Wandsworth Council and Wimbledon working together for refugees

The Council is committed to building on the work which recently saw us accredited as a Borough of Sanctuary.

Wandsworth is seeking wherever possible to provide greater opportunities for sanctuary-seekers in the borough. This scheme is an excellent example of this.

Staff, volunteers and guests from charity Medical Life Line Ukraine were given Wimbledon tickets, in recognition of their life-changing work.

The charity has delivered 65 ambulances, 21 generators and a multi-terrain rescue crane to Ukraine. There are plans to deliver even more equipment in the near future too. The charity was a guest at a Mayoral Reception held by the Council for the Ukrainian refugees in the borough.

The offer was extended to other charities nominated by the council, including:

• CARAS (Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers)
• Care 4 Calais
• Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees
• Home Community Café
• White Eagle Club
• Mind Works UK
• Katherine Low Settlement

Over the first ten days of The Championships, sanctuary seekers living in the borough have visited the famous grounds of the All England Club to enjoy everything Wimbledon has to offer: watching tennis up close in an English garden and taking in the atmosphere on the famous Hill.

On Wednesday 3 July, staff, volunteers and guests from charity Medical Life Line Ukraine were invited, in recognition of their life-changing work. On Thursday 4 July, Home Community Café based in Earlsfield also enjoyed a day of tennis.

Deputy Council Leader and cabinet member for culture, Cllr Kemi Akinola, said:

“Thank you to the All England Lawn Tennis Club for their very generous offer and hospitality. We are proud to welcome sanctuary seekers into our borough and are delighted they have been given the opportunity to experience a local cultural highlight, such as Wimbledon. It is also great to see the dedication of charity workers recognised in this way.”

Meg Fry from Home Community Café said after their visit:

“We had the best day and our guests had such a wonderful time. They have all reflected that as well as the joy of seeing the live tennis, experiencing all that Wimbledon is and soaking up the atmosphere, that the day was also so special for giving them 'a day of feeling normal, away from problems'. We really can't thank you enough, we are so grateful.”

Ulrika Hogberg, Head of Community Strategy, at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said:

“We want Wimbledon to be for everyone and so we are so pleased to be able to invite and recognise organisations in Wandsworth which give such generous and invaluable support to asylum seekers and those displaced by conflicts around the world and who have made Wandsworth their home. This all forms part of the All England Club’s community engagement work and being a Force for Good.”

Wandsworth is a Borough of Sanctuary. In recent years the borough has supported families fleeing violence and persecution in Syria and Afghanistan under the government’s resettlement programmes, and we are supporting refugees from the conflict in Ukraine. 

Find out more about Wandsworth being a Borough of Sanctuary.