Asylum & Refugee
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross is the UK's largest independent provider of services and support for refugees and people seeking asylum.
They help refugees from all backgrounds and religions. They will not report you to the authorities.
If you are a refugee or asylum seeker in the UK, or if you know someone who is, their teams may be able to support you with:
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emergency help
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one-to-one casework
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one-off support
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information and signposting about where to get help.
The support they give may come from the Red Cross or we may refer you to other organisations., They can also help with things like:
They can help you understand how to apply for family reunion. They may be able to help you find an immigration adviser, provide visa support and travel assistance.
Get help finding missing relatives or family members through their international family tracing service. their locating services may be able to help you find people you have been separated from because of war, natural disaster or migration.
Sexual and Gender Based Violence
Find out more about sexual and gender-based violence, and how the Red Cross and other organisations can support you.
If you are a refugee or asylum seeker who has been trafficked, they may be able to give support and advice on what to do next, and where to get more help. Email them: antitrafficking@redcross.org.uk.
Young refugees and asylum seekers
If you are a young refugee, asylum seeker or vulnerable migrant aged 15 to 25, you may be able to get help from the British Red Cross.
British Red Cross Refugee Support South Yorkshire Open Monday to Friday, by appointment only.
Unit 24 Jessops Riverside
800 Brightside Lane
Sheffield
S9 2RX
Telephone: 0114 242 7385 (Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am-2pm)
E-Mail: refugeesupportsy@redcross.org.uk
Website: https://www.redcross.org.uk/
New Beginnings Project
supports asylum seekers and refugees access opportunities in volunteering, employment, education and participation in social activities in Sheffield
The New Beginnings Project supports asylum seekers and refugees access opportunities in volunteering, employment, education and participation in social activities in Sheffield. They help our clients to have fulfilling, empowered, autonomous and inter-connected lives through a clear and impactful progression route which prioritise leadership skills development, foster peer-support networks and are applicable to ‘real -world’ employment and volunteering roles.
They connect to local charity organisations, open spaces, education institutions and employment providers to promote integration, inclusion, reduce isolation and enhance wellbeing for their clients to feel respected and valued as members of the community. So, They can provide your organisation with advice, information and the understanding of how to involve asylum seekers and refugees, as well as ongoing support to be able to do so.
The Circle,
33 Rockingham Lane
Sheffield S1 4FW
Please use the direct contact information below, and not what is listed on the website
Website: https://www.vas.org.uk/the-new-beginnings-project-2/
E-Mail: refugee@vas.org.uk
Telephone: 0774 392 4615
Comac Bike Project
Bikes for people seeking asylum
They provide working bikes to people seeking asylum who live in Sheffield, so that they have a way of getting around. We also help them keep the bikes on the road and in good condition.
How it works
The project is run entirely by volunteers. We collect and store donated bikes. We also keep a stock of used bike bits (brakes, gears, wheels, tyres, as well as other bits and pieces), and some new parts too (Brake blocks, cables, and the like).
Most of the Asylum seekers are referred to us by ASSIST Sheffield.
Once referred to them, they allocate a suitable sized bike which has been fully refurbished from their stock of donated bikes.
Once people have a bike, they are welcome to return to them in the future for help with any maintenance / repairs. They can provide some basic tools (pump puncture kit etc) if the client wants to do some maintenance at home.
They provide everyone with a lock, lights, high-vis jacket and offer everyone a helmet.
Want to help?
The project is entirely run by volunteers, do you have basic to good bike care skills? See what you can do via the link:
https://comac.org.uk/volunteers/
You can contact / refer to them via: https://comac.org.uk/contact-us/
Refugees at Home
Refugees at Home connects people with a spare room to refugees and asylum seekers in need of somewhere to stay
if you are a refugee with leave to remain, or are seeking asylum in the UK, they may be able to connect you to someone with a spare room.
They don’t think people who come to the UK for sanctuary should end up on the streets. Thier vision is for every refugee and every person seeking asylum to have a safe place to stay.
Contact is only via the web portal, details below.
Would you like to host?
https://refugeesathome.org/get-involved/id-like-to-host/
Do you need to find a place to stay?
https://refugeesathome.org/get-involved/i-need-a-room/
Webpage: https://refugeesathome.org/
Migrant Help UK
A comprehensive list fo help for migrants to the U.K.
Below from their page at: https://www.migranthelpuk.org/what-we-do
Asylum Support
Those seeking asylum in the UK can come to us to seek help with applying for accommodation and financial support, to report issues with asylum accommodation, and any other advice needed during their asylum journey. We also provide support during the post-decision period, whether the decision has been positive or negative.
Victims of Slavery and Human Trafficking Support
We provide specialist support and accommodation to victims of human trafficking and modern slavery, and their dependants. Our dedicated casework teams provide safe accommodation, develop support plans and facilitate access to key services in order to empower clients as they recover from trauma. Our aim is to reduce the risk of re-trafficking and help the survivors to move onto a positive new chapter in their lives.
Refugee Resettlement
In September 2015, the Government committed to bringing 20,000 vulnerable Syrian refugees into the UK under the SVPR scheme by 2020. We work alongside local authorities in East Kent to assist refugees resettled in the area. We support the individuals and families as they settle into their new communities, helping them to cope with trauma with the help of specialist services, learn English and access healthcare, education, employment opportunities and other key services.
EU Settlement Scheme
EU citizens living in the country must apply for settled or pre-settled status to guarantee their rights after the UK leaves the European Union. We are committed to advising and supporting vulnerable people in this process, including those who are part of Gypsy, traveller or Roma communities, homeless, elderly, disabled, adults who have left care or victims of domestic abuse, modern slavery or human trafficking.
Clear Voice Interpreting Services
Clear Voice offers high-quality interpreting and translation services throughout the UK and is the only social enterprise service of its kind. All of Clear Voice’s profits are donated back to Migrant Help to support our work.
Fortunate enough to find ourselves in a unique position to help, we also strive to influence positive change to policy and practice, as well as demonstrate the value that migrants bring to the UK in order to address the rising hostility from some parts of the population.
We believe that everyone deserves to be safe, respected and treated equally, and we strive to ensure this through committed partnerships, innovation and excellence.
Contact
https://www.migranthelpuk.org/contact
Asylum Services
Free asylum helpline (open 24/7/365): 0808 8010 503
You can also contact us via our webchat or via an online enquiry form.
Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Support
The Salvation Army human trafficking helpline 0800 808 3733 is available 24/7
Right to Remain
Explore the 'Right to Remain' toolkit
A step-by-step guide to the UK asylum and immigration system
The Right to Remain Toolkit is free to use, and it’s for people who want to learn more about the legal process, or a particular part of the legal process. You might be making an application or are thinking about it; you might be helping someone else to do so.
Know your rights
Understanding the asylum and immigration system, and your own legal case, is very important. Many people have to make their way through this very complicated system without legal representation (without a lawyer). Even if you have a lawyer, it’s important to understand your own legal case – this is your case and your life and you need to keep track of what is happening and whether the lawyer is doing the things they should be.
Information and action
The information in this guide comes from experts – from people who are going through the legal process or have done in the past, from those helping them, from lawyers, from community groups. It covers different stages of the legal system and procedures, with detailed information on rights and options at each stage, and advice about actions you can take to be in a better situation, or to help someone else.
Find out more at https://righttoremain.org.uk/toolkit/
About ASSIST
ASSIST Sheffield support some of the most marginalised people living in Sheffield - people who have been unsuccessful in their applications for asylum and as a result have been made destitute. Many of them have escaped the unimaginable horrors of war, violence and persecution, but simply telling the truth about the conditions they have fled sadly isn't always enough.
Without refugee status, people seeking sanctuary are not allowed to work. Once their initial application for asylum has been turned down many are left with no right to housing, benefits or other vital support. They're left homeless, destitute and vulnerable on the streets of our city. This is where they come in. ASSIST is an invaluable lifeline for people in Sheffield who've been refused asylum. They offer solidarity, support and hope in the form of accommodation, information and access to essential services. For more information go to the website to see what they do.
ASSIST Sheffield
c/o Victoria Hall Methodist Church
Norfolk Street
Sheffield
S. Yorkshire
S1 2JB
The phone lines are open during office hours, Monday - Thursday.
Phone number: 0300 201 0072
Website: https://www.assistsheffield.org.uk/
City of Sanctuary
City of Sanctuary Sheffield is an independent charity working in solidarity with people seeking sanctuary in Sheffield.
In 2007, with the support of the City Council, Sheffield became the UK’s first City of Sanctuary for asylum-seekers and refugees—a city that takes pride in the welcome it offers to people in need of safety.
Below are the opening times for The Sanctuary, The Drop-In and The SPRING Project as of March 2023
The Sanctuary
Opening Times: Monday to Thursday; 10:00am to 4:00pm
More information about The Sanctuary can be found here
The Drop-In
Opening Times: Wednesday; 1:00pm to 4:00pm (doors close at 3:30pm)
More information about The Drop- In can be found here
Sheffield Project For Refugee Integration and Growth – SPRING
SPRING offers help to refugees when they receive “leave to remain” and need support accessing housing, opening a bank account, applying for benefits and immigration advice.
Once these urgent needs have been addressed, we support individuals with their longer-term integration, such as learning English, routes into volunteering, education, training, and finding a job.
SPRING can provide limited support for those who’ve experienced trauma and also signpost to a variety of activities supporting mental and physical wellbeing across Sheffield.
Opening Times: Monday to Thursday; 10:00am to 4:00pm More information about SPRING can be found here
The Sanctuary
37–39 Chapel Walk
Sheffield
S1 2PD
Tel (Office): 0114 221 1845
(While the office is closed this number is not monitored.)
Asylum Seeker, Refugee, Migrant
What's the difference?
Who is an Asylum seeker?
An asylum seeker is someone who has left their own country and is seeking protection from persecution and serious human rights violations in another country. At this stage they have not yet received a decision on their asylum application
Seeking asylum is recognised as a human right in the U.K. (and is recognised a global human right) This means anyone should be allowed to enter and claim asylum. The claim will then be assessed to see if they can be granted refugee status
Who is a refugee?
A refugee is a person who has fled their own country because they are at risk of serious human rights violations and persecution. The risk to their life and rights has been assessed in the host country to be so great that they cannot return to their own country.
They have been granted refugee status (after first seeking asylum). Refugees have a right to international protection.
Who is a migrant?
There is no legally recognised definition of a migrant, generally they are though of as people who have entered another country and do not fit the legal definition of asylum seeker or refugee.
Many flee their own country for a better life, or because they want to work or join family, famine or natural disasters. While they don’t fit any legal definition it is possible that their lives could be in danger if they return.
Asylum Seeker Benefits
What you'll get
You can ask for somewhere to live, a cash allowance or both as an asylum seeker.
Housing
You’ll be given somewhere to live if you need it. This could be in a flat, house, hostel or bed and breakfast.
You cannot choose where you live. It’s unlikely you’ll get to live in London or south-east England.
Cash support
You’ll usually get £49.18 for each person in your household. This will help you pay for things you need like food, clothing and toiletries.
Your allowance will be loaded onto a debit card (ASPEN card) each week. You’ll be able to use the card to get cash from a cash machine.
If your accommodation provides your meals, you’ll get £8.86 for each person in your household instead.
If you’ve been refused asylum but you’re still eligible for support
You’ll be given:
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somewhere to live
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£49.18 per person on a payment card for food, clothing and toiletries (or £8.86 per person if your accommodation provides your meals)
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You will not be given:
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the payment card if you do not take the offer of somewhere to live
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any money
Extra money for mothers and young children
You’ll get extra money to buy healthy food if you’re pregnant or a mother of a child aged 3 or under. The amount you get will depend on your situation.
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Pregnant mother £5.25
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Baby under 1 year old £9.50
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Child aged 1 to 3 £5.25
Maternity payment
You can apply for a one-off £300 maternity payment if your baby is due in 11 weeks or less, or if your baby is under 6 months old.
Applying for the maternity grant
You apply for the maternity grant in the same way whether you’re still an asylum seeker or you’ve been refused asylum.
You’ll need to request form MAT B1 from your doctor to apply for the payment. You can apply for the maternity payment at the same time you apply for asylum support.
If you get pregnant after you’ve applied for asylum support, you can apply to Migrant Help.
Healthcare. You may get free National Health Service (NHS) healthcare, such as to see a doctor or get hospital treatment.
You’ll also get:
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free prescriptions for medicine
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free dental care for your teeth
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free eyesight tests
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help paying for glasses
Education
Your children must attend school if they are aged 5 to 17. All state schools are free and your children may be able to get free school meals.
Can I work if I am an asylum seeker in the UK?
The majority of asylum-seekers do not have the right to work in the United Kingdom. However, the immigration rules allow for people seeking asylum to request permission to work if you have been waiting for more than 12 months on your asylum claim “through no fault of your own”. This may be 12 months after initially claiming asylum, or 12 months after submitting further submissions to be considered as a fresh claim. Those who are given permission can only do skilled jobs on the Shortage Occupation List.
The Migration Justice Project at the Law Centre NI has drafted a guide to help people seeking asylum understand how and whether they can apply for permission to work while their claim is pending. The guide is available in a number of languages: English, Tigrinya, Somali, Farsi, and Arabic.
Asylum seekers can however volunteer whilst their claim is being considered. Volunteering involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups) other than, or in addition to, close relatives.
Refugee Status Benefits
If you’ve claimed asylum and you get refugee status, the Home Office will send you a biometric residence permit (BRP) by post. They’ll also ask you to set up an account for your online immigration status.
Online immigration statuses are replacing BRPs. Your BRP will only be valid until October 2024. After this date, you’ll need to use your online account to prove your immigration status.
You can use your BRP or online status to confirm your:
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identity
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right to study
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right to any public services or benefits that you're entitled to
Asylum support and 'section 4' support will stop 30 days after the date on your BRP. You'll get a letter confirming when asylum support will stop.
This means you’ll:
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stop getting your cash allowance
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have to move house - if you’ve been given somewhere to live as an asylum seeker
Once you’ve got refugee status, you’ll get permission to work in the UK - in any profession and at any skill level. If you’re not ready or able to look for work and have very little or no income, you can apply for benefits instead.
You’ll also have to think about opening a bank account and getting a National Insurance number.
When you get migrant status, the Home Office will tell Migrant Help. Migrant Help is an organisation that can help you find housing, claim benefits and make an appointment at the Jobcentre. They’ll contact you within 1 working day of being told about your migrant status.
If you need extra support
Contact your local Citizens Advice for help with benefits and housing, and to get details of local charities, English language schools and community groups.
Find a new home
If you’ve been living somewhere as part of getting asylum support, you’ll have to move within 30 days of the date on your BRP.
Your accommodation provider should send you a letter giving you at least 7 days’ notice of when you have to move out.
If you don’t get at least 7 days’ notice, Migrant Help can ask the Home Office to let you stay in your accommodation for longer.
You can contact Migrant Help by either:
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sending an email to positivemoveon@migranthelpuk.org
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calling the free asylum helpline on 0808 8010 503
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If you already live with friends or family
You don’t need to move. If your friends or family are claiming benefits to help them pay rent, it might mean they get less.
If you need help getting housing
Contact your local council or housing office as soon as you can. The Home Office don’t provide accommodation to refugees, but your local council will be able to talk you through your options.
Whether you can stay in the same area depends on things like:
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how long you’ve lived there
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if you have family in the area
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if you’re at risk of becoming homeless
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It’s worth knowing there are long waiting lists for accommodation - you might be put in a bed and breakfast (B&B) or hostel temporarily.
Getting help if you’re homeless
If you’re worried about becoming homeless, you can call the homeless charity Shelter on 0808 800 4444.
Shelter also has advice for refugees on getting help if you’re homeless.
You can also search online through Homeless Link to find emergency accommodation yourself.
If you need help paying a tenancy deposit, you can search for help to rent schemes through the housing charity Crisis.
Working
If you’re ready to look for work, you can search online.
If you’re in London, the Refugee Council’s employment advice and support service have a course that will help you if you’re not quite sure where to start.
Contact UK NARIC if you have qualifications from your home country - you’ll need to find their UK equivalent to find a similar job here. It costs at least £55.20 to do this.
When you’re offered a job, you’ll need to prove your right to work in the UK. Check how to prove your right to work.
Claiming benefits
You might be entitled to benefits in the UK even though you’ll stop getting Asylum Support.
You might be entitled to benefits like:
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Universal Credit - if you’re unemployed, too ill to work or on a low wage
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Pension Credit - if you’ve reached State Pension age
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Housing Benefit - if you need help to pay rent and you’ve reached State Pension age or you’re in temporary or supported housing
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a refugee integration loan - to help pay for a rent deposit, household items, education and training for work
You can check if you’ve reached State Pension age on GOV.UK.
You’ll need a National Insurance number to claim benefits - you’ll have applied for one at your interview with the Home Office when you first claimed asylum. You’ll also need it to pay tax and register with a doctor.
You can check what benefits you can get using a benefits calculator.
Get a National Insurance number
Normally, you’ll get your National Insurance (NI) number through the post just after you get refugee status.
If you haven’t received a NI number, call the National Insurance number application line. Ask whether they’ve issued you with a NI number - if they haven’t, ask what you need to do to get one.
Opening a bank account
Now that you have an immigration status, you’re allowed to open a UK bank account. It makes things like paying for food and bills much easier.
It should be an easy process if you have proof of your immigration status. You can show them your BRP or give them a share code if you have an online immigration status. The bank will also check with the Home Office to confirm you have permission to stay in the UK.
Travelling outside the UK
If you don’t have a passport, you can apply for a travel document. This lets you leave and return to the UK.
You can apply for a travel document on GOV.UK.
Get more help
You can find a guide for new refugees on GOV.UK.
It includes guidance on things like:
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employment and benefits
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housing and services
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education
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healthcare