The Yorkshire & Humberside One Stop Service provides a wide range of advice and information to refugees and asylum seekers in the region, covering issues such as:
- Advice on asylum issues & the UKBA support system
- Assistance for clients at the end of the asylum process (applications to UKBA for Section 4 support and information on possible charitable support)
- Signposting to services such as housing, legal advice, education, training and health care
- ‘Move on’ advice for individuals granted leave to remain in the UK.
For clients with little or no English, advice is available in many other languages.
Own-Language Telephone Advice Service (OLTAS)
From Monday 20 June 2011, the Refugee Council will start operating the free and confidential Own-Language Telephone Advice Service (OLTAS). We will no longer provide a ‘drop in’ service and our current telephone advice will be transferred to OLTAS. This service is already successfully operating in our Birmingham office.
We will be unable to see refugees and asylum seekers who have not made an appointment through the telephone service.
To contact the telephone advice service, simply call the number below and follow the instructions to select the language required.
0808 808 2255
For people with a hearing impairment, a minicom / textphone service is available.
0808 808 2259
Calls from landline numbers and the main six UK mobile phone networks 3, Orange, Virgin, Vodafone, T-Mobile and O2 are free. Callers do not need to have any credit on their phone to contact us.
The Own-Language Telephone Advice Service opening hours are 9.30am – 1pm and 2pm - 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 2pm - 5pm on Wednesday.
Talks Team Leeds
The Talks Team raises awareness about the reality of seeking asylum. The session gives recipients some insight into the asylum process by focussing on the personal impact of seeking asylum in Britain. The courage of the person who is seeking asylum is highlighted alongside the benefits that this country gains from the refugees who have settled in Britain. Peoples’ personal stories are always most highly evaluated by recipients. Sessions are done in a variety of settings. These include schools, statutory services (health and social services), children’s and youth services and community groups.
Contact our office for more information
Wraparound service
Through our 'Wraparound Service' we offer advice and support to newly arrived people seeking asylum residing in Initial Accommodation Sites in Wakefield, Barnsley and Leeds. This service is only for clients residing within the Initial Accommodation Sites.
Find out more about the sessions we provide for clients on orientation, accommodation, dispersal and the asylum process:
Wraparound service information
Gateway Protection Programme
The Gateway Protection Programme is a programme set up by the UK Government and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, aiming to identify some of the world’s most vulnerable refugees in order to resettle them in the UK where they can rebuild their lives in safety.
Sheffield was the first location in the UK to become involved in the Gateway Protection Programme and has resettled refugees from Liberia and Burma in the last 3 years. Hull is the second location in the Yorkshire and Humberside region to offer protection to resettled refugees. They have resettled Congolese refugees from camps in Zambia.
The Refugee Council works with the refugees after their arrival in the UK in order to assist their integration into their local community. Ultimately our task is to assist the refugees to become self-sufficient and able to live independently within twelve months - working, studying and participating in local life.
Read more about the resettlement programme
Other services
Refugee Integration and Employment Service (RIES)
RIES is a new service funded by the UK Border Agency (UKBA). Refugee Council are providing this service as a subcontractor of Leeds City Council in Yorkshire and Humberside. The service aims to help and support newly-recognised refugees to integrate smoothly and quickly into UK society.
More information on RIES
Childrens panel: Our Yorkshire and Humberside office has a Children's advice officer on staff to provide guidance to separated children seeking asylum. Go to our Children's services section to find out more.
Volunteering: There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer at our Yorkshire and Humberside office. Go to our Volunteering section to find out more.
Room hire: Our Leeds office has spaces suitable for events, conferences and meetings. Hire rates are free for refugee community organisations and set at competitive rates for other organisations. Find out more.
Interpreting: The Refugee Council now provides an interpreting service to external agencies. We can provide interpreters for face-to-face sessions in the Yorkshire / Humberside region and telephone interpreting sessions nationally. Go to the Practical advice section to find out more.
