Kat Gibson: A Partnership Timeline

Dear wonderful folks of SJB, 

Over the last five years, you’ve taken part in my work with asylum seekers in a number of different ways. After noting down some of the things that came to mind, I thought I’d share it with you. I love that you’re continuing to support this work, and I’m hopeful that our partnership will continue to be a blessing to many people!

• In early 2021, I started supporting asylum seekers in hotels in Leicester (as part of the outreach of Roots church; a role that came to an end in April 2025). I was soon put in contact with Rachel Lowe, who offered to explore how the Compassion team might help out in practical ways. Items were donated for individuals, and then for our emerging ladies’ group too.

• In late-Summer 2021, alongside the ongoing work with asylum seekers, I also started supporting Afghan refugee families who were brought to Leicester after the Taliban took over Afghanistan. SJB leaders asked me how the church might help, and together we were able to organise for a whole load of clothing donations to be matched up to the specific needs of the Afghan families, along with suitcases and other practical items. 

• Soon after this, many of the Afghan women asked for bras - but they didn’t know what sizes they needed. Eventually I arranged for M&S bra fitters to come to the hotel and measure all the ladies there who wanted one, with the help of two translators, and they wrote down each woman’s size and preferred style / colours etc. Rachel and the Compassion team then offered £200, which was enough to cover the costs of bras for all of the Afghan women! Together we collected the bags of labelled bras from M&S the following week and brought them to the hotel. (Some of those ladies still talk about the fitting experience and what a gift it was to be given new bras that fit!)

• Soon after this, an Afghan refugee man approached me in the hotel and asked many questions about faith. After a while he said that many of the things they are taught that Christians believe are quite different to what we actually believe. He wanted to make a video for his YouTube channel to explain to people back home what Christians actually believe. He asked to interview a church leader, inside a nice church building. Rev Chris was happy to oblige, so I put them in contact and I believe they had a fascinating conversation inside SJB. What an opportunity, to share the Gospel message with so many people who wouldn’t otherwise hear it!

• In 2022 (I think), there were several Iraqi Kurdish asylum-seeking families who were not coping with the food that was served in their hotel, and did not have access to cooking facilities. Rachel and the Compassion team mobilised a group of volunteers and started running a fortnightly cooking club for these families, at the church! This was well appreciated by the families, and was a learning journey regarding the logistical and linguistic challenges that such groups present. 

• In 2024 (I think), I was invited to do a training session with the Compassion team about engaging well with asylum seekers and refugees. It was lovely to meet the team again and see how it had grown, and help shape the church’s understanding of situations, and response to them.

• In 2025, the SJB food bank started giving cakes, bread, and flowers to our women’s group, which has gone down tremendously well and is such a treat!

• In April 2025, my Roots role ended, but I was able to continue the work with asylum seekers with the generous support of kind people like yourselves. Towards the end of 2025, the PCC decided to allocate part of the giving budget to supporting this work!

• At Christmas 2025, SJB kindly also gave £500 towards our gift bags for asylum seekers and refugees - containing all sorts of useful things, warm things, edible things and nice gift bits as well as booklets in the relevant languages and explanations of what Christmas is about. The feedback has been amazing!

• In 2026, I’ve had the joy of sharing about the work briefly in a service, and then sharing some stories with At The Table, and soon at the Global Focus group too! I’m delighted that the church are so keen to pray for the work and for the people I support. 

Thank you so much, once again, for all your kind encouragement, prayers, and support, both over the last five years and hopefully in the coming years too. It’s wonderful to share the journey with you!

With love,

Kat G.