Over the past year, Kanlungan Filipino Consortium has quietly but powerfully transformed the mental health landscape for Filipino and East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) migrant women in London—many of whom are survivors of domestic abuse, trafficking, and exploitation.
With the support of the City Bridge Foundation, Kanlungan exceeded its annual target by delivering one-to-one, trauma-informed mental health support to over 50 women in the last year alone and reached more than 100 individuals through culturally safe workshops and community events. Participants reported significant improvements in emotional wellbeing, reduced isolation, and increased confidence.
“For many of our women, these sessions were the first time they felt seen and truly heard,” shared Mizpah Lee, programme lead for Kanlungan’s mental health and wellbeing services.
What set Kanlungan’s approach apart is its non-clinical, culturally resonant model, blending professional support with deep community trust. From 1-1 befriending sessions to joyful group events like “Winter Wonderland with the Mumshies” and the Larong Pinoy Games Festival, the programme offered spaces for healing that felt safe, familiar, and empowering.
Through its mental health-focused social media outreach, the organisation also amplified awareness on topics like trauma recovery, emotional regulation, and coping in diaspora —engaging hundreds of migrants who may not yet feel ready to seek formal help.
Yet challenges remain. Many service users live under precarious immigration conditions, often with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), making recovery fragile and uncertain. With rising demand and complex needs – faster than resources allow, Kanlungan is now looking to expand its wraparound support and immigration casework, calling on funders, partners and allies to help bridge this critical gap.
In the words of KANLUNGAN’s Executive Director Andrea Martinez,
“This project has reminded us that healing is not linear—and that culturally grounded, community-led care can be life-changing. But to meet the growing needs, we must continue to invest in migrant wellbeing and dignity.”