21.03.2025
We’ve been working closely with the Irish community in North West London for over 40 years and invited Safe Home Ireland to talk to our clients who have been thinking about returning home and reuniting with friends and loved ones or starting afresh following retirement.
On Thursday 20th of March, Ashford Place was visited by Safe Home Ireland, a brilliant organisation providing help to those considering moving home to Ireland. So far, the service has helped over 2,241 people return to Ireland. Their service provides
- Outreach/home visits
- Advice and information
- Help securing long-term affordable housing
Returning to Ireland is a topic close to the heart of Brent’s large Irish community. In the 1950s, such was the Irish emigration to North West London that the Kilburn was dubbed Ireland's 33rd county – County Kilburn.
Twelve of our clients attended the information session hosted by Safe Home Ireland, and topics discussed were pensions, PPS numbers, healthcare, rural transport links, cost of living, social housing, private rented accomodation.
We chatted about what we’d miss about London if we were to leave
Answers included:
- Transport links
- Social life
- Family
- Community
- Variety
- Things to do
- Everything
- Nothing
Everyone agreed that Ireland offered a healthier lifestyle than London.
On average, our clients planned to spend one year in London before returning back home to Ireland. However, they ended up staying for more than 40 years (average)!
Having recently celebrated St Patrick’s Day at Ashford Place, it was great to see all the Irish eyes smiling as they came through the door!
One point we could add is that 80% of attendees did not own their own home and wish they did own their own home. They have lived in insecure accomodation the entire time they have lived in London - reliant on private landlords mainly - none have social housing .
