supporting French, Portuguese and Lingala speaking individuals
Since 2000, KCIA has been supporting French, Portuguese and Lingala speaking individuals and families by providing representation and advice in immigration and asylum law, housing, education, health advocacy and interpreting/translation.
Who we are?
Welcome to the Kongolese Centre for Information and Advice – K.C.I.A: we are a voluntary and registered charity in England, providing legal advice, guidance and representation in any forms of welfare issues. Our services provisions are confidential and impartial. We are here to ensure that refugees, asylum seekers and local migrants get the support they need to live peaceful, happy and hopeful lives in the UK.
People rely on us because we are friendly, approachable, accessible and available. independent and totally impartial. We operate a zero-tolerance policy with regard to violence and abuse. KCIA has the right to remove violent people from the Centre and cancel their support/appointment with immediate effect in order to safeguard KCIA staff, volunteers and other users. Violence in this context includes actual or threatened physical violence or verbal abuse which leads to fear for a person’s safety.
Click here to view our zero tolerance policy
Case Study1: “The staffs in KCIA are doing fantastic jobs in terms of advice, guidance and case working applications. As a resident, I am so happy and proud of our local community centre’s service provided”
Case Study2: “I am happy to give back to the community what I benefited from Kongolese Centre for Information & Advice when I arrived in the United Kingdon as an asylum seeker. I am volunteering as an outreach worker to visit the vulnerable and deprived people living within Westminster Borough who are unable to physically attend and benefit from the Centre’s services”.
About Us
We are a small, independent charity based in Westminster, London. Set up in 2000 by members of the French, Portuguese and Lingala speaking communities, we provide information, advice and support to disadvantaged African French, Portuguese and Lingala speakers from communities living in London and in the UK in general.
Our services include supporting women and children who are victims, or at risk of domestic violence; working with prisoners to help reduce re-offending, providing legal advice on issues such as employment, immigration, asylum and homelessness and offering skills and language training.
Most of the people we work with were forced to flee their home countries to seek safety in the UK for fear of persecution or death. They often suffer the effects of trauma and separation, with insufficient protection frameworks to adequately address their mental and physical rehabilitation.
Kongolese people in particular and Africans in general, are often disadvantaged by not being able to access services or justice because of language and cultural barriers. To help people overcome these barriers, our staff can work with service users in English, French and Portuguese.
We work to empower people so that they gain understanding and confidence to manage their own lives and affairs and to participate more actively both in their own communities and in wider society.
A Propos de Nous
Nous sommes une petite association caritative indépendante basée à Westminster, à Londres. Fondée en 2000 par des membres des communautés francophones, lusophones et lingalaphones, nous fournissons informations, conseils et soutien aux personnes d’origine africaine, francophones, lusophones et lingalaphones, défavorisées et vivant à Londres et au Royaume-Uni.
Nos services comprennent l’accompagnement des femmes et des enfants victimes ou menacés de violence domestique ; le travail auprès des détenus pour réduire la récidive ; des conseils juridiques sur des questions telles que l’emploi, l’immigration, l’asile et le sans-abrisme ; et des formations linguistiques et professionnelles.
La plupart des personnes que nous accompagnons ont été contraintes de fuir leur pays d’origine pour trouver refuge au Royaume-Uni, par crainte de persécution ou de mort. Elles souffrent souvent de traumatismes et de séparation, et les dispositifs de protection mis en place sont insuffisants pour assurer leur réhabilitation physique et mentale.
Les Congolais en particulier, et les Africains en général, sont souvent désavantagés par l’impossibilité d’accéder aux services ou à la justice en raison de barrières linguistiques et culturelles. Afin d’aider les personnes à surmonter ces obstacles, notre équipe peut accompagner les usagers en anglais, en français et en portugais. Nous œuvrons à donner aux gens les moyens d’acquérir les connaissances et la confiance nécessaires pour gérer leur propre vie et leurs affaires, et pour participer plus activement à la vie de leur communauté et de la société en général.
Tozali Ba Nani
Tozali mwa ebongiseli moko ya bolingo malamu oyo ezali na lipanda oyo ezali na Westminster, na Londres. Esalemaki na mobu 2000 na bato ya masanga oyo balobaka Lifalanse, Portugais mpe Lingala, tozali kopesa sango, toli mpe lisungi na balobi ya Lifalanse, Portugais mpe Lingala ya Afrika oyo bazali na bozangi lisungi uta na masanga oyo bafandi na Londres mpe na Royaume-Uni na motindo mobimba.
Misala na biso ezali kosunga basi mpe bana oyo bazali na mpasi, to oyo bazali na likama ya mobulu na ndako; kosala elongo na bakangami mpo na kosunga kokitisa bozongisi mbeba, kopesa toli ya mibeko na makambo lokola mosala, boyei na mboka mopaya, kobombana na mboka mopaya mpe kozanga ndako mpe kopesa mayele mpe mateya ya nkota.
Bato mingi oyo tosalaka na bango basengelaki kokima mikili na bango mpo na koluka libateli na Royaume-Uni mpo na kobanga minyoko to liwa. Mbala mingi banyokwamaka na ba effets ya traumatisme mpe ya bokabwani, na ba cadres ya protection ekoki te mpo na ko répondre malamu na réadaptation mentale mpe physique na bango.
Peuple kongo en particulier et africains en général, souvent bazalaka défavorisés na kozanga makoki ya kozua ba services to justice mpo na ba barrières ya langue na culturelle. Mpo na kosalisa bato balonga mikakatano oyo, basali na biso bakoki kosala elongo na basaleli ya misala na Lingelesi, Lifalanse mpe Portugais.
Tosalaka mpo na kopesa bato makoki mpo ete bazwa bososoli mpe bondimi mpo na kotambwisa bomoi mpe makambo na bango moko mpe kosangana na molende mingi ezala na baimboka na bango moko mpe na lisanga ya bato mingi.
Our Vision
is for a world where all Kongolese refugees and migrants are living peaceful, happy and hopeful lives and are respected members of their community
Our Mission
We provide information, advice and support to the Kongolese community. We also raise awareness of the issues they face and work to break down cultural barriers that affect them.
The values that lie at the heart of everything we do:
Friendly – We are welcoming, caring and supportive
Responsive – We listen and act. We are here to help
Trust – Our team comes from the Kongolese community, so we know and have experienced the challenges faced by those we support. We aim to work to the highest professional standards
Impact – Everything we do is focussed on making a positive difference to the Kongolese communityWe provide information, advice and support to the Kongolese community. We also raise awareness of the issues they face and work to break down cultural barriers that affect them.
Our Strategic aims
Between 2023-28 our focus is on achieving three strategic priorities:
1. Prioritising the needs of those who use our services
2. Consolidating and developing the support we provide for groups at a grassroots level
3 Developing the capacity of our Resource Centre
Our Team - Trustees & Staff
Denham Thompson,
Community Welfare Advice Officer Dev.
Jerome Kasanja,
Head Sporting Coach
Helene Ilunga,
Sporting Coach Assistant
Peter Nsumbu,
Project Coordinaor
Volunteers
Mrs Floresse Lembe
Mr Kiondo Wilkins
Mr Manuel Varela
Mr Martin Kandu
Ms Mireille Matumpa
Mr Sighi Turker
Trustees & Management Committee
Mr Kanwar Bhan – Chair
Mr Christian Carlton – Vice Chair
Mrs Annmarie Espaine – Treasurer
Ms Katia Andrade – Secretary
Mrs Essiya Muzumu – 1 st Advisor
Mrs Jeanne Boketshu – 2 nd Advisor
Miss Silvie Rose – Senior Member
Miss Rose Vita – Senior Membe
The Executive Committee
- Mrs Jeanne Boketsu
- Mr Kanwar Bhan
- Ms Katia Andrade
Finance Sub Committee
Mrs Annmarie Espaine
Mr Christian Carlton
Mrs Essiya Muzumu
Fundraise Sub Committee
Peter Nsumbu
Miss Rose Vita
Miss Silvie Rose
Get Help
Appointments are made from 13.30 to 16.30 throughout the week excluding Mondays and Thursdays.
We accept appointments from individuals or from referring agencies.
Opening Schedule
Give Us a call, Mail us or Visit Us today to get started.
- Monday to Friday 9.30 - 17.30,
- Saturday - Only appointments
Recent News
Welcome to our new website
KCIA are pleased to unveil our new website. We hope you find it easy to navigate and find the information you need.
What Our Clients say
Mr James
“Very practical, cheerful and helpful which was just what I needed.”
Mr. Augustine
“Thank you very much for the best way you have chosen to be of great help to myself and my family on the issue”
Ms Alice
“Thank you very much for helping me on this matter. It has been priceless.”
