New London Charity The Start Line Charity Launches Providing Free Running Programmes for Refugee Women

The Start Line launches in London to deliver trauma-informed walking and running programmes for refugee and asylum-seeking women.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, April 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Start Line, a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, has launched to deliver free, trauma-informed walking and running programmes for refugee and asylum-seeking women in South London.

Founded by Anna Dean, with Trustees James Walker and Nadine Corscadden, The Start Line (Charity No.1216946) addresses a gap in culturally safe physical activity provision for women navigating the United Kingdom asylum system. The charity's programmes are women-only, park-based, volunteer-led and designed to remove the barriers that prevent refugee women from accessing community sport and wellbeing support.

Research published in PLOS Medicine found that 31.5 per cent of refugees and asylum seekers experience post-traumatic stress disorder - eight times the rate in the general population. The Mental Health Foundation's 2025 report identified poverty, isolation and lack of culturally appropriate services as key drivers of poor mental health among asylum-seeking women. Despite this evidence base, provision that is women-only, trauma-informed and delivered by facilitators with relevant lived experience remains rare across London.

"I spent my career in diplomacy, crossing borders and being welcomed into communities not my own. Mentoring an asylum-seeking woman here in the UK, I saw how the system restricts, controls and closes doors. But running is free. It is safe. It cannot be taken away," said Anna Dean, Chair and founding trustee of The Start Line. "I founded this charity to give women what the system does not: agency over their own bodies, and a community to move forward with."

The Start Line's six-week programmes combine progressive walking and running with facilitated wellbeing activities and peer connection. All sessions take place in parks in the Wandsworth area of South London. Travel costs are covered for every participant, childcare is provided, and no previous fitness experience is required.

As of September 2025, more than 80,000 people were awaiting an initial asylum decision in the United Kingdom, with 19 per cent of asylum seekers housed in London. Women living on asylum support receive less than fifty pounds per week and are generally prohibited from working.

"The Start Line combines three things that are rarely found together: evidence-based physical activity, trauma-informed practice and a delivery model built around the real barriers refugee women face," said Nadine Corscadden, founding trustee. "As a new charity, we have the advantage of building our evidence base from day one, with structured evaluation embedded in every cohort."

The charity is currently seeking grant funding and individual donations to deliver its first programme cohorts in 2026. Organisations working with refugee and asylum-seeking women in London are invited to explore referral partnerships.

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About Anna Dean

Anna Dean is Chair and founding trustee of The Start Line. She spent her career in diplomacy, working across conflict and post-conflict environments. In 2017, she volunteered in Greece during the Iraq and Syria crisis, serving as an interpreter in a women and girls' safe space. Returning to the United Kingdom, she began mentoring an asylum-seeking woman and saw first hand the systemic barriers women face after arrival. A runner herself, Anna founded The Start Line to give every refugee and asylum-seeking woman a starting point that is hers. She is a trustee and non-executive director of ShelterBox and a senior leader and search operations manager with London Search and Rescue.

About James Walker

James Walker FCCA CMIIA is Deputy Chair and founding trustee of The Start Line. He is a Non-Executive Director, Board Adviser and Internal Audit professional with experience in banking and financial services governance, previously serving as Global Head of Audit in Investment Banking at Credit Suisse. James has held board positions across the charity sector including Missing People and leads on governance, financial oversight, communications and fundraising strategy for The Start Line. He advises boards on governance, strategy, risk management and internal audit effectiveness through Lightning Oak. He is also a volunteer with London Search and Rescue.

About Nadine Corscadden

Nadine Corscadden is a founding trustee of The Start Line. She brings over twenty years of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office experience across counter-terrorism, diplomatic security, cyber policy and political affairs. Her postings include the EU Delegation to Iraq, the British High Commission in New Delhi and the British Embassy in Algiers, with policy responsibilities spanning the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. She also served as a worldwide troubleshooter supporting British missions. Nadine is a volunteer with London Search and Rescue.

About The Start Line

The Start Line (Charity No. 1216946) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Based in London, the charity supports refugee and asylum-seeking women through trauma-informed walking and running programmes that combine physical activity with wellbeing support and community building. All programmes are free, women-only and designed to remove barriers to participation. For more information, visit www.thestartline.org.

Anna Dean
The Start Line
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