Sanctuary In Chichester

What Sanctuary In Chichester does

Sanctuary In Chichester is a UK-registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (charity no. 1181855) founded in February 2019 and operating in the Chichester and Bognor Regis area of West Sussex. It provides wrap-around support for refugees and asylum seekers — including Syrian and Afghan families resettled under UK government schemes, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, asylum-seeking families living on £38/week state support, and appeal-rights-exhausted adults — through a portfolio of programmes: the Pathways to Independence Programme (education, training, financial and IT literacy, employment support), Befriending and English Tuition, Nations United football, weekly drop-in sessions, a women's group, an asylum support group, a clothes storeroom, a lift bank, an allotment, and one-to-one mentoring. Services are delivered by three paid part-time staff, a Board of Trustees, and more than 120 trained volunteers, in partnership with West Sussex County Council, Chichester District Council, the University of Chichester, Bishop Luffa School, Matrix, Functional Skills UK, Chichester College, the Red Cross and other local organisations; the charity sits within the national City of Sanctuary movement.

The organisation runs on a charity-sector cost structure with no proprietary technology platform: operations are described as manual, volunteer-coordinated, and community-based. Revenue is generated entirely through grants (notably a £400,000 National Lottery Community Fund award over 2026-2028 and a £7,000 Sussex Community Foundation award for the Nations United football initiative), individual donations collected via Raisely, cheque, bank transfer, standing orders and Gift Aid, and community fundraising events. The 5-Year Impact Report (2019-2024) records engagement with 1,500+ beneficiaries, and the charity published a Strategic Plan for 2026-2028 aligned with its new multi-year grant.

Recent strategic momentum is led by leadership refresh — Kathryn Crosby was appointed Charity Manager in November 2025 (after three years as a volunteer befriender), Hannah Lytton was promoted to Leave to Remain Coordinator in September 2025, and Graham Hart joined the Board of Trustees as Trustee Lead for Volunteers in January 2026 — alongside an expanded institutional partnership base. The charity is governed independently with no parent organisation and operates as a community-led entity focused on relief of poverty and integration support for refugees and asylum seekers in West Sussex.

Name

Sanctuary In Chichester

Legal name

Sanctuary in Chichester

Website

https://sanctuaryinchichester.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sanctuary In Chichester is a UK-registered charity (no. 1181855) delivering wrap-around support — including education, employment, befriending, and sports programmes — to refugees and asylum seekers in the Chichester and Bognor Regis area, operated by 3 paid part-time staff and 120+ volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Refugee support services
• Asylum seeker assistance
• Community integration programs
• ESOL and befriending
• Charity volunteer services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chichester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations accepted via online platform (Raisely), cheque, bank transfer, and standing orders. Gift Aid claimed on eligible UK taxpayer donations for 25% additional contribution.
2. Grant Funding: The National Lottery Community Fund granted approximately £400,000 over three years for general operating costs. Sussex Community Foundation pledged £7,000 over three years for Nations United football project.
3. Fundraising: Community fundraising activities including school fundraising (e.g., Bishop Luffa students raising £6,100), event fundraising, and partnership with easyfundraising.org.uk and Amazon Smile.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sanctuary In Chichester (SiC) is a UK-registered charity (CIO no. 1181855) that delivers free, person-centred support to refugees and asylum seekers in the Chichester district of West Sussex. Its core offering combines a structured Pathways to Independence (PTI) mentorship programme with drop-in sessions, English-language tuition, befriending, women's and men's groups, football integration, allotment-based activities, and distribution of basic necessities (clothing, food, household items). The organisation is sustained by a hybrid workforce of three part-time paid staff and 120+ volunteers, operating under the governance of a Board of Trustees.

Product overview

Sanctuary in Chichester is a registered charity (no. 1181855) providing comprehensive support services for refugees and asylum seekers in the Chichester area. The organization operates multiple interconnected services including the Pathways to Independence Programme (coordinating holistic support toward independence), Befriending & English Tuition, Nations United Football, Weekly Drop-In Sessions, Women's Group, Asylum Support Group, Clothes Storeroom, Lift Bank, Allotment Programme, PTI Mentorship, and Education/Training/Employment Support. Services are delivered by 3 paid part-time staff, a Board of Trustees, and over 120 volunteers, providing wrap-around care from arrival through integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pathways to Independence Programme: Central programme that sets people on their pathway towards independence from charity and state support, from the moment they arrive in the Chichester area. Includes coordinating individual support, building networks and partnerships with local organizations, and overcoming barriers with employers.
• Nations United
• Drop-In Sessions

Products and services

• Pathways to Independence (PTI) Mentorship Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 individuals received employment support through Matrix partnership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MatrixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment support organisation that has seen 30 beneficiaries for CV help, job interview preparation, registration with recruitment agencies. Shares spreadsheets of meetings with SiC to coordinate employability support.
• Chichester LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Gifting Scheme partnership providing devices to refugees for training and employment. Two refugees secured employment after receiving gifted devices through this scheme.
• Functional Skills UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of Level 1 'Preparing to Work in the Adult Care Sector' course with 15 SiC beneficiaries enrolled. Course includes guaranteed interview upon completion and preparation interview day.
• Chichester CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides ESOL courses and progression guidance. Partnership includes drop-in sessions with Progression Plus advisors for higher education guidance.
• University of ChichestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent football coaches from university provide professional-level training for Nations United team. Players benefit from university facilities. Partnership includes 'From Adversity to University' bridging module.
• Pallant House GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGallery visit and Access Pass initiative offering free tickets to exhibitions and workshops designed for refugees and asylum seekers.
• Cobnor Activity CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted activity days for 18 Sanctuary beneficiaries providing team games and activities beneficial for wellbeing and taking minds off trauma.
• Bishop Luffa SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly volunteer tutors support refugee children and ESL students at the school. Sixth Form students have raised over £6,100 for Sanctuary through charity fundraising. Charity manager and refugee speakers give talks at school.
• West Sussex County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on support for asylum seeking families. Family Support Worker Kate Moon involved in activities.
• Chichester District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative support for asylum seeking families in the Chichester area.
• Rural Refugee NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork collaboration for supporting refugees in rural areas.
• Little BundlesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal charity providing support for families including baby equipment and essentials.
• Rotary Clothes BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSource of donated clothing for refugee families.
• Chichester Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides food support for asylum seeking families in need.
• The Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortsmouth branch provides support and collaboration for asylum seekers.
• Prevista LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESOL course provider working with refugees. Supporting Job Centre referrals and community organisation partnerships.
• Citizens AdviceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSignposting provided for employment law and regulations advice for refugees and employers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Refugee Action: National charity delivering refugee resettlement, integration, and advice services. Comparable as an incumbent in the same refugee support category with a focus on moving beneficiaries toward independence, similar in mission to Sanctuary's Pathways to Independence programme.
• British Red Cross Refugee Support: National humanitarian organization providing refugee support including family reunion, restoring family links, and destitution support. Comparable as a broader incumbent delivering wrap-around refugee and asylum services, including partnerships with local authorities similar to Sanctuary's council collaborations.
• Refugee Council: UK-wide charity providing advice, advocacy and integration support for refugees and asylum seekers. Comparable as a larger incumbent in the same refugee resettlement and social assistance space, though operating nationally rather than locally.

Direct peers

• Bristol Refugee Rights: Bristol-based charity offering drop-in services, English support, and advocacy for asylum seekers and refugees. Directly comparable as a regional peer of similar size delivering community-led refugee and asylum support with volunteer-driven operations.
• City of Sanctuary: National movement of local groups (Sanctuary in Chichester is part of this network) supporting refugees through befriending, advocacy, and community activities. Directly comparable as both a peer and parent network, sharing the Sanctuary brand and mission across the UK.
• Rainbow Haven: Manchester-based charity providing practical support, English classes, and befriending for refugees and asylum seekers. Directly comparable as a small, community-led local refugee support charity using volunteer models, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one casework similar to Sanctuary in Chichester.
• Together Now Birmingham: Community organization supporting refugees and people seeking asylum in Birmingham. Directly comparable as a volunteer-led local refugee support charity delivering wrap-around services including English tuition, social activities, and integration support.
• Hackney Migrant Centre: East London drop-in and casework centre for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. Directly comparable as a small volunteer-driven local charity providing drop-in sessions, destitution support, and integration assistance analogous to Sanctuary in Chichester's model.

Regional players

• Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London (RAMFEL): Regional advocacy and support charity serving refugees and migrants in Essex and East London. Comparable as a peer charity providing social assistance, advice, and destitution support for asylum seekers and refugees at a similar scale.
• South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice: Regional charity providing legal advice and casework for asylum seekers and refugees in South Yorkshire. Comparable as a similar-size specialist peer offering structured support including asylum casework, mirroring Sanctuary's Asylum Support Group service.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Sanctuaryinchi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sanctuary-in-chichester
• Instagraminstagram.com/sanctuaryinchi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Sanctuary In Chichester