Croydon

Our Purpose

Young Roots has been based in Croydon since 2013, choosing to develop services here as it is the location of the Home Office’s main asylum-screening unit. We work closely with very many partners in the area and have been active members of the Croydon Young Refugee Network since its foundation. 

We take referrals from health and social care, schools and colleges, and our partners. Many young people hear about us through word-of-mouth, via their friends, and self-refer.  

Young refugees in Croydon

Young Roots works with around 300-350 young refugees each year in Croydon, of whom 35% are female and 65% male. The largest groups of young people are from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Sudan and Vietnam. The majority of young people are or have come to the UK as unaccompanied minors, without family.

Our activities

Our Croydon provision includes:  

• our weekly Advice & Support Hub, in East Croydon, integrating our popular youth activities with our expert one-to-one casework support and access to specialist legal advice and counselling through funded partnerships

• our intensive casework service, providing advocacy and support to resolve complex issues relating to immigration, age-assessments, housing, welfare, physical and mental health, and education  

• our young women’s group, in partnership with the Refugee Council 

• our ‘Merhaba’ group, supporting young people through our Youth Welfare Project

• our APOW (Amazing People of the World) youth club, which focuses on youth leadership through creative, sporting and inspirational activities and workshops

• our English-language mentoring programme, offering conversational English either one-to-one or in small groups 

• trips, during the school holidays, open to all young refugees we work with