West Midlands

The West Midlands One Stop Service provides a wide range of advice and information to refugees and asylum seekers, covering issues such as:

• Advice on asylum issues & the NASS support system
• Assistance for clients at the end of the asylum process (regarding Section 4 and possible charitable support)
• Voluntary Returns
• Signposting to services such as housing, legal advice, education, training and health care
• 'Move on’ assistance for individuals granted leave to remain in the UK
• Giving talks to local statutory and voluntary groups on asylum issues.

During 2005, 31,500 clients contacted our office or called our telephone advice line and over 11,000 advice sessions were delivered. Interpreters are available to assist people with little or no English. We employ three staff interpreters and work with around 30 sessional interpreters every month.

Opening times:
You can visit our office on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm.

We are closed on Tuesdays.

Other services

Destitution support

Financial assistance is available to help destitute clients and hundreds of individuals have benefited from the ‘hardship’ fund to date. In addition, we are currently working closely with a local ‘Destitution Working Group’ to assist clients facing destitution at the beginning or end of their asylum claims.

Residual Reception Assistant Service

The West Midlands Residual Reception Service (RRA) provides a drop in service for newly-arrived asylum seekers, including provision of initial accommodation for those who are destitute and with an outstanding asylum claim. In 2005 the RRA team saw 4,207 clients and provided 3,025 advice sessions covering the following issues:

• Assessment of clients and placement in initial accommodation

• Briefings on the NASS support system and initial asylum claims
• Assistance with the completion of NASS support applications
• Briefings on what happens once clients are dispersed to NASS accommodation.

Outreach Surgery in Stoke-on-Trent

We also provide an outreach surgery for refugees and asylum seekers in Stoke-on-Trent. This service is on Tuesdays and is held from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. at the YMCA, Edinburgh house, Harding Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 3AE. This is currently a drop-in service.

Volunteering

There are plenty of oppurtunities to volunteer at our West midlands office. Go to our Volunteering section to find out more.