Who we are
Bridge to Unity offers support to individuals and families arriving in the UK as refugees.
Being relocated from your home to another country is daunting. Through our events, projects in schools and a team of committed volunteers, we offer practical assistance and support to refugees entering the UK, encouraging integration and independence.
We have delivered over £75,000 worth of medical equipment and purchased an ambulance to support aid workers in Ukraine.
Bridge to Unity was established following the founding of Ems4Afghans in 2021 by RAF veteran Matt Simmons.
Created in direct response to the emergency evacuation of Kabul, the organisation was built to support those who had assisted British Forces in Afghanistan and found themselves displaced and in need of help.
Having witnessed displacement and conflict firsthand during military service, the founding vision was rooted in a deep understanding of what community, belonging and practical support means to people rebuilding their lives.
What began as a grassroots community response formally registered as a CIC in 2022 and transitioned to CIO status in 2023. Built on three pillars of Community, Education and Employment, Bridge to Unity now supports individuals and families arriving through resettlement pathways from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria and beyond.
We work in partnership with NHS providers, local councils and national organisations across the South of England, ensuring support is connected, consistent and practical.
Our core team and wider volunteer network bring lived experience and professional expertise across every area of the resettlement journey. From arrival through to employment, healthcare, education and community connection, BTU has deliberately built presence and understanding across each stage.
This isn’t support from the outside looking in. It’s built from genuinely understanding the gaps and placing the right people in the right places to fill them.
As well as work in the local community, the Bridge to Unity team is committed to reacting quickly to international humanitarian crises.
To date, we have delivered over £75,000 worth of medical equipment to Ukraine, as well as an ambulance that is being used for medical evacuations on an almost daily basis.
All of this was possible because of the donations and incredible support from the local community.