Partner Profile: St James's Church Piccadilly
- Clothing Collective
- Jan 26
- 2 min read
Our first 'partner profile' of 2026 is a Q&A with Max, Refugee and Asylum Seeker Project Coordinator for the International Community group at St James's Church Piccadilly.
Describe your organisation
We're a community group based at St James's Church Piccadilly in London, supporting people going through the asylum system and refugees. We're proud to be a welcoming space where people can find solidarity, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals from countries where it's unsafe or illegal to be themselves.
Our team provides practical and emotional support throughout the journey through the system. We try to avoid a 'service approach' – instead, we focus on building genuine community and empowerment, helping people navigate the Hostile Environment with dignity and support.
Who are the people that you typically support?
People going through the asylum system and refugees living in London, many of whom have No Recourse to Public Funds.
A significant number of our members are LGBTQ+ individuals who have fled countries where it's dangerous to be themselves.
We support people at various stages of their journey – whether they're waiting for decisions, rebuilding their lives after receiving Leave to Remain, or still facing uncertainty.
What are the key challenges that those people face?
Our members face the daily realities of the Hostile Environment. With No Recourse to Public Funds, they're excluded from most government support and live on extremely limited means.
Beyond financial hardship, there's the psychological strain of waiting, the isolation of being separated from family and community, and the challenge of maintaining dignity and hope when basic needs often go unmet. For LGBTQ+ members, there's the added layer of having fled persecution only to face new barriers to being themselves safely.
What specific support do you provide?
We provide practical and emotional support through our community group and encourage peer support between members wherever possible. We offer a space where people can connect with others who understand their experiences, explore their identities safely, and access signposting to additional help.
We focus on solidarity and community building rather than transactional service delivery - we want people to feel they belong and are valued for who they are.
What is the impact of the clothing gift cards we provide for your service users?
Clothing vouchers make a huge difference to our members' dignity and wellbeing. When you're going through the asylum system with No Recourse to Public Funds, being able to choose clothing that fits properly, suits your style, and helps you feel comfortable and presentable is incredibly empowering. It's not just about keeping warm or covered - it's about self-respect and confidence.
Whether someone's going to a crucial asylum interview, looking for work, or simply trying to maintain their sense of self during an incredibly difficult time, having access to appropriate clothing matters enormously. The vouchers allow people to make their own choices rather than relying on donated items that may not fit or suit them, which is central to our approach of empowerment rather than dependency.
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