OUR HUBS

Reducing social isolation among young people from asylum-seeking, refugee and migrant backgrounds.

Many of the young people we support are dealing with the effects of trauma, displacement and uncertainty. There is an urgent need for safe and consistent spaces where displaced young people in the UK can meet others with shared experiences and find purpose and belonging.

Babylon delivers regular weekly creative workshops and community-led activities at our two hubs in London and Stoke-on-Trent. Our sessions are shaped by our community’s interests and needs, and facilitated by expert guest artists and practitioners.

A red cube with white stripes on its surface.

Each week is different; from theatre and visual arts to filmmaking, ceramics and music. This variety keeps our community returning, while offering structured creative activities alongside space for conversation and relationship-building. Our workshops focus on creating spaces that feel calm, safe and hopeful - where everyone can try something new in a low stakes environment without fear of judgment.

Every workshop ends with a shared hot meal, which is a central part of our approach. We find that eating together creates a sense of care and routine, encouraging friendships and support networks to form.

A 3D rendering of a beige, hexagonal object with a rough, textured surface and curved, brushstroke-like patterns on its sides.
Close-up of a cut gemstone with a faceted surface, displaying various shades of blue.

Our groups also take part in regular trips and excursions, partnering with cultural institutions such as the London Library, the British Ceramics Biennial, and London Zoo amongst others.

Since 2022, we have reached over 200 participants at our community hubs, delivering over 120 creative workshops.

LONDON.

Our London hub brings together young people from across Greater London, meeting centrally to try out new creative skills and visit London’s exciting cultural and historical sites.

A 3D geometric shape with a red surface and light pink stripes.
A woman wearing glasses, a dark headscarf, and large headphones is holding a book or magazine about architecture and stories with her hands. She stands in front of a large window with a grid pattern.
A collection of people standing in a circle holding colorful, fuzzy pom-pom balls in their hands.

STOKE-ON-TRENT.

In 2024, we opened a second hub in Stoke-on-Trent which has grown quickly! We now have a regular group of participants and trained volunteers working on creative projects, collaborating with some of Stoke's key creative institutions.

A person sitting on a chair facing a large screen displaying a scene from a movie or TV show featuring a person with a dark complexion, short hair, and a red hat. The scene has subtitles that read "I see my students every morning." The room appears to be a small theater or presentation space with pillows on benches and a projector on a table.
A man is sitting at a pottery wheel shaping clay into a vessel, with a smile on his face. He is wearing a black and white beanie, a dark jacket, and a green apron. Various clay pieces and tools are around him in a pottery studio.
A 3D model of a polygonal object with a beige and tan swirling pattern on its surface.

OUR RESIDENTIALS.

Each year we take our Babylon community on a residential trip, and 2025 took us to Wales! Our residentials offer a chance for members of both our community hubs to come together, connect with the British countryside (swimming in waterfalls and going on hikes!) and try new creative skills. 

Two people are working in a garden beside a building with dark wooden siding and a red metal roof. They are both wearing rubber boots and casual clothing, and they are smiling. One person is pushing a wheelbarrow filled with chunks of wood, while the other appears to be holding a gardening tool. There are lush green trees and plants in the background, and the sky is blue with a few white clouds.
A three-dimensional illustration of a transparent blue, rectangular prism with rough, textured surfaces.
Three people smiling and making peace signs in a lush green forest, standing on a wooden platform with a railing.

Are you a young person or referrer in London or Stoke-on-Trent?

Get in touch here to come along to our group sessions.

“My life was so lonely before joining Babylon. Life is very challenging for a young person seeking asylum in the UK. Financially, morally and psychologically - due to restrictions in working and the absence of family.”

“Babylon workshops have improved my wellbeing out of boredom and loneliness through interaction with people and engaging in new skills. I feel confident and enthusiastic.”

S, Stoke participant

Four people sitting at a table with papers and drawings, three of them are visible, including a smiling man and two women. One woman is in the foreground, sketching on paper with a pencil, and the man next to her is holding papers and smiling.