Current Projects

Leeds Building Society project- housing support (2025- 2028) 

This project will provide individual advice/advocacy with housing applications (and meeting the criteria/banding) to at least 90 migrant people affected by homelessness, focusing on refugees who been granted refugee status, who often have no accommodation available, and a very short time before having to move out of Home Office accommodation (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68927101). This is an issue which we deal with frequently, but we do not have sufficient resources to provide enough support to clients, hence we are asking for dedicated funding. We will provide to make an application for housing, change a housing band, and increase their income- e.g., through applying for the right benefits, and the right immigration status- ICOS is now registered with OISC (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-theimmigration-servicescommissioner). The project worker will also provide support with gathering necessary evidence to apply for housing, or update the banding (will be supported by the community development officer when working with especially difficult cases). Clients will receive 20-25 hours of support. The project will lead to migrants being able to access safe and appropriate housing, which in turn will lead to improvements in their wellbeing.

We will provide intensive, holistic support to migrant people in Sunderland, focused on achieving a safe and secure home for them and their families. It will focus on: -Making sure that migrant people are able to rent- e.g., through improving their financial situation (applying for benefits, clients will also be supported to access employment opportunities- ICOS has separate project and clients could be internally referred to them. We will also support clients with their immigration status and proving their right to rent. Cases beyond the scope of our regulation will be referred to other organisations, such as the North East Law Centre. -Helping migrant people to access and navigate the application process, removing obstacles such as language barriers, or IT barriers- including lack of IT skills, but also lack of an internet connection or an appropriate device. Lack of familiarity with -Ensuring that homes/flats migrants live in are fit for habitation, e.g., through liaison with council services, landlords- including social landlords, and with external organisations to enable clients to access free support.

We are grateful to the Leeds Building Society for their funding!

In the Summer of 2021, ICOS started delivering sports activities. ICOS Sports is a project which
is delivered by a group of volunteers. It started as men of mostly Eastern European descent
were coming to us to express they had felt isolated due to the COVID19 pandemic, as they
were often unable to work due to being on furlough, and those in work often were engaged in
repetitive work on a production line. ICOS Sports has expanded from its initial focus on Eastern
European men community to also including women and refugees and asylum seekers.

Our aim is to increase the wellbeing of engaging BME people, including refugees and asylum
seekers and other migrants. However, ICOS Sports is inclusive and is open for all to participate.
Examples of ICOS Sport activities include: weight lifting, kayaking, rock climbing, skiing, futsal,
basketball, tubbing, watersports, beach ball, snowboard, ice skating.

ICOS Sports is currently funded by Sunderland Counselling Service and the Know Your
Neighbour Fund at the National Lottery Community Fund. Thanks to their funding ICOS Sports
can continue to provide sports activities. ICOS Sports activities are planned by a group of
volunteers. If you want to get involved, please contact Daniel on daniel@icos.org.uk.

The recently concluded ICOS project in Sunderland successfully supported Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) individuals in achieving improved financial resilience, enhanced well-being, and better access to mainstream services. With a focus on tailored, intensive support, the project addressed a range of issues faced by excluded BME people, including accessing benefits, housing, and essential services. Through one-on-one assistance from experienced advice workers, the project significantly impacted at least 120 individuals, both adults and children, providing an average of 10 hours of support per person.

The project’s proactive approach involved establishing SMART goals during initial meetings, ensuring mutual understanding and progress tracking. By addressing the needs of families in transition, such as those fleeing domestic abuse or recent asylum seekers, the project played a crucial role in guiding them through challenges and unfamiliar territories.

ICOS’s peer-run model, comprising staff and board members with migration experiences, contributed to effective support delivery. Additionally, the recruitment of volunteers from the community further enhanced the project’s impact, involving them in engagement, planning, and administration.

The project successfully filled gaps in existing services, providing comprehensive support beyond appeals, particularly for those with limited English proficiency. Outreach efforts, including social media, local shops, faith centres, and word of mouth, ensured wide community engagement.

ICOS collaborated with Sunderland City Council, leveraging data and intelligence to address the unique needs of BME communities. The project’s success, rooted in the diverse experiences of its team, exemplifies its commitment to aiding integration, reducing social isolation, and improving the overall quality of life for BME individuals in Sunderland.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Links for Life for their generous support, enabling us to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve

ICOS Creative Mum’s Club will continue to bring together Eastern European (EE) mothers and children through a series of bi-weekly, co-planned creative activities. The project, aiming to address social isolation, will feature diverse initiatives such as seasonal arts and crafts, heritage-themed projects, and workshops led by group members. It is expected to engage over 100 women and children directly, with an additional 50 benefiting indirectly, guided by the Project Steering Group comprising 6-8 women.

Collaborating with partners like Sunderland Culture and Sangini, the project will deliver 26 sessions at accessible venues, fostering creativity and building strong community bonds. The outreach strategy will encompass social media, word of mouth, and collaboration with partner organizations, ensuring widespread community engagement. Responding to specific challenges EE women face, such as social isolation and discrimination, the project will continue to provide structured volunteering opportunities for at least 15 individuals, contributing to their skills and confidence development.

Maintaining a commitment to environmental consciousness, the project will incorporate eco-friendly activities and upcycling workshops, aligning with ICOS’s comprehensive environmental policy. The project’s anticipated success will build on ICOS’s track record, creating a welcoming, creative space that successfully addresses the needs of EE women and their children in the future.

We express our sincere thanks for the invaluable support from the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, which is instrumental in fuelling this project.

https://icos.org.uk/east-rangers/

The project is scheduled to run from April 2023 till April 2024.

In cooperation with the local community, ward councillors, Sunderland City Council, schools and others, we are currently working to make St Michal’s ward in Sunderland a better, greener and more community– focused place to live. This is done through regular clean – ups, maintenance activities and awareness- raising workshops; including those focusing on families with children.

We focus on Backhouse Park, but activities elsewhere in the ward are also delivered from time to time.

The project offers numerous volunteering opportunities and most activities take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with some also happening on weekends.

If you are interested in volunteering at our litter picks or helping with installing bird houses etc., please contact Daniel Krzyszczak: https://icos.org.uk/contact/

Training opportunities in environmental management are also available!

More details can be found on the following page:

ICOS Women

We continue to represent new communities in Sunderland and beyond and make sure we are heard and visible.

We are an active member of the Sunderland Black and Minority Ethnic Network (SBMEN, http://www.sbmen.org/), which helps us to work together and be heard. Michal Chantkowski represents SBMEN at the board of Sunderland’s Community-Led Local Development.(https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/clld ) as deputy chairperson.

We are also involved in the regional skills board, the North East Migration Partnership, Sunderland’s local area committees and Northumbria Police’s Independent Advisory Group.

• People’s Powerhouse- strategic engagement:

-On 09/11/2019, we organised a successful event to engage Eastern European current and potential entrepreneurs with the Northern Powerhouse agenda and talk about the priorities they believed the government should be pursuing with regard to supporting small businesses in the region. We engaged with about 20 people.

-on 19/11/2019, our staff (Michal, Julia and Alessia) delivered a workshop at the annual People’s Powerhouse convention. This session focused on the issues that migrants in the region face when it comes to progression into work and training, as well as in-work exploitation and abuse. https://icos.org.uk/2020/01/07/peoples-powerhouse-convention/?fbclid=IwAR3vg3fYfzTP7BYWh9BS7BpP39rr_fxlNJzdr0lYWXeLj968eRV4U1Y0nCs

• The Back in Control project

This project opens up new opportunities for influencing policy.

• Eastern European Women Survey (2021)

Between May 2021 and December 2021, ICOS worked with the University of Sunderland to research issues affecting Eastern European women in Tyne and Wear. This research uncovered wide spread discrimination, racism and misogyny directed at Eastern European women in areas including employment and public services:

Part 1 (Survey) https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/13971/

Part 2 (Qualitative findings: Focus groups and interviews) https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/14580/

The project was funded by the Growth and Resilience Fund at Community Foundation Tyne and Wear Northumberland.

-Through the Community Buddies research project, we are working with the British Science Association. The aim of the research project is to raise awareness and importance of healthcare research among Eastern European (EE) women (especially including women in pregnancy or child bearing age/ young children) and to create equal opportunities in research participation.

-‘They see us as an easy target’: discrimination and hate crime against Eastern European women living in the UK : https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/17445/

-Community Buddies Programme Final Report  : Link

–Breaking down language barriers

The ICOS Mum’s Club (2025-2026) will enable to reduce the social isolation of Eastern European and other migrant women and children through regular and one-off, larger activities.

It will include the delivery of 14 events and sessions, including 3 larger events aimed at improving wellbeing of mothers and children through creative activities and workshops benefitting at least 50 women and 30 children. The project will focus on EE women, but no women will be excluded to encourage integration, community cohesion and understanding. The project will provide an opportunity for women to meet other mothers in their local area and for children to integrate with other children from different backgrounds and cultures.

The three larger events will be aimed at women and children (especially female volunteers) but whole families will be invited to participate. The three events will include Christmas Event, Halloween Event and a Carnival Event – these will focus on themed creative and arts and craft activities.

We will deliver creative activities which focus on improving skills, improving social isolation and wellbeing. These workshops will take place at St Michaela’s Community Centre, and will include flower arrangement workshops, painting sessions, creative cooking sessions, sewing and working with natural materials such as plants, flowers and herbs to create art.

We will work with arts and creative partners, as well as local artists.

All events and activities will be supported by the ICOS Women Project Steering Group which currently has 12 members, meets on a monthly basis to discuss project accessibility, needs and priorities of beneficiaries, planning and delivery of events. The women involved in the PSG are dedicated to volunteering for the project and support with the delivery of activities and workshops for other mothers and children from migrant communities living in Sunderland and surrounding areas. The PSG members have a variety of skills and experience and they have been supported to take part in training including Health Champions (https://www.linksforlifesunderland.co.uk/services/get-involved/sunderland-health-champions/), Domestic Abuse Awareness delivered by Wearside Women in Need, Level 1 teaching assistant academy, Level 2 Food safety and Leadership courses. Additionally, to the PSG group the project will recruit at least 8 new volunteers.

The delivery of this project will continue to strengthen opportunities for Eastern European women in terms of volunteering and being involved with their local community, providing a safe space for mothers and children (including very isolated mothers or those who have experienced domestic abuse). And it will allow women to be able to create new connections, improve their wellbeing, skills and reduce social isolation through regular volunteering and meetings, allowing participants to build connections, foster friendships and a sense of belonging.

We are grateful to Creative Lives, who have generously funded this project!

We’re proud to be funded by the City & Guilds Foundation to deliver our Employability Programme for 2025–2026, empowering migrant communities in Sunderland—including refugees—to access meaningful work and training opportunities.

Our approach is personalised and barrier-breaking. We provide one-to-one, tailored support to help each participant identify and overcome the obstacles preventing them from moving forward—whether that’s lack of confidence, limited experience, or gaps in skills.

Through this programme, we will:

Guide job searches more effectively – helping people present their skills and experience in ways that attract employers.

Boost skills and employability – supporting participants to upskill, gain qualifications and make their profiles stronger.

Create clear progression routes – working hand-in-hand with partner organisations to open up training, work placements and sustainable employment pathways.

We also tackle the practical barriers that so often stand in the way of progress. This can include covering essential costs such as travel to interviews or appropriate work clothing, as well as referrals to wellbeing and specialist support services to address issues indirectly affecting employability.

Thanks to our deep community links—including our role within the Sunderland Black and Minority Ethnic Network and close collaboration with organisations like FODI—we’re able to reach those who might otherwise miss out. Many of our staff and board members are former clients themselves, making us a trusted bridge between communities and opportunity.

Finally, we’re committed to listening and co-creating. Our responsive model ensures every new referral is contacted within 48 hours, and our Project Steering Group gives participants a real voice in shaping the programme.

Together with City & Guilds, we’re not just helping people find work—we’re building confidence, skills, and brighter futures.

The We Feel Safe programme

We are pleased to have been funded by the National Lottery Community Fund to deliver the We
Feel Safe (WFS) programme. will provide intensive, holistic one-to-one support for at least 100
migrant people affected by modern-day slavery and labour exploitation in Sunderland, helping them
move from crisis and vulnerability towards safety, stability, and long-term empowerment. Delivered
by a migrant-led charity with experienced staff and an established track record, the programme will
act as a single, trusted point of contact where survivors do not have to repeatedly retell traumatic
experiences to access help. It will particularly focus on those who have fallen through gaps in
mainstream provision or exited existing schemes.
WFS will deliver practical support across the wider determinants of health, including immigration
advice at Level 1, housing applications, benefit and entitlement claims, and tailored employability
support to identify strengths, access training, and progress into work. Alongside this, specialist
counselling and group wellbeing activities delivered with Revivor will address trauma, mental health
and emotional resilience, ensuring survivors can begin to recover rather than simply cope. Most
clients are expected to receive 20–40 hours of support and to engage in more than one strand of
provision, enabling holistic plans that recognise how issues such as immigration status, housing,
income, and wellbeing are interdependent.​
WFS will also create meaningful opportunities for survivors to influence systems and services
through an active Project Steering Group (PSG) of people with lived experience, and through co-
produced research and advocacy. At least 30 clients will be supported to identify problems in the
systems that affect them, develop solutions, and share these with local and regional stakeholders
such as the Integrated Care Board, the Mayoral Combined Authority, and migration networks.
Survivors will help shape the project itself, contribute to external evaluations, and participate in
wider influencing work such as consultations and public events, strengthening their confidence, skills
and civic participation.​
As a result, the programme expects 78 survivors to report improved circumstances across the wider
determinants of health, including better wellbeing, finances, housing, and immigration security, with
at least 20 progressing into training or education and 15 into paid work. Survivors will report feeling
safer, more in control of their lives, and better able to navigate complex systems, building on current
evidence where clients have already shown improved wellbeing, financial stability, housing, and
reduced risk of further exploitation through ICOS’ approach. At community level, the project will
increase migrant-led voice, reduce destitution and homelessness risk, and contribute to more
responsive local services for people affected by modern slavery and labour exploitation.
More information:
Michal Chantkowski, programme manager, michal@icos.org.uk

Through intensive and needs – tailored support, we are helping migrant people in Sunderland and the surrounding area to feel at home and overcome disadvantage and exclusion.

We are providing support with issues such as accessing public services, schools, GP appointments, access to welfare benefits and housing.

Most clients need between 6-10 hours and 2 – 5 appointments to resolve their issues.

This work is client – led and delivered by staff with the right level of training and experience, as well as lived experience of migrating into the UK- this enables us to provide a responsive service.

We have also formed an organization–wide Project Steering Group which informs and shapes our work, especially advocacy and advice.

We are grateful to our funders who are directly funding this work, including the National Lottery Community Fund (Awards for all), and the 1989 Willan Charitable Trust at Community Foundation North East.

We are proud to announce that we have been funded by the LTA – Tennis for Britain foundation!

Between April 2026 and October 2027, will be starting regular tennis and padel sessions in Sunderland, enabling migrant people and others to access and enjoy sports!

The project provides regular tennis and padel sessions designed to improve physical fitness, boost mental wellbeing, and reduce social isolation among refugees and asylum seekers. By moving activities to indoor venues like the Silksworth Sports Centre and True Padel, the program ensures year-round consistency and provides professional coaching for participants of all skill levels.

Project Targets

To ensure a meaningful impact, the project has committed to the following key performance indicators:

Participation: At least 120 people will take part in regular tennis and padel sessions throughout the project.
Gender Balance: The program is committed to inclusivity, aiming for an approximately equal split of 50% male and 50% female participants.
Wellbeing: At least 70 participants are expected to report improved mental wellbeing as a result of the activities.
Social Connection: At least 70 people will report expanded social connections, with 100 people reporting they have made friends from another culture.
Skill & Confidence: At least 90 people will report feeling more confident playing tennis or padel in the future.
Sustainability: At least 70 people will report being more likely to continue playing tennis or padel beyond the project’s duration.
More information: daniel@icos.org.uk