POLICE and Crime Commissioner for North Wales Andy Dunbobbin visited United to Assist Refugees (UareUK) to learn more about the organisation’s community-led approach to supporting refugees, sanctuary seekers, and local residents across Wrexham and North Wales.
Founded by CEO Jane Townend, UareUK began with a journey that would shape the organisation’s future. In 2015, Jane travelled to a cold, dark, foggy train station outside Skopje, North Macedonia, near the borders of Serbia and Kosovo. She went to hear the stories behind the headlines and to help people in need and found herself drawn into a world that would change everything.
What began as a simple desire to help, without knowing exactly how, quickly grew into something extraordinary. Communities from Chester, Wirral, Liverpool, and North Wales came together, driven by a shared purpose. People gathered aid, organised events, and built networks that continue to support people today.
Over the past decade, UareUK has raised over £300,000 and gathered £500,000 of new and second-hand aid, helping people in the UK and abroad. The charity has launched projects across Greece, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and the UK.
Today, the charity operates through four key strands: its community garden, Peace Kitchen, Bits ‘n’ Peaces, and its refugee hub in Wrexham.
Opened in 2022, the Refugee Hub now supports over 300 people, including many children. It has provided language classes, community events, and essential assistance, and played a vital role in welcoming Ukrainians arriving in Wrexham and the surrounding areas to flee the war.
Established with a small amount of initial funding and the dedication of local volunteers, the hub has since evolved into a haven created jointly by sanctuary seekers and the wider community with aims built on inclusion, support, and connection.
PCC Andy Dunbobbin had previously awarded funding to support UareUK’s work in Wrexham, which led to the visit and an opportunity to see first-hand how the organisation continued to grow.
During the visit, the Commissioner explored several of the hub’s key spaces, including its sewing and craft room, community kitchen, social dining areas, resident studio, and its sunny ‘herb garden’. Although activities were quieter during Ramadan, he met volunteers involved in the organisation’s Peace Kitchen project and heard firsthand how UareUK helps build resilience, confidence, and a sense of belonging to the community.
The PCC was also treated to a homemade Turkish chickpea stew prepared by community members.
UareUK provides a wide range of support for families and individuals settling in Wrexham, including help with GP appointments, school forms, housing issues, and Universal Credit. The hub also offers opportunities for informal English practice, volunteering, training, and pathways into employment.
Families can access essential household items such as cookware, bedding, clothing, and shoes, and receive immediate support when needed.
The organisation is well known locally for its weekly community lunches, which usually welcome around 60 people, and often more than 100 during school holidays. These gatherings bring people from across Wrexham together, reducing isolation and strengthening community ties.
UareUK CEO Jane Townend said: “People don’t really come here for a specific reason—they come to talk to each other and help one another.
“They share things with each other that they might not necessarily share with us, things they’re struggling with. It’s a space where community comes first.”
One community member described UareUK as feeling like “my aunt’s house” and went on to say: “In my country, my aunt’s home was a 24/7 hub, after a parent’s fight, a broken love story, a bad exam, a family argument, or when you simply needed a chat. It was a second home.
“This is what the black door by the end of the pavement at the end of the street [where UareUK is based] feels like; it feels like my aunt’s house.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said: “UareUK is a great example of what community power truly looks like. The support offered here goes far beyond practical help; it creates belonging, connection, and hope for people who have faced immense challenges.
“Speaking with volunteers and those who use the hub made clear just how vital this space is for Wrexham.
“I am proud that funding from my Office has been able to contribute to their work, and I look forward to continuing our support as UareUK grows and reaches even more people in need.”
