Host Derby

What is Host Derby?

Host Derby provides temporary accommodation in Derby and Derbyshire for asylum seekers and refugees who are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, homelessness.

Host Derby provides temporary accommodation with volunteer hosts in their own homes, offering a lifeline for vulnerable individuals. Hosts are supported to welcome an individual in their home, from a few days to a few months. Guests are supported to access the right help and re-engage with the asylum system, and move on with their lives. All hosts receive training and are matched with the right person who needs their support. Each host family can decide how long they host people for, and how often they take a new guest.

"I have a spare room and I really wanted to do something to help people in difficulty. It was really worthwhile and I know my guest really appreciated it" - Host
"The support from Host Derby was great, it was so good to know someone was there if you needed help with anything" - Host
"I stayed with a really nice and good family. They helped me so much, I didn't know people could be so kind" - Guest

Why does Host Derby exist?

Those seeking asylum in the UK have experienced untold horrors in their home countries, fled their homes and travelled with great difficulty across the world to find safety here. Yet many find their claims for asylum rejected and are left homeless, penniless and without the right to work or support themselves in the UK. There are various reasons why people are refused asylum in the UK, including poor legal representation, lack of material evidence to support their claim (e.g. not having access to original paperwork or IDs from their home country), and poor decision-making by the Home Office. We know that many individuals who have been supported to find new solicitors or access new evidence have overturned their original asylum refusal. Having a safe place to stay is vital to those who are trying to reapply for asylum, and that's where Host Derby plays an important part for these individuals.

Since August 2023, refugees who have been granted permission to stay have been given a notice period of just 7 days to move out of their accommodation and find housing elsewhere. This has led to a vast increase in refugees experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. Host Derby hosts have already made a difference in the lives of those facing sleeping on the streets — but we are in need of more hosts as more and more refugees are made homeless.

Gillian is one of our incredible Hosts who kindly shared some of her experiences with us. Watch below:

I’m interested in becoming a Host.

If you’re interested in becoming a Host, we would love to hear from you! Fill out the form below to express your interest. If there is more than one of you in the same household who would like to express an interest, please provide the name of the other person. We only need one person’s email address for now.

Please fill out the interest form below and we will be in touch with more details. Note: this does not sign you up to become a Host! Only to express your initial interest.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Second Person's Name (if applicable)

First Name

Last Name

Email