The Chagos Islanders Movement (CIM) is a grassroots, community-led organisation based in Langley Green, Crawley, created to support Chagossian individuals and families in the UK while maintaining active links with Mauritius and beyond.
CIM is led by Isabelle Charlot, a registered Mental Health Nurse, Chagossian community leader, and long-standing advocate. Isabelle brings professional mental health expertise, safeguarding practice, trauma-informed care, and risk awareness into every aspect of CIM’s work.
Her role is hands-on and frontline, involving daily crisis response, emotional support, and multi-agency coordination. Much of this work has been carried out without funding, often using personal time and resources, because families needed immediate help. CIM’s work is therefore not theoretical or policy-only; it is practical social care rooted in clinical understanding, compassion, and accountability.
CIM supports Chagossians from the moment they arrive in the UK, often at Gatwick Airport. This includes emergency arrival support, safeguarding, and preventing families with children from being left without shelter.
Mental health is central to our work. We provide trauma-informed emotional support, early intervention during distress, one-to-one listening, and stabilisation to prevent escalation and restore dignity.
We work closely with Children’s Social Services, NHS services, and schools. We ensure children are safe, warm, and fed, acting as a bridge to reduce fear and cultural misunderstandings.
We help navigate everyday systems: Universal Credit, National Insurance, GP registration, and school admissions. This practical integration work prevents long-term exclusion and rebuilds stability.
Our Langley Green centre is a safe place for families to rest, eat, and feel human again. We provide wellbeing sessions and support for isolation and emotional distress.
Engaging directly with UK Government stakeholders, we ensure UK-based Chagossians are represented in national discussions while maintaining strong community links globally.
Direct evidence of our support on the frontline
Background: Since 2023, families have arrived at Gatwick with children and no accommodation, often left waiting in public spaces.
Support: Provided immediate reception at Langley Green for food and rest, while advocating with councils to secure emergency accommodation.
Outcome: Statutory intervention prevented street homelessness and families remained together safely.
Background: Supported a family with a severely disabled child who were refused housing assistance based on claims that care was available in Mauritius.
Support: Escalated concerns to Children’s Services and coordinated between health and housing professionals for official review submissions.
Outcome: Temporary accommodation provided; child's medical needs were formally recognised in decision-making.
Background: Many Chagossians face language and digital barriers, leaving them at risk of isolation during the integration process.
Support: Supported over 1,000 individuals with GP registration, NI/UC applications, and bank access through our drop-in service.
Outcome: Individuals progressed towards independence and employment. CIM is now a trusted first point of contact.
"The Chagos Islanders Movement exists because someone had to stand with families when no one else would. We continue because the need has not ended."