Our Story

Kanlungan Migrant Centre, or simply Kanlungan (meaning refuge, sanctuary, safe haven), was founded in 1994 by a group of Filipino migrants to serve as an umbrella organisation that would unify and coordinate the activities of Filipino migrant organisations in the United Kingdom (UK). On 31 August 1999, Kanlungan was officially registered as a charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, expanding its work to support the wider and more diverse migrant community.

In 2021, Kanlungan transitioned into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Association model to strengthen its governance structure and formalise the participation of member organisations within its decision-making processes. At the time, the Board of Trustees was composed primarily of representatives from member organisations working collaboratively for the welfare and interests of Filipino and East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) migrant communities in Britain.

In 2025, Kanlungan further transitioned into a CIO Foundation model following organisational review and development. This transition was undertaken to strengthen governance stability, streamline decision-making, and enable the organisation to recruit trustees based on skills, expertise, and lived experience relevant to Kanlungan’s growing frontline, advocacy, and strategic work. The transition also reflected the organisation’s evolution from a coordinating network of member organisations into a migrant-led charity delivering direct services, community organising, policy advocacy, and holistic support for migrants across the UK.