West London Welcome

What West London Welcome does

West London Welcome is a registered charity (Charity Commission number 1183261) and community centre founded in 2018 in the London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea. It serves refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants — a community drawn from more than 70 countries of origin — through a holistic, wraparound service model delivered at its main centre and at Hammersmith Quaker House on Thursdays. The paid staff of approximately 11 is supported by 100+ volunteers and governed by a 12-member Board of Trustees, with a separate 11-member Lived Experience Advisory Board embedding service-user voice into programme design. Notable figures include Founder and Director Joanne MacInnes (recipient of the 2018 Hammersmith and Fulham Civic Honours Award for Act of Compassion), and Patrons Dame Harriet Walter and Phyllida Lloyd.

Core service lines are English language education across six ESOL levels (taught by 20 volunteer teachers coordinated by English Language Coordinator Nicci Golland and serving roughly 160 students per week); IAA-accredited Level 2 Immigration and Level 2 Asylum and Protection advice and casework; a hot lunch programme and foodbank operated in partnership with The Felix Project (9,730 meals served in 2024); free crèche during English classes; and creative, cultural, and wellbeing activities including yoga (Lumi Foundation), art, knitting, gardening, a book club led by authors Anna Perera and Catherine Davidson, cultural outings, and a Mum-and-Baby Group. The Pair Up campaign provides same-value shoe vouchers for asylum-seeking children.

There is no proprietary technology platform — the digital stack consists of the charity's website, email communications, and the Localgiving donation gateway for gifts under £200. The organization does not charge beneficiaries for any service. Revenue is generated through a diversified model comprising individual donations, the Welcome Circle major-donor subscription programme (annual giving of £2,000 or more), challenge fundraising events, legacy gifts routed through FreeWills, and institutional grants from a broad base of UK trusts and foundations including the Garfield Weston Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Earls Court Community Fund, London Churches Refugee Fund, Choose Love, H&F Giving, Hammersmith United Charities, and Hammersmith and Fulham Council. The organization is regulated by the Fundraising Regulator and is currently restricting new referrals to residents of its two catchment boroughs, signalling capacity-constrained operations rather than open-ended growth.

Name

West London Welcome

Legal name

West London Welcome

Website

https://westlondonwelcome.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

West London Welcome is a registered charity and community centre in West London that delivers English classes, IAA-accredited immigration advice, hot meals, and creative activities to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from over 70 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee and Migrant Community Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Refugee support services
• Asylum seeker support
• Immigration advice services
• Migrant community centre
• ESOL english classes

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Regular and one-off financial donations from individuals, processed through Localgiving platform for donations under £200 and direct bank transfer for larger amounts. Donations support everyday running costs, staff wages, hardship grants, and educational/creative materials.
2. Welcome Circle Major Donor Programme: Group of key individuals giving £2,000 or more annually to sustain and respond to the needs of refugees, asylum-seeking people and migrants. Patrons Dame Harriet Walter and Phyllida Lloyd serve as Welcome Circle Ambassadors.
3. Fundraising Events: Challenge events such as marathons where supporters fundraise for the charity through the Localgiving platform.
4. Legacy Gifts: Gifts in wills to support the charity's work with local refugees, asylum-seeking people and migrants into the future. Partnered with FreeWills to offer free will-writing service.
5. Institutional Funding: Grants and funding from organizations including Garfield Weston Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Earls Court Community Fund, London Churches Refugee Fund, Choose Love, H&F Giving, Localgiving, and Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

West London Welcome is a registered charity operating a community centre in West London that provides free, holistic support to refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. Core offerings include English classes across six ESOL levels, a weekly hot lunch programme, a three-day-per-week foodbank in partnership with The Felix Project, Immigration Advice Authority-accredited immigration casework, free childcare during classes, creative activities (art, knitting, gardening, book club), yoga and fitness, cultural outings, and community-led advocacy. Services are delivered in person at the centre and accessed through professional or self-referral.

Product overview

West London Welcome operates as a unified community support ecosystem providing holistic services to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in West London. The core offering combines educational services (English classes at multiple levels), food security programs (hot meals, foodbank, groceries), advice and advocacy (immigration casework, rights education, systemic advocacy), and creative/wellbeing activities (yoga, art, gardening, book club). Additional services include free childcare during classes, cultural outings, and special campaigns like the Pair Up shoe program. All services are provided free of charge and are designed to address immediate practical needs while building community, confidence, and long-term integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• English Classes Weekly English language instruction delivered across six ESOL levels from absolute beginner to advanced, taught by around 20 volunteer teachers using a participatory approach inspired by Paulo Freire's educational philosophy, bridging the gap for asylum seekers before they can access free college ESOL courses.
• Hot Lunch Program Weekly hot meals cooked by refugee chefs and volunteers using surplus groceries supplied by The Felix Project, providing nutritious food to community members (9,730 individual meals served in 2024).
• Foodbank Three-day-per-week foodbank operated in partnership with The Felix Project, offering fresh produce and pantry staples in a dignified shop-style setting where members select their own items.
• Immigration and Welfare Advice and Casework Immigration-advice-accredited casework team providing support with immigration status, asylum navigation, housing, welfare benefits, healthcare, education and finances, regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority at Level 2 Immigration and Level 2 Asylum and Protection.
• Advocacy and Systems Change Community-led advocacy initiative including rights education workshops, public speaking training, demonstration materials, evidence gathering for legal challenges, and public narrative reshaping about migration.
• Childcare (Creche) Free crèche during English classes staffed by dedicated volunteers, providing a safe space for children while parents attend lessons.
• Yoga and Fitness Classes Weekly yoga sessions run in partnership with the Lumi Foundation and fitness-instructor-led gym classes accessible to all abilities, promoting physical and mental wellbeing.
• Knitting, Sewing and Art Classes Weekly creative sessions open to all abilities, led by skilled volunteers, offering calm, connection and practical skill-building through handcrafts and artistic expression.
• Book and Writing Club Weekly book club led by authors Anna Perera and Catherine Davidson, fostering language development, confidence and connection through reading and writing in a supportive environment.
• Events and Cultural Outings Regular cultural trips and events including visits to museums, theatres, parks and London landmarks, providing access to arts and culture experiences often out of reach for asylum seekers and migrants.
• Gardening Programme Weekly gardening sessions led by the Director and volunteers in the centre's green space, growing fresh herbs, vegetables and flowers with on-site composting of kitchen food scraps.
• Pair Up Shoe Campaign Campaign providing properly fitting shoes for asylum-seeking children by asking people to buy same-value vouchers for asylum-seeking children when purchasing shoes for their own children.
• Creative Workshops and Games Play and creative activities including chess, board games, musical chairs, Senegalese drumming, theatre productions and stand-up comedy in partnership with Counterpoint Arts.
• Mum-and-Baby Group Weekly support group for mothers with children under five, providing childcare, peer support, and creative activities such as poetry and art workshops.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,730 meals served in 2024 with 100% of beneficiaries reporting better nutrition
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Godolphin and Latymer SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school supporting West London Welcome through various initiatives.
• The Felix ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free surplus groceries that enable the cooking of hot meals and foodbank operations. Partnership is essential for daily meal provision to the community.
• Citizens Advice Hammersmith and FulhamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner providing advice services and directing community members to West London Welcome.
• Hammersmith Fulham LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal partner providing support and referrals for refugees and migrants needing legal advice.
• Computer AidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides computer equipment to support the charity's operations.
• Gail's BakeryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business partner providing bakery products and support.
• Pret a MangerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing food donations and support for the community centre.
• Bloody Good PeriodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing menstrual products and support for refugees and migrants.
• The Bike ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides bikes for refugees, with West London Welcome coordinating distribution to members.
• Lumi FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with West London Welcome for yoga sessions, providing volunteer teachers and programme support.
• LocalgivingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline giving platform used for donations and fundraising activities.
• Artists in TransitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts organization partnering on creative workshops and events.
• Fulham Cricket ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal sports club supporting community integration through cricket activities.
• Friends of Brook GreenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community group partnering on environmental and community initiatives.
• Bute House SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school involved in Pair Up shoe campaign and community activities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Refugee Council: UK's largest refugee support charity, providing advice, integration support, and advocacy to refugees and asylum seekers nationally. Comparable as a direct peer offering immigration casework, English/education support and policy advocacy, with similar reliance on grant and donor funding.
• Refugee Action: National charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers with casework, integration programmes and advocacy across the UK. Directly comparable service mix (advice, education, integration) and similar funding model to West London Welcome.
• Asylum Aid: Specialist charity providing legal advice and representation to asylum seekers in the UK. Highly comparable on the IAA-accredited immigration advice and casework component of West London Welcome's offering.
• Refugee Support Network: UK charity supporting young refugees and asylum seekers through education, including ESOL and mentoring programmes. Comparable in its focus on educational and holistic support for newly arrived refugees.
• City of Sanctuary: UK-wide movement of local groups supporting people seeking sanctuary through community-led activities and advocacy. Comparable as a community-led, volunteer-powered model of integration support.
• Helen Bamber Foundation: UK charity providing therapeutic care, legal protection and advocacy for survivors of trafficking and refugees. Comparable in combining direct support (advice, wellbeing) with rights-based advocacy for vulnerable migrants.

Regional players

• Scottish Refugee Council: Equivalent regional refugee support body covering Scotland, offering advice, education, integration and advocacy. Closely comparable mission and service mix, with the key difference being geographic focus.
• Hopscotch Women's Centre: London-based charity supporting women asylum seekers, refugees and their children with casework, education and wellbeing services. Highly comparable in scope (holistic wraparound support) and geography.

Broad incumbents

• British Red Cross: Major humanitarian organisation running refugee support, family reunification, and emergency aid programmes across the UK. Overlaps with West London Welcome on refugee support and food aid but operates at much larger scale with broader remit.
• Migrant Voice / JCWI (Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants): National charity providing immigration advice, casework and policy advocacy on migrant rights. Comparable on the immigration advice and policy/advocacy dimensions of West London Welcome's work, though operating at a national policy scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 West London Welcome