About CLEAR Project Southampton
We are CLEAR
For 25 years, CLEAR has been part of the fabric of the city, supporting refugees and people seeking asylum as they rebuild their lives in the UK. We work alongside partner organisations to advise, empower and educate—so the people we support never have to navigate this journey alone.
CLEAR is a small, dedicated organisation, with part-time staff equivalent to six full-time roles, supported by around 50 volunteers and qualified freelance tutors. Together, we share a deep commitment to supporting refugee, asylum-seeking and migrant communities.
Our Values
Compassionate
We embrace diversity, welcome all, and foster a sense of belonging for everyone.
Pioneering
We respond to community needs with courage and creativity, embracing change and exploring new possibilities.
Empowering
We provide tools and support to help people thrive, honouring each individual’s choices and promoting justice.
Creativity
We celebrate curiosity and expression, encouraging learning, innovation, and imaginative collaboration.
The Need
People seeking asylum often arrive in the UK with little more than the clothes they are wearing, having fled persecution, conflict or extreme hardship. Many are traumatised, separated from family and facing deep uncertainty. They must navigate an unfamiliar asylum system, language and culture, often while experiencing hostility. Asylum seekers cannot work for their first year and survive on as little as £49.18 per week, or £9.95 in hotel accommodation.
Those refused asylum lose all support, putting them at high risk of homelessness and exploitation. Even after refugee status is granted, the transition to independence is precarious, with many facing destitution while securing housing, income and essential services.
Our Approach
We provide accessible, joined-up support that meets immediate needs and promotes long-term integration, including advice and advocacy, ESOL and adult learning, employment guidance and volunteering opportunities.
We are accessible through community drop-ins, WhatsApp and our website, triaging enquiries to offer immediate support, referrals or specialist appointments.
Our services are delivered in a friendly, welcoming environment and shaped around individual needs. Our holistic approach is well regarded, with clients often returning at key stages of their journey—from arrival and the asylum process to settlement and British citizenship.
Our History
CLEAR is a project of City Life Church Southampton. Our name stands for City Life Education and Action for Refugees, and we began in 2001 when Southampton became a dispersal city for people seeking safety in the UK.
Since then, we have walked alongside refugees and people seeking asylum as they navigate complex systems, major life changes and the challenge of building a new life here. As part of City Life Church, our work is rooted in a wider mission to serve the city by building compassionate communities and supporting those facing vulnerability, poverty and exclusion.
In addition to establishing CLEAR, City Life Church has also developed creative responses to homelessness, poverty and social isolation across the city, including partnerships, supported housing and community projects such as the Night Light Café.
Our work is supported by a board of trustees who provide governance, oversight and accountability, helping ensure that CLEAR and the wider work of the charity remain faithful to their mission and responsive to the needs of the community.
Our history is one of practical compassion, partnership and long-term commitment to Southampton – together helping to build a more welcoming and just city.
