Asylum seekers housed in two London hotels have taken part in a football match organised by Southwark council as part of its efforts to promote inclusion and build a culture of welcome for migrants.
The Labour-run council, which is working to become a “borough of sanctuary” by 2027, has introduced several initiatives aimed at improving housing, education, and health services for refugees and asylum seekers.
It also plans to lobby the Labour government to ease restrictions preventing asylum seekers from working before they are granted refugee status.
The football match, held during Refugee Week in June 2024, brought together residents of two asylum hotels, the Best Western in Peckham and Driscoll House on Old Kent Road. The event, organised by a charity part-funded by the council, ended with a barbecue and free Eritrean coffee.
Jason Vincent, equality, diversity and inclusion lead for Millwall Community Trust, said the event was about connection: “It was important to bring together the players who were able to meet for the first time and play football.”
One player, Hamza, added: “We had a good match. We enjoyed it and hope to play again in the future.”
A council report shows 40% of Southwark’s residents were born outside the UK, with 2,363 asylum seekers receiving government support. The borough also hosts more than 550 Ukrainians under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and 223 Afghans resettled after the Taliban takeover.
Southwark recently launched a £100,000 four-year grant scheme to support voluntary groups working with asylum seekers and migrants. Its libraries have also been recognised as Libraries of Sanctuary, offering dual-language books and outreach services in asylum centres.
However, shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticised the initiative, calling it madness and urging Labour to adopt tougher measures on illegal migration.
