Mission

The African Arts and Advice Centre exists to support individuals and communities through high-quality immigration advice and advocacy. We provide guidance on asylum and immigration law, assist with asylum applications and appeals before immigration tribunals, and support applications for British nationality and work permits. We also work to reduce poverty, unemployment, ill health, distress, minor crime, financial hardship, and social isolation among African communities and Black ethnic minorities across Greater London and England.

Vision

Our vision is to build a fair, inclusive, and empowered society where African and Black ethnic minority communities are fully supported, socially connected, and able to thrive. We aim to be a leading organisation that not only provides trusted immigration support but also strengthens cultural identity and wellbeing through the promotion of African arts and heritage in the United Kingdom.

Values

• Compassion: We are committed to supporting people facing hardship with dignity and respect.
• Justice: We promote fairness and access to legal rights for all, especially in immigration matters.
• Empowerment: We help individuals and communities build confidence, independence, and opportunity.
• Cultural Pride: We celebrate and promote African arts, traditions, and cultural expression.
• Inclusion: We serve diverse communities and work to reduce isolation and inequality.
• Integrity: We provide honest, reliable, and professional advice and services.

Our Work
We are a community-focused organisation dedicated to supporting children, young people, and families—particularly those living on low incomes who face barriers in accessing meaningful educational and developmental opportunities outside of school hours, including during holidays and the summer period.

Our work provides accessible extracurricular activities that help young people build essential skills, grow in confidence, and make positive life choices. We place strong emphasis on creative writing and the creative arts, while also offering a broad range of educational, cultural, social, leisure, and recreational programmes designed to inspire creativity, expand knowledge, and support personal development.Many of the young people we serve come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Through our activities, we provide safe, structured, and engaging alternatives that help reduce the risk of minor crime, violence, and weapon-related harm within the community. We also encourage active participation in positive community initiatives, services, and opportunities that promote growth, responsibility, and future success.

Our Commitment to Young People
We are committed to improving the lives of young people in our community by addressing key social challenges such as unemployment, low educational attainment, and the impact of violent behaviour and gang-related culture.
We create safe and supportive spaces where young people can freely express their views, experiences, and emotions in positive and constructive ways. Through this, we aim to build confidence, strengthen self-esteem, and promote independence, resilience, and self-development.

Our Aims
We support young people who are underachieving or facing difficulties in school by providing access to additional learning opportunities outside school hours. Through our extracurricular programmes, we aim to offer a second chance for young people to realise their potential and improve their long-term educational and career prospects.

We also provide a platform for artists, musicians, professionals, beginners, young people, and gospel artists to showcase their talents. This includes opportunities in music, dance, drumming, drama, theatre, and other performing arts, enabling individuals to develop their skills, gain experience, and share their creativity with the wider community.

Our activities include providing immigration services and advice to refugees and asylum seekers living in the United Kingdom, as well as delivering a wide range of leisure, recreational, and community-based programmes during holiday and summer periods. These include organised day trips across the UK to places of interest such as London Zoo, museums, libraries, tourist attractions, beaches, and piers, offering children and young people enriching experiences outside their usual environment.

Our recent programmes have brought joy, learning, and stronger connections across the BAME community by enabling young people to explore London and enjoy safe, exciting outings, while also providing adult workshops that promote creativity, wellbeing, and personal development. In addition, our activities for older members of the BME community help to reduce isolation and create meaningful opportunities for engagement, connection, and shared experiences, ensuring that we continue to uplift and support people of all ages.