, and supporters across Sussex and beyond. 

This year alone, around 50 volunteers contributed more than 5,500 hours of support across our food bank, ESOL classes, casework teams, administration, communications, and resettlement services — complementing the day-to-day work of staff delivering specialist advice, advocacy, outreach, and frontline support. 

We are deeply grateful to everyone who makes this work possible and who continues to stand alongside refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in our community. 

Read the full report 

Our 2025 Impact Report shares more about the realities facing refugees and migrants today, the impact of our services, and the stories of the people who make Voices in Exile what it is. 

Read the full report here: Impact Report 2025

The post Stories, impact and community: Launching our 2025 Impact Report appeared first on Voices In Exile.

The event brought together a vibrant mix of Voices in Exile staff and volunteers, service users, supporters, fundraisers, and representatives from local organisations working with refugees and migrants. It was a wonderful reminder of the strength and warmth of our community, and the collective commitment to creating a fairer, more welcoming society.

Guests heard speeches from departing Director Mel, Voices Chair Nick Scott-Flynn, and our new Director Alison Kelly. Mel’s speech struck a powerful chord, reflecting on the challenging social and political climate in which we work and why Voices’ mission – promoting justice, dignity, and inclusion for all – is more crucial than ever.

As well as being a moment to look back on our achievements over the past year and the past two decades, the evening was also about looking ahead. With Alison stepping into the role of Director, we are excited for the future and energised to continue growing and strengthening our support for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants at risk across Sussex.

Printed copies of our new Impact Report were available for guests to take away, showcasing the difference our work – and the support of our wider community – has made over the past year. It was a proud moment for everyone involved.

The evening was made even more special by delicious food provided by the Real Junk Food Project.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this event. Here’s to the next chapter!

The post Launching our first Impact Report and kicking off our 20th anniversary celebrations appeared first on Voices In Exile.