We are delighted to have launched an expansion of JUMP to Brighton and Hove, which will be led by a dedicated Project Coordinator based in the city.
From January 2026, JUMP will now work with young people and befrienders in both Greater London and Brighton and Hove. Our team will deliver the same transformative support in both cities. Read on to learn more about what getting involved could look like!
JUMP is HIAS+JCORE’s Unaccompanied Minors Project.
We work in London and Brighton and Hove to give unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees a safe space to gain the skills and confidence they need to settle and build their new lives in the UK.
JUMP has three main pillars:
JUMP’s model provides the same support and core offer to participants in both London and Brighton and Hove.
Two of our JUMP young people at our 2024 community gardening session.
JUMP matches up unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees with a trained and committed adult volunteer befriender.
Befrienders offer a regular, stable and structured friendship plus support in navigating through life in the UK.
JUMP pairs meet once every two weeks, for at least year.
What JUMP pairs do depends on both people’s interests. Some pairs meet regularly for a coffee and chat. Others might work together on practical issues such as registering with the GP.
JUMP participants at our 2024 beach trip
What might your journey through JUMP look like?
When you join JUMP, you become part of the JUMP community.
We invite befrienders and young people to JUMP activities and trips every two months. Previously we’ve run picnics, supper clubs, baking lessons and an annual beach trip! In 2025, we also introduced a new series of public speaking and employment support workshops – helping our young people gain valuable skills and experience.
Watch this space for details of our 2026 programme!
Our project staff help young people on JUMP overcome barriers and get access to additional support.
JUMP also runs a Hardship Fund, providing emergency grants to our project participants. This help is available to participants in both London and Brighton and Hove.
We have procedures in place to make sure JUMP’s young people are safe.
After applying, every befriender goes through an interview, and must send us two professional references and undertake an enhanced DBS check. They then receive full training and have ongoing supervisions with us.
All befriending meetings take place in the daytime and in public places.
Once all checks and references have been carried out, and the befriender is trained, the JUMP Project Coordinator will arrange an initial meeting in a public place with:
Interested in volunteering as a JUMP befriender? Click here to sign up
Do you want to refer a young person to JUMP? Click here to complete our referral form
Please note our referral criteria below.
We accept referrals for asylum-seeking or refugee young people who are:
However, at JUMP, we recognise life does not fall neatly into administrative boxes. We will consider referrals that don’t quite meet our criteria on a case-by-case basis, while bearing in mind our resources.
