London Refugee Voice (LRV) has been in operation since 1986 (as Refugee Working Party) during which period it provided consistent lobbying and advocacy to further the interests and needs of refugee communities in London. Prior to getting charity registration, LRV (as Refugee Working Party) was a project of Westminster Diocese Refugee Services with funding resources from London Borough Grants.

Refugee Working Party was set-up by London Borough Grant Unit to support refugee community organisations that they fund. The relationship was unique and brought together refugee community organisations and major U.K. wide service providers and funders. The meetings raised awareness of the role of refugee community organisations and brought together policy makers, statutory service providers and non statutory voluntary organisations to provide a platform for debate around the issues affecting these communities. Regular contributions to the forum came from statutory and non statutory organisations, health and social care providers, civil servants, UNHCR and many others.

LRV has provided a forum in which refugee communities’ representatives can both exchange information and come face to face with policy makers, statutory services providers, etc., to ensure refugee issues are highlighted for the purpose of strategic development and fed into service planning.