We are a local inner city church with a large migrant, asylum seeker and refugee community. We have developed a lot of experience in helping those communities in practical, community and spiritual ways. We also have close links to Kairos Housing and meet in the same building as the ARC Project Blackburn although these are separate charities.
Citizens Advice is an independent organisation specialising in confidential information and advice to assist people with legal, debt, consumer, housing and other problems in the United Kingdom. CAB Bury & Bolton can provide immigration advice.
Venus is a service that supports women and children. They can provide counselling, support with housing, money and other family support.
We offer:
- Advocacy and advice across a broad area and Immigration advice (OISC1) and support, including student placements.
- Alleviation of destitution through the provision of food, clothing and housing. A Complex Needs Social Worker assists asylum seekers with needs additional to destitution.
- Working with the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, we provide Family Reunion Visa Applications and Further Submissions assistance.
- 80 places for English classes across the week
- Access to 2nd hand clothing, shoes, kitchen-ware and other donated items, daily except Wednesday.
- Encouragement to asylum seekers and refugees to become volunteers and to engage with their new community.
- Social events to encourage integration and friendship – Refugee Week, Christmas, trips and visits to other venues, cycle programmes and hill walks and several football initiatives.
- Well-being projects: bicycle repair, gardening and allotments, cooking demonstrations with other local groups. A Women’s group and a Choir run on Thursdays. Action Asylum projects actively place Asylum Seekers in volunteering roles with non-asylum organisations including beach/park cleans, tree planting, creative writing projects, indoor climbing and arts projects. We now work in 5 other cities with this programme.
- Input from other agencies including the NHS Community Inclusion Team giving access to GPs and dentists. Access to other healthcare: Covid Vaccination, Sight Tests, Blood Pressure and AF Testing can be sourced through the centre. The Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, Merseyside Refugee Support Network deliver advice from our building.
- Information and Research opportunities include working with Liverpool University on a Mental Health feasibility study and surveys for the NHS.
- The Asylum Information Roadshow, School Presentations and Social Work Training. These are wide ranging presentations to schools, voluntary sector groups, universities, local authorities, seminars and conferences.
“We support and advocate for Ethnic Communities within Stockport including Refugees. Support with 1-1 advocacy, housing, Health, Employment Benefits. Culturally appropriate foodbank Activity based work, e.g. Sewing Club, Children activities, Volunteer Training, Drama, Women’s Group, Choir Black Mens group Conversational English session. Immigration Surgery
To provide for those affected by poverty and need, employment and unemployment issues : debt and employment advice, representation and advocacy; support and advice in the provision of education, learning and training opportunities; support and assistance in the development of self-help initiatives
Big Help Project offers support with housing, accessing health services, employment support and domestic abuse support. Additionally, they can support with debt issues, welfare issues and also offer a food provision.
Pendle New Neighbours is here to help asylum seekers and refugees new to the area as well as to settled families and individuals. Some of us speak additional languages as well as English. We offer support with:
-Arranging English conversation and/ or ESOL lessons
-Getting your children into school
-Finding a doctor and dentist
-Discussing any problems you may have with your accommodation
-Issues with the Job Centre
-Meeting other people