Support and Advice

Our teams of caseworkers provide practical advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees. Clients can discuss any problems they may be facing as an asylum seeker or refugee, including the asylum and move-on processes and support and entitlement.

Although we do not provide legal advice, we can refer clients to solicitors and other organisations that can help them with their asylum claim and legal issues.

We ensure that everyone gets access to our services. For refugees with limited or no English language skills, we provide a face-to-face interpreter service. On the rare occasions where this is not possible, we use the telephone interpretation service Language Line, so everyone is able to get the advice that they need.

One Stop Service

Through our one stop service, we provide comprehensive advice and support services to asylum seekers and refugees in the four dispersal areas in Wales: Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham. With local knowledge and links with other organisations in the areas, each office offers advice that is specific to the needs of clients in those cities.

Caseworkers negotiate with the Borders and Immigration Agency Asylum Support (previously known as National Asylum Support Service - NASS) and agencies such as Job Centre Plus and the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of asylum seekers/refugees and give advice on the support and rights that are available to them.

Initial Accomodation

We have a dedicated team (Initial Accommodation Team) that provide full advice sessions and briefings for those asylum seekers who have just claimed asylum and have arrived (sent by BIA) in Cardiff. The briefings and sessions are provided on site in the hostel where asylum seekers are housed by BIA for the first few weeks of their asylum claim. The sessions are aimed to help asylum seekers understand the asylum process, access BIA longer term housing, access solicitors, social care, essential living needs and family reunion or tracing.

Integration

When a person who has claimed asylum is granted ‘leave to remain’ we can assist with the transition from asylum seeker to refugee. In practice, this means advice and signposting on a wide range of issues including housing, benefits, employment, utilities, obtaining furniture, obtaining travel documents and family reunion.

We work with partner agencies in each locality and strive to ensure that mainstream services take on board and respond to the needs of asylum seekers and refugees.

Negative Decisions

For those people who receive a final negative decision from the Home Office, we are able to provide assistance with finding places to stay, places to eat, wash and do laundry. Such assistance relies upon other services being available in the locality. We are also able to provide limited financial assistance to those who are particularly vulnerable through our Hardship Fund.