Brixton (Head Office)
Our Support and Advice Section offers a wide range of services to over 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers living in London each year. We provide a warm welcome to asylum seekers who have just arrived in the UK, listen to their needs and often traumatic experiences and support them though each stage of the asylum decision-making process. We help people who go on to gain refugee status, ensuring they receive the services to which they are entitled and can begin to build new lives in a different culture.
The London One Stop Service provides a wide range of advice and information to refugees and asylum seekers, whatever their experience or refugee status. In 2005/6 we provided over 15,000 advice sessions covering issues such as:
- The welfare system - support and entitlement . We can refer clients to an appropriate provider if they are eligible.
- Training, education and employment.
- The asylum decision process and UKBA support system.
- Giving information about the next steps if clients receive a positive decision on their asylum application.
Interpreters are available to assist people with little or no English. We provide interpreters for over 20 different languages each month and have sessional interpreters covering over 100 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.
Other services
One-Day Induction programme
We run a One-Day Induction programme for newly arrived asylum seekers, to explain the asylum and support processes and asylum seekers' rights and responsibilities whilst in the UK and information on accessing health care,
We also provide help in completing the UKBA application form, if clients are eligible for asylum support.
Specialist Team
The Specialist Team provides services for asylum seekers and refugees who have additional needs regarding health, disability, mental health or mental well-being. The team can help with the following:
- Health access and health promotion, including help with GP registration, specialist clinic referrals, accessing dentists, pharmacists, opticians and other health services and advice on entitlements.
- Bi-Cultural Support, a culturally sensitive assessment, referral & casework service for clients with mental well-being needs and issues such as bereavement, rape, torture, depression or anxiety. We may refer you to a more appropriate service if needed.
- Supporting women experiencing a range of emotional problems including referral to an external agency as appropriate.
- Family Therapy Service.
If you are a woman who feels isolated, you can attend our women's clubs to help you adjust to life in the UK.
We also provide English language support, Shiatsu massage and a mentoring service for women living with HIV (all provided by volunteers.) The team is supported by a volunteer psychiatrist and general nurse.
Day Centre
Our Day Centre provides a welcoming environment for all our clients. Breakfasts and delicious hot lunches are served every day and our team of project workers and volunteers are on hand to provide practical support such as second-hand clothing, emergency toiletries, baby packs and food parcels. There are laundry and shower facilities.
The Centre also runs drop-in services for different client groups.
These include:
- English language classes (3 days/week)
- Women’s Group (weekly)
- ‘Study Support Sessions’(weekly) for school age asylum seekers
- Social evenings (weekly) for 16/17 years old separated children, to help them meet people in similar situations, encourage them to relax and make new friends
- Advice on welfare issues and referral to other agencies
Volunteering
There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer at our London Office. Go to our Volunteering section to find out more.
Childrens panel
Our London office houses our Children's panel who provide guidance to separated children seeking asylum. Go to our Children's services section to find out more.
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 the lead contractor in London. The service aims to help and support newly-recognised refugees to integrate smoothly and quickly into UK society.
More information on RIES
