Welcoming Well 2025 - Recapped

On 2nd June 2025, Vineyard English School hosted our second Welcoming Well conference — bringing together churches, ministries, charities and agencies working with asylum seekers and refugees across the London Borough of Croydon.

We were delighted to welcome Krish Kandiah, founder of The Sanctuary Foundation, as our keynote speaker, alongside a rich mix of voices from across local and national networks.

This year’s conference brought together over 50 attendees with representatives from:

BlueTouch CIC, Croydon Council, Croydon Refugee Day Centre, Emmanuel Church, New Life Church, Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church, Purley Growbaby, Refugees at Home, The Sanctuary Foundation, Vineyard English School, Croydon Vineyard Church, Welcome Churches, Woodside Baptist Church, Young Roots and others.

We took encouragement from the latest statistics suggesting the UK is in the midst of a “Quiet Revival” - and how this impacts in ‘social action’ spaces and ministries. We connected across the room and looked at how the combination of local volunteers, grassroots organisations, national networks and government can collaborate effectively to produce impactful change. And Krish inspired us with theology and storytelling - “hospitality overcomes hostility”.

We have provisionally pencilled in 1st June 2026 for the next Welcoming Well.

If you weren’t able to attend this year but would like to stay informed about future gatherings, or be part of shaping Welcoming Well 2026, please contact andy@croydonvineyard.org.uk