Sunderland charity puts its faith in a welcoming city for refugees
Written by Lirael McKenzie on 1st October 2026
Following anti-migrant protests and harassment directed at RNLI volunteers in Portsmouth last month, which temporarily left Portsmouth lifeboat station out of service, Sunderland charity Friends of the Drop In (FODI) is aiming to provide a safe space for refugees.
At a time when refugee charities may have concerns for their service users, volunteers and themselves, FODI says its work remains focused on supporting people in the community.
FODI is a not-for-profit charity that provides mental health and practical support to help foreign nationals settle into life in Sunderland.
Established in 2011, the charity funds a variety of activities, including trips around the Tyne and Wear region, community drop-in sessions and classes in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).
FODI describes itself as “the first point of contact” for its service users and aims to support their mental and physical wellbeing.
Image Credit: Lirael McKenzie
Sunderland’s Reform-led council recently announced its decision to distance itself from the city’s long-held City of Sanctuary status. It has also withdrawn support and funding for the Show Racism the Red Card organisation.
FODI chairperson Stephen Newman said: “These are issues which won’t affect the work of our organisation.” He added that the charity has “no political agenda” and simply wants to do “positive stuff” for the people it supports, with a focus on “their mental and physical wellbeing”.
The charity’s treasurer, Neil Murdy, said service users feel welcome in Sunderland. They find the city quiet and “love the beaches”.
Asked where they could see the charity heading in the future, Neil said, they have upcoming Strategy sessions “looking at what kinds of things are happening, and what other charities are doing in the local area.”
FODI hopes to improve its services by exploring opportunities offered by other towns and cities, to provide the best possible support for the people it works with.
To learn more about FODI’s work or to volunteer, the charity holds drop-in sessions at St Mary’s Parish Hall on Wednesdays from 12 to 3pm.
Alternatively, visit the website: https://fodisunderland.org/ or phone 07548 756382.
