What the Refugee Council can do to help

The Refugee Council is the largest charity in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. We work directly with refugees and asylum seekers to give them the advice and support they need to access services. Special programmes of assistance are available to groups such as separated children who have particular support needs. Using the insights we gain by working directly with asylum seekersand refugees we work to inform public debate and the development of policy. We also campaign to ensure we help get a fair system for refugees and asylum seekers.

We provide free advice and information to refugees and asylum seekers in their own language through our One Stop Services. Clients can discuss any problems they may have as an asylum seeker or refugee including the asylum process, asylum support and entitlements to mainstream services. We provide services for London, the East of England, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside.

Around 3,000 separated children arrive in the UK every year. Some children arrive alone because their families have been arrested or killed, or they may have been separated while trying to escape. Other children will have been deliberately sent away by their families for their own safety. To help children in this situation the Refugee Council runs the Children’s Panel. We work with around 1,000 separated children each year, with some children receiving ongoing one to one support. Others receive help through drop-in sessions, surgeries, or through telephone advice. We also give advice to people supporting separated children. The Children’s Panel has operated since 1994 and is the only national service of its kind.

The Refugee Council co-ordinates a partnership of refugee organisations to provide information, advice and support to refugees who are part of the UK’s resettlement programme. Known as the Gateway protection programme, it was set up by the UK government and is an extension of existing schemes that are operated by UNHCR which resettle around 100,000 refugees every year around the globe.

To rebuild their lives in the UK, refugees often need access to training and support services. The Refugee Council has 20 years’ experience of working with asylum seekers and refugees, helping them overcome barriers in accessing education and employment. We provide English language courses and work related training to assist people integrate into UK society.

The Refugee Council provides support to a wide variety of organisations, agencies and communities who work with, support and help refugees and asylum seekers. We do this by assisting refugee communities, other local organisations and regional networks; providing clear, accurate and useful information resources; and developing and delivering a large number of training courses.

The Refugee Council works hard to change the nature of the asylum debate and to ensure the public and government are informed about issues affecting asylum seekers and refugees. We carry out research to inform our policy positions and aim to influence all those who make decisions that have an impact on refugees and asylum seekers. Campaigning is also a vital part of our work and it is how we bring the issues that matter to the notice of both the public and the people we are trying to influence.

For more information on how we help refugees and asylum seekers, please visit the Refugee Council's website.