The Harbour Project aims to enable refugees to navigate their way in an unfamiliar society to access the UK job market and utilise their talents.
This is through training, coaching, skills development, volunteering, mentoring and support in CV development and job application.
Takes is a person-centric approach to understand their specific skills and ambitions as well as directly challenging real and perceived barriers to employment.
Our Vision
We aim to be a family for every individual who seeks asylum or is granted refugee status in Swindon, and to help them to rebuild their lives.
We provide advice, support, practical help and friendship, so that our visitors have the best possible chance of a fair hearing, a fair outcome from their asylum claim, and a fair future in the UK.
Our Values
Visitor-focussed– We prioritise the interests of our visitors in the decisions that we make, and recognise the importance of their involvement in decisions that may affect them.
Inclusive and egalitarian– We are non-judgemental and accepting. We seek to provide equality of opportunity to allow visitors to access the help and advice that they need, specific to their circumstances. We do not probe or ask detailed questions about the events leading up to someone making a claim for asylum unless the visitor chooses to share this with us.
We value our diverse Board of Trustees and staff team, and welcome volunteers from throughout the community, making use of their myriad skills. We work in partnership with other organisations wherever possible.
We actively engage with stakeholders in our management and planning to ensure that our provision remains relevant, valuable and appropriate.
Warm and welcoming – We are proud of our warm, family-like atmosphere. We are informal and friendly, and aim to provide a safe, comforting environment for our visitors to enable them to integrate into Swindon life in ways that are beneficial for them and other residents in the town.
Underpinning the informality and friendship, we also pride ourselves on the professionalism, integrity, depth and breadth of the services and advice that we offer.
Help & Advice
At The Harbour Project we welcome and support refugees and asylum seekers in Swindon.
To those who’ve risked their lives, families and homes fleeing war and persecution, we provide friendship and hope for a future. With this purpose, we’ve been working tirelessly since the Kosovo crisis in 2000. Today, we’re aiding people from across the world, accompanying them through the UK asylum process, from day one in the town onwards.
We became a registered charity in 2003 and now have a small team of staff supported by an exceptional and enthusiastic body of volunteers.
Whilst our visitor volumes have grown and our range of activities has broadened, we remain an independent, non-political and non-religious organisation.
For some, our services are their lifeline. For many, we are their family. Together with our local community partners, we act to save vulnerable people from destitution and build awareness of people on the complex road to becoming a refugee.
Our advice service is open Monday – Friday 10am – 2pm. We welcome over a 100 visitors a day who come for support, advice practical help and a warm, safe space for social integration and classes.
The Harbour Project is authorised by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner to give Asylum and Protection Advice at OISC Level 1. OISC Registration Number N201800020.