Bath Welcomes Refugees

What Bath Welcomes Refugees does

Bath Welcomes Refugees (BWR) is a UK-registered charity (Charity number 1171442, Company number 10245232) founded in 2015 and headquartered in Midsomer Norton, delivering services across Bath and North East Somerset. The organisation's mission is to facilitate the settlement and path to independence of refugees and asylum seekers through free, volunteer-led services including English language classes (ESOL), befriending, house preparation, social groups, education and school liaison, Community Sponsorship resettlement, and employability support. BWR is a Home Office-approved Community Sponsor and welcomed its first sponsored family (a Syrian family of six) in March 2021; the charity has since supported over 800 people in total and, as of May 2022, assisted over 60 Bath families hosting more than 100 Ukrainians through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

BWR operates a hybrid volunteer-and-staff model, with 200+ active volunteers across roles including ESOL teaching, befriending, house preparation, fundraising, and interpretation, supported by a small paid staff team of approximately 19 established from approximately 2021–2022 onward. The organisation generates revenue primarily through individual donations (processed via the Local Giving platform), membership subscriptions (£12 per annum for legal members, free for refugees and asylum seekers), fundraising events (pub quizzes, feasts, art raffles, market stalls), and grant awards including the Magic Little Grant. There is no proprietary technology platform; the charity operates on standard online databases, email systems, and donation processors.

The charity's strategic positioning combines direct service delivery with an awareness-raising and advocacy layer, including the Beyond Bath Talks public events series and membership in national coalitions such as Together With Refugees and the Families Together Coalition. Partnership depth is a defining feature of the operating model, with active relationships spanning B&NES Council, Julian House, St John's Foundation, Bath Abbey, the University of Bath, Curo Group, and twenty-plus additional local organisations. A 2025 rebrand introduced a multilingual website supporting 13 languages, marking a key investment in accessibility and beneficiary reach.

Name

Bath Welcomes Refugees

Legal name

Bath Welcomes Refugees

Website

https://bathwelcomesrefugees.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bath Welcomes Refugees is a volunteer-led UK charity founded in 2015 that delivers free settlement, language, advocacy, and Community Sponsorship services to refugees and asylum seekers in Bath and North East Somerset, supported by 200+ volunteers and 200+ volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• Community integration support
• ESOL language teaching
• Asylum seeker assistance
• Volunteer charity support

Headquarters

HQ city

Midsomer Norton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The primary revenue stream is financial donations from individuals, including both one-off and regular monthly contributions processed through Local Giving platform. Additional fundraising income is generated through events such as pub quizzes, jumble sales, boutique sales, Ukrainian feasts, Syrian feasts and auctions, art raffles, and Bath Christmas Market stalls. The organisation also applies for grants and has received the Magic Little Grant.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Legal members pay an annual subscription fee (currently £12 per annum, set by the Trustees). Membership is free for refugees and asylum seekers. Members receive voting rights at AGMs and the ability to influence strategic direction, in addition to email updates and invites to supporter events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Bath Welcomes Refugees is a volunteer-led charity that delivers free settlement and integration services to refugees and asylum seekers in Bath and North East Somerset. Its core offerings include English language classes (ESOL), befriending, social groups for Ukrainian, Afghan and general refugee communities, a Home Office-approved Community Sponsorship scheme, Education and School Liaison, house preparation and donated goods coordination, employability support, and the Beyond Bath Talks awareness series. All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through donations, membership subscriptions, grants, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Bath Welcomes Refugees is a volunteer-led charity providing a comprehensive suite of support services to refugees and asylum seekers in Bath and North East Somerset. The organization offers English language classes (ESOL), befriending and resettlement support, social groups, education liaison, house preparation, and community sponsorship programmes. These services are coordinated through a network of over 200 volunteers and delivered via partnerships with local councils, healthcare services, educational institutions, and charitable organizations. The charity also operates a membership and supporter scheme and accepts financial and item donations through its website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• English Language Classes (ESOL)

Quantifiable outcome

• Welcomed over 800 people to Bath since founding in 2015
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• B&NES Council (Bath and North East Somerset Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBWR works very closely with B&NES Council across multiple service areas including resettlement of refugees, coordination of support for Ukrainian arrivals through Homes for Ukraine and Ukraine Family schemes, and assistance for Afghan families. The council is the primary local authority partner, providing referrals and co-ordinating on resettlement programmes.
• Julian HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal charity providing support services to homeless and vulnerably housed individuals. BWR refers clients who may benefit from Julian House services and collaborates on supporting shared client populations.
• St John's FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBath-based charitable foundation providing support for older people and community services. Hosts Beyond Bath events and provides venue facilities for BWR activities and events.
• Bath AbbeyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric church in Bath providing community space and support for BWR activities and events.
• Oasis Hub BathminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity hub providing venue for Beyond Bath talks and other BWR events. Oasis Church Bath at Fountain Buildings serves as a regular venue for BWR social groups and public discussions.
• The Nest ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity supporting families in need in B&NES with children under 5. BWR refers clients for clothes, toys, and equipment donations. Mutual referral relationship for families needing support.
• Share and RepairminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity interest company providing repaired and PAT-tested electrical items for donation. BWR directs clients to Share and Repair for small electrical items, and accepts referrals for overlapping client needs.
• Together With RefugeescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe UK's largest coalition of organisations and individuals working for a fair new plan for refugees. BWR is a member and participates in national campaigns including the Campaign Organising Network, sharing resources and amplifying advocacy efforts. Bekele Woyecha, Deputy Director of the coalition, has spoken at BWR's Beyond Bath events.
• Families Together CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of 50 organisations calling on the UK government to amend refugee family reunion rules. BWR joined in 2021 and participates in advocacy campaigns for extended family reunion rights for refugees.
• International Rescue Committee UK (IRC UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal humanitarian organisation. IRC UK's Director of Resettlement, Asylum and Integration, Genevieve Caston, has spoken at BWR's Beyond Bath events, providing expert perspective on the Venezuelan and global refugee crises.
• RefYouMeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation founded by Emma Naysmith that coordinates volunteering trips to Calais to support asylum seekers. BWR team members join these trips, working with Care4Calais and Refugee Kitchen, and taking donations.
• Care4CalaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity providing humanitarian aid to refugees in Calais. BWR volunteers travel to Calais with RefYouMe to work alongside Care4Calais and Refugee Kitchen, taking donations of clothing, sleeping bags, and other essentials.
• West of England Combined AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional combined authority covering Bath and the West of England. BWR partners with the authority on community initiatives and regional support networks.
• University of BathminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe university's Widening Participation team has organised holiday sports activities and employability support sessions for BWR client families, including multi-sport activities for children and CV/interview support for adults at their Sports Training Village campus.
• Bath City FCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal football club that BWR has partnered with for community integration activities and events.
• Manvers Street Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal church providing community space and support for BWR activities and events.
• St John's Church (Bath)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal church community that has hosted BWR events including the Beyond Bath talk on Venezuelan migration.
• Curo GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBath-based housing association. BWR has partnered with Curo on housing-related support for refugees.
• Cool VenturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business support organisation that BWR partners with for community initiatives in Bath.
• Wiltshire Digital DriveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity providing digital access and support. BWR refers clients who need digital inclusion support.
• Bath Art FairminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBWR has partnered with Bath Art Fair and artist Alce Harfield for fundraising through art raffles, with Harfield donating paintings to raise funds for the charity.
• Palestine Museum BristolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum providing resources on Palestinian history and culture. Featured at BWR's Beyond Bath event on Palestine, with speakers from the museum presenting at the event.
• Home for UkraineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational scheme and charity connecting sponsors with Ukrainian refugees. BWR works locally with hosts matched through the scheme, providing English lessons, befriending, and social integration support.
• REP (Reformed Education Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBWR partners with REP on community initiatives for refugees and asylum seekers in Bath.
• Climate Hub (Bath)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate justice organisation. BWR collaborated with Climate Hub for the Beyond Bath talk on climate change and migration, with a Climate Hub Trustee as a panellist.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Refugee Council: National charity providing advice, advocacy and casework for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. Closely comparable mission around refugee resettlement and integration support, though much larger and policy-focused rather than local delivery.
• British Red Cross: Major humanitarian organisation delivering refugee support, family reunification, and integration services across the UK. Comparable in providing refugee casework, ESOL support, and household goods provision, but at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Refugee Action: UK-wide charity delivering refugee support, advice, and integration programmes. Comparable as a refugee-focused social services provider, though operating at national scale across multiple cities rather than locally-rooted community sponsorship.

Direct peers

• Hope Projects: West Midlands charity providing resettlement, integration and destitution support for asylum seekers and refugees. Comparable as a volunteer-rich local charity with multi-service settlement support including housing, ESOL, and employability.
• City of Sanctuary: UK-wide movement of local groups supporting asylum seekers and refugees, with a strong volunteer-led and community-embedded delivery model. Highly comparable in philosophy, volunteer-driven structure, and focus on local welcome and integration activities.
• Julian House: Bath-based charity supporting homeless and vulnerably housed individuals, including refugees and asylum seekers. A direct local partner of BWR with overlapping client populations in the B&NES area and complementary social services focus.
• Reset Communities and Refugees: UK charity supporting Community Sponsorship groups and refugee-hosting networks, including training and resources for local sponsors. Closely comparable as both BWR and Reset operate within the Community Sponsorship scheme and serve volunteer-led sponsorship groups across the UK.
• Bristol Refugee Rights: Volunteer-led charity in Bristol providing welcome, advice, and integration support for asylum seekers and refugees. Highly comparable in scale, volunteer-led model, regional focus, and breadth of free services including ESOL and social activities.
• Asylum Welcome: Oxford-based charity offering practical support, advice, and befriending to asylum seekers and refugees. Closely comparable volunteer-led delivery model, free services portfolio (casework, ESOL, social groups), and community sponsorship-style resettlement activity.

Others

• Together With Refugees: UK coalition of 200+ organisations advocating for a fairer refugee system. Comparable as BWR is a member organisation and participates in national campaigns; provides coalition-level advocacy rather than direct service delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/bathrefugees.bsky.social
• Facebookfacebook.com/bathwelcomesrefugees
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bath-welcomes-refugees
• Instagraminstagram.com/bathwelcomesrefugees

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bath Welcomes Refugees