As Refugee Week comes to a close, Southampton Action is celebrating almost 11 years of supporting people seeking sanctuary in Southampton.
in the our series focusing on charities and community organisations that are making a real difference to the lives of people in the local area, we look at the group.
What Southampton Action Does
Southampton Action (facebook.com/southamptonaction) is a volunteer-run charity that provides practical support to asylum seekers, refugees and other vulnerable migrants.
The charity was founded in September 2015 in response to the humanitarian crisis affecting people travelling to Europe through places such as Greece and Calais. Since then, its focus has shifted to supporting people already living in the UK who need help rebuilding their lives.
Southampton Action provides a wide range of essential items, including clothing, shoes, bedding, kitchen utensils, toiletries, school supplies and toys. Volunteers collect donations at the charity’s storage unit in Townhill Park, usually twice each week. They carefully check every item for quality before sorting and storing it, ready for distribution when needed.
The charity believes that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Items given to clients are viewed as gifts rather than handouts, so Southampton Action maintains high standards for all donations it accepts.
Many people who use the service survive on very limited incomes through asylum support, while some have no income at all. For them, the charity provides vital items that would otherwise be unaffordable.
Providing good-quality clothing, new packets of underwear, practical bags and suitcases, and decent pairs of shoes is about more than meeting basic needs. It helps people regain a sense of dignity and shows that they are valued members of the community.
How People Access Support
Clients can access Southampton Action’s services in several ways.
The charity currently receives funding from the National Lottery Community Fund for the period 2025 to 2027. This funding allows Southampton Action to run two clothing events every quarter. Previously, the events were supported by funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery between 2023 and 2025.
One event is aimed at male clients, while the other supports women and families. Southampton Action works with organisations including CLEAR and Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group to promote these events within local communities.
At each event, people can choose the items they need for themselves. Visitors can also access advice and information from partner organisations while enjoying refreshments and meeting others in the community.
Volunteers run the events, and many of them come from the same communities that use the service. As a result, the events provide not only practical support but also valuable opportunities for community connection.
The accompanying image shows where people who attended clothing events between 2025 and the present day have come from.
Another important route into the service is the weekly drop-in session for refugees and asylum seekers in Southampton. Southampton Action has a desk at the drop-in where people can request support.
This service is particularly important for new arrivals, many of whom arrive with very few possessions. Southampton Action helps them obtain clothing, coats, shoes and other essential items as they begin their new lives in the UK.
Clients can also contact the charity directly through a dedicated WhatsApp number when they need assistance.
Impact
Between 2023 and 2025, Southampton Action held 21 clothing events attended by more than 1,700 people.
Half of those attending were women and children. More than one-third came from just four countries: Afghanistan, Sudan, Eritrea and Zimbabwe.
These figures do not include the many people who received clothing and other support through the weekly drop-in service.
The charity is particularly proud of its ongoing work with men living in the city’s asylum hotel and other asylum accommodation. Men living in the hotel receive only £9.95 per week for living expenses. As a result, even essential items such as underwear, coats and trainers are often beyond their means.
Southampton Action has provided consistent support to residents of the asylum hotel since it opened in 2020.
How You Can Support Southampton Action
Southampton Action is entirely volunteer-led. Every penny donated goes directly towards purchasing essential items for people in need.
The charity is currently running a JustGiving appeal:
justgiving.com/campaign/southamptonaction2026
You can also sign up for the Southampton Action newsletter:
mailchi.mp/4aeef408508b/southhampton-action-mailing-list
Volunteering opportunities and donation requests are regularly published on the charity’s Facebook page. If you would like to get involved, please email information@southamptonaction.org for more information.
Current Donation Requests
Southampton Action is currently seeking donations of:
- Clothing for men, women and children of all sizes and types
- Shoes for men, women and children of all sizes and types
- Coats for men, women and children of all sizes and types
- New, unopened underwear and socks for men, women and children
- Backpacks, rucksacks, holdalls and wheeled suitcases
- Warm blankets, throws and cushions
- Sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers
- Saucepans, pots and pans
- Plates, bowls, cups and cutlery
- School uniforms and school supplies
- Toiletries for men, women, children and babies
- Laundry bags, IKEA-style bags and carrier bags
- In Common is definitely NOT controlled by billionaires! We are currently crowdfunding to pay our annual bills and further running costs. For more information and to make a donation please click here.