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Strategies to Support INA Children and Families

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KaleidRAScope Annual Report 2024-2025 Final

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Trauma Informed UK School Training Offers

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Trauma Informed UK School Training Offers

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Different trauma informed training options available for school and staff.

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13 Day weekend course

University Validated Diploma in Trauma and Mental Health Informed Schools and Organisations

This 13 day version of the diploma training is validated by the University of East London and gives 20 Credits at Level 5.

1 Day Face to Face and online events

Conferences

Join expert international child and a adolescent psychologists, neuroscientists, mental health innovators and clinicians bringing the latest evidence-based key tools and techniques to enrich and support the world of all child professionals.

Bespoke Presentations

Keynote Speeches

Tailored to your event, or from a selection of topics, TISUK speakers are available to book to bring an inspiring insight into traum informed practice.

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Our vision is to provide appropriate training for schools,communities and organisations so that they become trauma informed and mentally healthy places for all.

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Boundaries & Good Practice Introductory Course

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Boundaries & Good Practice Introductory Course

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Some courses are open to all, for others you need to become a FIAP partner.

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Join the Refugee Action Explore programme and improve the lives of the people that you support.

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At Refugee Education UK (REUK), we’re all about enabling young refugees to build positive futures by thriving in education. As education experts in the refugee sector and refugee experts in the education sector, we’re well-placed to increase training participants’ knowledge and confidence.

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At Refugee Education UK (REUK), we're all about enabling young refugees to build positive futures by thriving in education. As education experts in the refugee sector and refugee experts in the education sector, we're well-placed to increase training participants' knowledge and confidence.

​

We run training on all stages of young refugees' and asylum seekers' educational journeys - from access to education to thriving and progressing in education.

Our trainers bring significant experience and expertise from the education and refugee sectors in the UK and overseas, and all our sessions include the perspectives of those with lived experience of forced migration.

​

Our training is ideal for anyone who wants to better understand and support young refugees' and asylum seekers' education and wellbeing, including staff from local authorities, schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, faith groups and community organisations.

"This was one of the best courses I have attended online with very engaging content and lots of time to reflect and discuss. It has really improved my knowledge and confidence in this area. I particularly liked the variety of attendees and the fact that time was given to chat about what each of us did through the course, so it was also good networking."

"REUK's Access to HE training provided us with an invaluable insight into how to support refugees and asylum seekers in HE. From learning the basic terminology to challenging our thoughts on what we plan to put in place, the course was of real value. We are now in a much better position to support refugees and asylum seekers accessing HE at Solent University.

"Solent University is currently working towards becoming a University of Sanctuary. To support us in our ambition, we wanted to ensure our key staff had the knowledge required to create a welcome culture.

"The course was excellent value for money and still took the form of an interactive and participatory workshop, even being run virtually."

This training is aimed at teachers and other school staff (both primary and secondary). However it is also appropriate for individuals hosting refugees or anyone who wants to get some practical tools for supporting young refugees to flourish in education in the UK.

In this training we will:

Outline the previous educational and displacement experiences* of children and young people seeking safety in the UK;

Explain the educational implications for newly-arrived students with a focus on barriers to progress and achievement;

Outline practical strategies that you and your school can adopt to overcome these challenges;

Share details of free REUK and partner resources that can help you engage with refugee learners and develop your policies and practices.

*Although each webinar has a particular country focus (enabling the participants to understand the educational and displacement contexts of particular refugees), the majority of the content (such as practical interventions) is directly applicable to young refugees from all backgrounds.

Online webinar

​

1 hour 15 minutes (including 15 minutes for questions and information sharing)

Anyone who wants to grow in knowledge and confidence to support young refugees and asylum seekers to access higher (ie tertiary/university level) education.

Participants typically include a mix of university staff, voluntary sector workers and local authority staff.

Immigration statuses and terminology: This training will enable you to understand and confidently use asylum and refugee terminology and get to grips with different immigration statuses.

Refugees, asylum seekers and education: Drawing on young people's stories and experiences, research and our team's experience, this module will give you a strong understanding of young refugees' and asylum seekers' aspirations for and barriers to higher education.

Eligibility for higher education: You'll come away knowing who's entitled to what when it comes to student finance and home fees.

Practical solutions and opportunities: This training will upskill you in the educational, financial and psychosocial support options for young asylum seekers and refugees as they seek to access higher education, giving you time and support to apply this knowledge to your role and context and learn from other participants.

Watch this short video to find out more about this training

An online, interactive training experience for a maximum of 20 participants.

4.5 hours (including breaks).

*As an organisation, REUK typically works with young people between 15 and 25. We focus on this group in our training, however the majority of content is relevant for asylum seekers and refugees of any age.

​

**We endeavour to keep our training prices as reasonable as possible for participants, while also aiming to cover our costs and generate the income we need to run our vital services for young refugees. If these costs are prohibitive, please get in touch. We'd love to find a way to make it work together.

Immigration statuses and terminology: This training will enable you to understand and confidently use asylum and refugee terminology and get to grips with different immigration statuses.

Eligibility to study and funding entitlements: This training will enable you to establish whether a young person has the right to study at FE and which courses they are entitled to funding for based on their age, immigration status and where they receive financial support.

An introduction to further education: This training will help you understand the differences between FE providers, courses and qualifications. You will come away feeling more confident to support young people plan their pathway through FE.

College enrollment: You'll learn how to enrol a young person at college including which documentation is required to evidence eligibility and where to look for alternative sources of funding.

Watch this short video to find out more about this training.

Anyone who wants to grow in knowledge and confidence to support young refugees and asylum seekers to access further (post-16/college) education..

Participants typically include a mix of voluntary sector workers and local authority staff including personal advisors and social workers.

​

Please note that this session is not suitable for people working in the further education (FE) sector. If you work in the FE sector, please see the details below in the 'Welcoming refugees at further education (FE) colleges'.

An online, interactive training experience for a maximum of 20 participants.

4 hours (including breaks).

​

Prior to the training, participants are required to complete an online module. This takes about 1 hour and can be done any time before the session.

"REUK's Access to Further Education training course perfectly suited our organisation's learning needs. The training was excellent and designed with a perfect mixture of providing in depth and accurate information and resources as well as interactive activities to test knowledge and reinforce learning. The session was delivered over Zoom but was very visual and engaging. The trainers had a very high level of knowledge and were able to ask all the questions raised. They also provide some excellent resources that we can utilise in casework support to children and young people in future. I would thoroughly recommend this training course to anyone working with young refugees and asylum seekers who wants to better understand the FE system, the rights and entitlements of young refugees and asylum seekers and how to better advocate for them within this system."

Kalyani McCarthy, National Project Manager (Surviving to Thriving) at The British Red Cross

"As a virtual school, we've attended this training twice already and would definitely consider it again for new members of the team or as a refresher. REUK trainers are extremely knowledgeable and responded to any queries we threw at them throughout the training in a very thorough manner. They managed to relay complex but incredibly important and relevant information for the education of our young people in a way that is digestible and easy to remember. We strongly recommend REUK training. Not only will it equip you with invaluable knowledge when directly supporting young people to access education and understand their pathway options but it will also give you extra tools when communicating the needs of young people to schools and colleges."

Gina Antchandie, UASC Project Manager at Croydon Virtual School

This training is developed and delivered in partnership with Colleges of Sanctuary to support colleges working towards a College of Sanctuary award although it is relevant for any member of staff working at an FE college in the UK.

​

The training is delivered in three stand-alone modules which have a slightly different target audience.

​

Module One: this is an introductory module which is suitable for all staff members and is particularly aimed at those with no prior knowledge of these issues. We would encourage colleges to send staff working on reception/front desk staff, in the canteen or on security.

​

Module Two: this module is aimed at any staff members involved in enrolling students and is particularly suitable for admissions and MIT staff

​

Module Three: this module is aimed at academic staff and those who set curriculum and timetables.

Module 1: Overview and introduction

In this module participants will:

learn the difference between a range of immigration status;

identify the difficulties and barriers faced by young refugees and asylum seekers accessing and progressing through education;

Gain an understanding of the value of creating a culture of welcome and inclusion and examples of good practice

Module 2: Planning for positive Enrolment

In this module participants will:

Understand the implication of immigration status on access to education and entitlements to funding

Recognise the documentation sufficient for asylum seekers to successfully enrol

Consider the application of low-income status and alternative sources of funding

Plan how to create a positive enrolment experience in each context

Module 3: Planning for academic success

In this module participants will:

Consider best practice around obtaining previous qualifications

Identify the most effective methods of using student assessment to establish correct level of study

Review different approaches to integrating English language support into vocational qualifications

An online, interactive training experience for a maximum of 20 participants.

​

Each module is 2.5 hours (including breaks).

Places on these training modules are purchased as credits with a sliding cost so the more credits a college purchases the cheaper each individual place will be.

​

Whilst it is perfectly possible to book on a session as an individual we would encourage colleges to allocate a lead booker who can purchase a number of credits and then allocate individual staff members to the appropriate training course

On request, and subject to availability, we can run this training in house for individual institutions (either online or in person). Please enquire for availability and cost.

In addition to these training sessions, we can pull together bespoke opportunities for other organisations and institutions. The table below outlines modules that can be mixed and matched to suit participants' needs.

​

Please contact training@reuk.org to discuss your particular needs and how we could support you to address them.

This module will enable you to understand and confidently use asylum and refugee terminology and get to grips with different immigration statuses.

​This module will enable you to understand how immigration status and experiences of displacement can impact young asylum seekers' and refugees' access to and thriving within education. It will equip you to understand the impact of trauma on learning and introduce practical strategies for supporting young refugees and asylum seekers to thrive emotionally and academically in education contexts.

Drawing on young people's stories and experiences, research and our team's experience, this module will give you a strong understanding of young refugees' and asylum seekers' aspirations for and barriers to education.

Depending on preferences, this module can cover, for example:

Eligibility for education and funding at different levels (including HE and FE)

Support options available

Enabling factors

Practical support at different stages of educational journeys, such as application and enrolment

From April 2023, we will also offer the following bespoke training modules focussed on supporting the mental health and wellbeing needs of young refugees and asylum seekers

Drawing on our young people's stories and experiences, research and our team's experience, this module will give you a strong understanding of how challenging experiences impact the learning brain and build understanding of how to support the wellbeing needs of young asylum seekers and refugees in school and classrooms.

This module is designed to give you a better understanding of how to support the mental health and wellbeing needs of young refugees and asylum seekers.

This module will build your understanding of distress, including how to safeguard against distress. We will look at practical ways to support a young person experiencing distress as well as ways to care for your own wellbeing.

Register your interest for the REUK and University of Nottingham teacher education programme: Supporting refugee children in the classroom.

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Training | Refugee Education UK | Practitioner Training

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This page includes details of the practitioner training REUK provides on the subject of Refugee Education.

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For this edition of the Podcast, Jr. Communication Officer Margi Marchetti summarised the main points of discussions raised by the experts, such as the need for stronger, more inclusive and accessible mental health promotion, prevention, and services for refugees and migrants in Europe and beyond.

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Migrants, Refugees & Mental Health | Episode 8 by Empowering Minds

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In this episode, Jr. Communication Officer Margi Marchetti summarises the main points of discussion during the event "Migrants, Refugees & Mental Health" hosted by MEP Estrella Dura Ferrandez and MEP Tilly Metz at the European Parliament for World Mental Health Day 2022.

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The mental health of refugee and asylum seeking children.

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The mental health of refugee and asylum seeking children.

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An interview with Dr Mina Fazel, senior research fellow and consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry, discussing her research developing school-based mental health services.

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‎Psychiatry: The mental health of refugee and asylum seeking children on Apple Podcasts

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‎Show Psychiatry, Ep The mental health of refugee and asylum seeking children - 17 Jun 2014

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BJPsych Open's Refugee And Asylum Mental Health Themed Series

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BJPsych Open's Refugee And Asylum Mental Health Themed Series

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The papers in the Themed Series highlight the mental health challenges faced by asylum seekers and refugees and underline the need for a comprehensive response. The groundswell of support for Ukraine is an opportunity for global recognition of the needs of asylum seekers world-wide and the collective moral obligation to address those needs equitably.

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BJPsych Open's Refugee And Asylum Mental Health Themed Series by BJPsych Journals

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Derrick Silove, Eolene Boyd-Macmillan and Maja Bruhn Kristiansen join BJPsych Open's Digital Content Editor, Piyush Pushkar, to discuss BJPsych Open's Refugee and Asylum Mental Health Themed Series. 

The papers in the Themed Series highlight the mental health challenges faced by asylum seekers and refugees and underline the need for a comprehensive response. The groundswell of support for Ukraine is an opportunity for global recognition of the needs of asylum seekers world-wide and the collective moral obligation to address those needs equitably.

Theme Editors: Professor Cornelius Katona and Professor Kenneth R Kaufman

View BJPsych Open's Refugee and Asylum Mental Health themed series here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open/bjpsych-open-refugee-and-asylum-mental-health-themed-series

Follow us on Twitter @TheBJPsych #BJPOpen

Podcast transcripts available: https://bit.ly/3CXSijb

Disclaimer: BJPsych Open is not responsible for statements made by podcast contributors. Unless so stated, the content of this podcast does not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor-in-Chief or the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

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FREE Understanding Refugee and Asylum Seeker Mental Health Courses

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FREE Understanding Refugee and Asylum Seeker Mental Health Courses

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Course 1 – Understanding Refugee/Asylum Seeker Mental Health

Course 2 –   Effective Therapeutic Support for Asylum Seekers

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Course 1. Understanding Refugee and Asylum Seeker Mental Health

Course 2. Effective Therapeutic Support for Asylum Seekers

We are delighted that we have further spaces available for learners to register on the 2 eLearning courses above.

The courses are self guided. We suggest that you complete one module per week for 6 weeks, however you are able to go through the content at your own pace.

Learner Quote - 2022

"The main point that stood out for me today that mainly came from the experience videos was validation of my role and work ethic, I continually stress the importance of being welcoming and kind and the impact this can have. I am ashamed as a professional of the experiences the speakers had in our country. Working with women from many different countries I wasn't sure what I would get from this course but I really learnt a lot. I feel before the learning I was still quite marginalised in my thoughts, this has definitely been expanded and I look forward to any further training. The content was challenging but not complicated, the format easy to follow and the lived experience clips very welcome, thought provoking and appreciated."

See below for modules below.

Understanding Refugee and Asylum Seeker Mental Health

Course 1 - Understanding Refugee/Asylum Seeker Mental Health
Enroll here - ENROLL COURSE ONE

Welcome and Introduction

Module 1: The Global and UK Context of Refugees

Module 2: The Refugee Experience

Module 3: Refugee and Asylum Seekers Mental Health & Wellbeing

Module 4: Supporting the Health & Wellbeing of Asylum Seekers

Module 5: When Professional Therapeutic Support May be Needed

Module 6: Special Issues for Consideration

Evaluation

Appendix and Resources

Evaluation

Effective Therapeutic Support for Asylum Seekers

Course 2 - Effective Therapeutic Support for Asylum Seekers
Enroll here - ENROLL COURSE 2

1. The Champions Model

2. Psychological Issues to consider when working therapeutically with Asylum Seekers

3. Therapeutic practice in action

4. Pain

5. Sleep

6. Diversity and transcultural practice

7. Working with Interpreters

8. Mental Health Care for Asylum Seekers in the NHS

9. Effective therapeutic practice with asylum seekers for all

Evaluation

Appendix and Resources

Evaluation

Solace's eLearning courses are a culmination of over 15 years of practice supporting asylum seekers with their wellbeing and mental health.
Much of the content is adapted from a book produced by City of Sanctuary in 2018/19, co-written by Solace's clinical director Anne Burghgraef. The courses are considered a national gold standard for compassionate support for asylum seekers and refugees.

In these 2 self-guided e-courses Anne and colleagues take you step by step through the factors that affect the wellbeing and mental health of those who have been displaced from their country of origin. This understanding, combined with some practical advice will provide you with ideas for how to develop your own working practice to offer better wellbeing support to those individuals.
The course is made up of tutorial videos (between 10 to 30 minutes long), then the pages that follow offer review, reference and revision of that video content.
There is no test to complete, but several places to reflect on what you have learnt, what you will change, and what you will share with others in your organisation.

By completing course one, you will have the resources you need to be a 'champion' within your organisation and influence others to make positive changes in how you work.

The second course is intended for those who work in wellbeing or mental health settings. It offers resources and tools for managing many of the common difficulties experienced by those seeking asylum.
You can take the learning at your own pace but we suggest, for course one at least, that you complete one module per week for 6 weeks.
By completing both courses, you can expect to have a good understanding of global displacement, and the reasons behind it. You will have good knowledge of the process of seeking asylum in the UK and the factors that cause stress and impact mental health.

You will learn what you can do to support those in this situation from small acts of compassionate support, to clinical support and trauma focussed therapy.

For those who wish to take this learning further, we offer consultation and in house training to support you in specific settings.

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The courses are self guided. We suggest that you complete one module per week for 6 weeks, however you are able to go through the content at your own pace. "The main point that stood out for me today that mainly came from the experience videos was validation of my role and work ethic, I continually stress the importance of being welcoming and kind and the impact this can have.

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Supporting Afghan Refugee Children in Schools Webinar

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Supporting Afghan Refugee Children in Schools Webinar

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This webinar is a special joint event between The Bell Foundation and Refugee Education UK (REUK), a charity which aims to support young refugees in building positive futures by thriving in education.

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Supporting Afghan Refugee Children in Schools

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Mixture of online and face-to-face sessions.

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Filter glossary

Qualification

Trust certificate

A Trust certificate is an academic award created by the clinical leads at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, a globally recognised and trusted pioneer in mental health and wellbeing for over 100 years. It does not carry credits but can be referenced to support applications for further learning.

Duration

The period over which a course runs. M ost of our courses are part time and can take anything from an hour, to a few days or multiple years to complete. P lease see the individual course list ings for more details about the specific dates/times of delivery , number of learning hours and the expected time comm itment.

Delivery

Face to face

Live teaching, classes or events delivered in person in a physical location such as a traditional classroom setting or lecture hall.

Online: live teaching

Classes, discussions or events taught online at scheduled times to create a virtual classroom experience with an emphasis on individual and group participation.

Online: self-study

Self-directed courses delivered online where all or most of the content can be worked through in your own time and pace. Also known as asynchronous learning.

Blended

A combination of face to face and online live teaching.

Course type

Introductory

Courses that provide an essential first step in developing knowledge, skills and capacity across a range of subject disciplines, qualification levels and clinical/non-clinical approaches. They could be a pre-requisite for further training or a taster or general interest course.

Advanced

Courses that provide a more detailed and in-depth pathway to enhancing knowledge and skills. These courses cover a range of subject disciplines, qualification levels and clinical/non-clinical approaches and will likely require evidence of previous study or experience and have eligibility criteria in the application process.

Applied training

An approach that allows students to engage in direct application of skills, theories and models in real-life situations, such as supervised working with families.

Clinical training

Clinical training aims to ensure that healthcare professionals are prepared for specific roles through expert instruction and direct client experience. It is often a required qualification (depending on the career pathway chosen).

CPD

CPD or Continuing Professional Development is a general term used to describe the learning activities that professionals engage in to develop and enhance their abilities and careers, and - in some cases - gain a qualification. CPD can include lectures, workshops, self-study online courses, remotely-delivered training and more.

Events

Conferences, seminars, presentations and other live events, some of which may only be accessible as recordings.

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Qualification Trust certificate A Trust certificate is an academic award created by the clinical leads at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, a globally recognised and trusted pioneer in mental health and wellbeing for over 100 years. It does not carry credits but can be referenced to support applications for further learning.

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Working with asylum-seeking young people -webinar (Free; Sign-up Required)

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Working with asylum-seeking young people -webinar (Free; Sign-up Required)

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A free webinar to help you to gain a better understanding of working with asylum seeking young people.

06 Feb 2024 16:00 - 17:30

Closing date: 01/02/2024

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Working with asylum-seeking young people -webinar | Surrey Education Services

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SVS shares what the behaviours of asylum-seeking young people look like and explore tools and different approaches for best outcomes

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Free Webinar: Supporting Refugee Learners with the British Red Cross (Sign-up Required)

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Free Webinar: Supporting Refugee Learners with the British Red Cross (Sign-up Required)

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Refugee learner’s needs may be like those of any migrant child or young person, such as language differences and culture shock, but it is also important to remember that some may have arrived from a background of traumatic experiences or may have had no formal schooling prior to arrival.

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Free Webinar: Supporting Refugee Learners with the British Red Cross

Refugee learner's needs may be like those of any migrant child or young person, such as language differences and culture shock, but it is also important to remember that some may have arrived from a background of traumatic experiences or may have had no formal schooling prior to arrival.

Join the Young Refugee Service ESOL & Casework Team, from the British Red Cross, and learn about:

Experiences and needs of asylum seeker children and young people, exploring the impacts of financial support, mental health, immigration status, etc. on their engagement in education

Supporting unaccompanied minors and illiterate adults

Strategies schools and colleges can implement today to help refugee pupils access the curriculum and overcome challenges

Live Q&A

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Free Webinar: Supporting Refugee Learners with the British Red Cross

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Watch our free webinar on supporting refugee learners with the British Red Cross and learn how to provide a safe and inclusive learning environment for all.

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Inclusion, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination: Understanding Voices with Ella Mansfield

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Inclusion, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination: Understanding Voices with Ella Mansfield

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Understanding Voices follows the usual Agents of Hope format but takes a closer look at the theme of anti-discriminatory practice. This is with the hope that through understanding the experiences of children and young people we are able to improve inclusive practice in schools.

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A special introduction to something new for the Agents of Hope podcast!

Ella Mansfield is a second-year Trainee Educational Psychologist at Birmingham University and she'll be hosting a mini-series called "Understanding Voices" on the Agents of Hope platform.

Understanding Voices follows the usual Agents of Hope format but takes a closer look at the theme of anti-discriminatory practice. This is with the hope that through understanding the experiences of children and young people we are able to improve inclusive practice in schools.

Is there anyone you would like to interview? Would you like a platform to raise awareness about a particular topic in educational psychology? If you're interested in getting involved with Agents of Hope, please contact Tim on Twitter (@timceducation) or via email (agentsofhopeuk@gmail.com).

Support the show

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Inclusion, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination: Understanding Voices with Ella Mansfield - Agents of Hope

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A special introduction to something new for the Agents of Hope podcast! Ella Mansfield is a second-year Trainee Educational Psychologist at Birmingham University and she'll be hosting a mini-series called "Understanding Voices" on the Agents of Hope platform.Understanding Voices follows the ...

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"Understanding the experiences of school belonging amongst secondary school students with refugee backgrounds (UK)" by Sobitan (2022)

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"Understanding the experiences of school belonging amongst secondary school students with refugee backgrounds (UK)" by Sobitan (2022)

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Research into refugee students’ settlement in host countries high- lights school belonging as essential to their wellbeing and aca- demic achievement. This research aimed to understand how secondary school refugee students experience school belonging in the North East of England.

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Understanding the experiences of school belonging amongst secondary school students with refugee backgrounds (UK)

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"Integration in the Shadow of Austerity—Refugees in Newcastle upon Tyne" by Flug & Hussein (2019)

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"Integration in the Shadow of Austerity—Refugees in Newcastle upon Tyne" by Flug & Hussein (2019)

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This paper shows how political support as well as the self-motivating ambition to be a city of sanctuary are driving forces behind the city’s commitment to hosting refugees.

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Integration in the Shadow of Austerity—Refugees in Newcastle upon Tyne

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"A Qualitative Evaluation of a Health Access Card for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in a City in Northern England" by Moffat et al., (2023)

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"A Qualitative Evaluation of a Health Access Card for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in a City in Northern England" by Moffat et al., (2023)

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The aim of this qualitative evaluation was to explore service user and professional experiences of healthcare access and utilisation in Newcastle and perspectives on the Health Access Card.

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A Qualitative Evaluation of a Health Access Card for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in a City in Northern England

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“It’s like rubbing salt on the wound”: the impacts of Covid-19 and lockdown on asylum seekers and refugees by Finlay et al., (2021)

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“It’s like rubbing salt on the wound”: the impacts of Covid-19 and lockdown on asylum seekers and refugees by Finlay et al., (2021)

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The research draws upon a UK-wide survey of service providers working with or for refugees, as well as interviews with service providers, refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow and Newcastle-Gateshead.

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“It’s like rubbing salt on the wound”- the impacts of Covid-19 and lockdown on asylum seekers and refugees

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"Are Refugees Really Welcome? Understanding Northern Ireland Attitudes Towards Syrian Refugees" by Lippard & McNamee (2021)

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"Are Refugees Really Welcome? Understanding Northern Ireland Attitudes Towards Syrian Refugees" by Lippard & McNamee (2021)

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Using the 2015 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (NILT), we prob- lematize and empirically-test these initial conclusions about NI attitudes towards Syrian refugees by testing four prominent social theories.

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Are Refugees Really Welcome? Understanding Northern Ireland Attitudes Towards Syrian Refugees

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"Asylum Seekers and Refugees' Experiences of Life in Northern Ireland" by Murphy & Vieten (2017)

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"Asylum Seekers and Refugees' Experiences of Life in Northern Ireland" by Murphy & Vieten (2017)

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This report focuses on the everyday life experiences of asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland. This research identifies the barriers, difficulties and challenges experienced by asylum seekers and refugees as they adapt to their new lives in Northern Ireland. It identifies a number of key indicators of integration, such as employment, housing, education, health, social bridges, language, cultural knowledge, rights and citizenship.

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Asylum Seekers and Refugees' Experiences of Life in Northern Ireland

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"Supporting Refugee Children with Special Educational Needs in Northern Ireland" by Elliott et al., (2021)

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"Supporting Refugee Children with Special Educational Needs in Northern Ireland" by Elliott et al., (2021)

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This study aims to explore the reasonable adjustments made by educational communities thus far, to minimise the impact of potential barriers to learning for this distinct group within our society and promote integration.

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Supporting Refugee Children with Special Educational Needs in Northern Ireland.PDF

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"Trauma-informed practices in schools across two decades: An interdisciplinary review of research" by Thomas et al., (2019)

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"Trauma-informed practices in schools across two decades: An interdisciplinary review of research" by Thomas et al., (2019)

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This interdisciplinary overview and synthesis of literature examined interventions used in schools to determine the dominant framework used for promoting and practicing trauma-informed care in schools and the effectiveness of school-based supports for trauma-affected youth to identify implications for changing teaching practice.

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Trauma-informed practices in schools across two decades- An interdisciplinary review of research

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"The Trauma and Attachment-Aware Classroom: A Practical Guide to Supporting Children Who Have Encountered Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences" by Rebecca Brooks

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"The Trauma and Attachment-Aware Classroom: A Practical Guide to Supporting Children Who Have Encountered Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences" by Rebecca Brooks

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Trauma can have a significant impact on the stability of a child's development and can put additional pressures on the education staff working with them.

Showing you how you can best support children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, this guide is full of practical guidance on how you can adapt your teaching with this group.

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The Trauma and Attachment-Aware Classroom: A Practical Guide to Supporting Children Who Have Encountered Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences

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Buy The Trauma and Attachment-Aware Classroom: A Practical Guide to Supporting Children Who Have Encountered Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences by Rebecca Brooks (ISBN: 9781785925580) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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"Big Behaviors in Small Containers: 131 Trauma-Informed Play Therapy Interventions for Disorders of Dysregulation" by Paris Goodyear-Brown

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"Big Behaviors in Small Containers: 131 Trauma-Informed Play Therapy Interventions for Disorders of Dysregulation" by Paris Goodyear-Brown

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Whether you’re a therapist, teacher, doctor, caregiver, or trusted grown-up in a child’s life, the tools inside will allow you to become the co-regulating, nurturing, and consistent presence that your “small container” needs to remain grounded in the face of stress, big feelings, and difficult situations.

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Big Behaviors in Small Containers: 131 Trauma-Informed Play Therapy Interventions for Disorders of Dysregulation

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Buy Big Behaviors in Small Containers: 131 Trauma-Informed Play Therapy Interventions for Disorders of Dysregulation by Goodyear-Brown, Paris (ISBN: 9781683734673) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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"Attachment: 60 Trauma-Informed Assessment and Treatment Interventions Across the Lifespan" by Dr Christina Reece

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"Attachment: 60 Trauma-Informed Assessment and Treatment Interventions Across the Lifespan" by Dr Christina Reece

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Simply, attachment is the way that we connect to each other. Without attachment, people feel alone to deal with challenges they face, which leads to distress, dysfunction, and mental health disorders. It is possible to repair dysfunctional attachment, but first it is necessary to recognize attachment style, unhealthy relationship patterns, and the impact they are having.

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In a society that values independence, self-preservation, and individualistic thinking, we are missing the key to fulfillment: Connection through attachment.

Simply, attachment is the way that we connect to each other. Without attachment, people feel alone to deal with challenges they face, which leads to distress, dysfunction, and mental health disorders. It is possible to repair dysfunctional attachment, but first it is necessary to recognize attachment style, unhealthy relationship patterns, and the impact they are having.

Improve your client's relationships by teaching them strategies to feel more connected reestablish trust, and restore positive emotions. Dr. Christina Reese, a recognized attachment and trauma professional, has created a comprehensive audio guide that explains attachment over a lifetime, and offers trauma-informed approaches to treat attachment at any age.

Clinical examples, handouts, and worksheets to use with clients of all ages

Recognize attachment styles

Identify key symptoms of attachment difficulties and their inception

Interventions that repair attachment traumas to heal stress, shame, and anxiety

Techniques to help clients improve their relationships (children, parents, friends, and significant others)

Attachment is skillfully narrated by Camille Mazant. All handouts and worksheets described in the audiobook are included in the printable supplementary PDF.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

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Attachment: 60 Trauma-Informed Assessment and Treatment Interventions Across the Lifespan

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Attachment: 60 Trauma-Informed Assessment and Treatment Interventions Across the Lifespan (Audio Download): Christina Reese, Camille Mazant, Echo Point Books and Media, LLC: Amazon.co.uk: Audible Books & Originals

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"Becoming Trauma Informed" by Nancy Poole and Lorraine Greaves

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"Becoming Trauma Informed" by Nancy Poole and Lorraine Greaves

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For those working in community services, treatment agencies and hospitals, providing "trauma-informed care" requires an understanding of the effects of trauma, and of how to create programs, spaces and policies that place priority on trauma survivors' safety, choice and control.  Becoming Trauma Informed describes trauma-informed practice at the individual, organizational and systemic levels.

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Most people accessing mental health and addiction services have experienced trauma. For those working in community services, treatment agencies and hospitals, providing "trauma-informed care" requires an understanding of the effects of trauma, and of how to create programs, spaces and policies th...

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Rosie Tapsfield / Active Inclusion Officer / Newcastle City Council

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Rosie Tapsfield / Active Inclusion Officer / Newcastle City Council

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https://newcastle.cityofsanctuary.org/author/rosie-tapsfield

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"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk

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"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk

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The effects of trauma can be devastating for sufferers, their families and future generations. Here one of the world's experts on traumatic stress offers a bold new paradigm for treatment, moving away from standard talking and drug therapies and towards an alternative approach that heals mind, brain and body.

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The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma

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The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma (Audio Download): Sean Pratt, Bessel van der Kolk, Penguin Audio : Amazon.co.uk: Books

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The Bell Foundation: How to support Afghan Refugee Children in Schools

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The Bell Foundation: How to support Afghan Refugee Children in Schools

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This post is a summary of a recent webinar, hosted by The Bell Foundation and presented by the charity Refugee Education UK, which gave guidance and practical strategies to teachers on how to support Afghan refugee children in schools.

Key sections in this article:

The webinar hosted by The Bell Foundation was presented by Katie Barringer, Head of Educational Progression at Refugee Education UK (REUK) and her colleagues, Hamid Khan, Education and Welcome Project Officer, and Ehsan Habibi, Further Education Project Co-ordinator.

REUK is a UK charity that equips young refugees to build positive futures by thriving in education. REUK has built up extensive Afghan-specific experience, including supporting Afghan refugees in the UK, monitoring and analysing outcomes for returned young people in Kabul, and doing research for the UN on the links between education and integration for young Afghan refugees.

Katie began with an overview of the displacement and educational experiences that Afghan children are likely to have had before reaching the UK. Next, she identified the most common wellbeing and educational challenges that Afghan children face in the UK. She outlined strategies that teachers can employ to welcome and support their new learners, and she provided information about additional support and resources that teachers can access.

What are Afghan children likely to have experienced before reaching the UK?

1. Displacement

Recent events in Afghanistan led to a very rapid, unprepared, and traumatic displacement experience for many Afghan families. For some, this displacement has come on top of decades of hardship. Their dramatic uprooting has caused some refugees to experience acute psychosocial and health challenges. Once in the UK, families have been housed in bridging hotels, where many still remain. Resettlement plans are uncertain, so teachers can expect a lot of movement of children between schools as their families are resettled or find alternative accommodation.

2. Education

Research has shown that school attendance and completion rates in Afghanistan are relatively low, particularly for girls, and particularly at secondary level. Schooling in Afghanistan has three key characteristics:

Afghan schools have single sex classrooms, so children may feel some discomfort in mixed classrooms.

Afghan schools have a shorter school day, so children might find long days here tiring.

Afghan schooling has a teacher-centred pedagogy, based on rote learning and memorising, so children may feel unprepared to participate in discussions or to express their ideas and opinions.

These features mean that adjustments to UK schooling are difficult, and to illustrate this, Katie shared a contribution from a young refugee, Salma, who came to the UK in Year 10 and is now at university. Salma urged her audience to give young Afghan refugees time to find their voice, to harness their thoughts, and to develop their many talents. Salma's success in education highlights the potential that refugee children have for high attainment.

What are the common challenges Afghan refugee children experience in UK schooling?

Katie identified two types of challenges - academic and wellbeing - and stressed that these overlap and interact with each other.

1. Wellbeing challenges

Four key experiences help to explain the behaviours that Afghan refugee children might exhibit:

Trauma and distress from the past, for some going back many years;

Trauma of the present: the destabilising effects of being in a new country and living in a hotel indefinitely with no sense of a settled future;

Grief for what they have lost and anxiety over those they have left behind;

Isolation and loneliness as they struggle to adapt to a new country and culture.

Teachers are likely to see the following behaviours at school:

The fight-or-flight response occurs when previous trauma and related triggers cause reactions that flood the body with adrenaline and shut off the thinking part of the brain, inhibiting the ability to learn. The fight reaction can cause children to lash out at others or to internalise their feelings and report that they feel pain.

The flight mechanism can lead to children becoming withdrawn and disconnected from what is going on around them.

Children can also struggle to concentrate and be distracted easily.

Children will struggle to sleep and be tired, or fall asleep at school, or come to school late.

Children may exhibit visible distress at school.

2. Academic challenges

Katie identified the following challenges that will be visible in the classroom:

Most obvious will be the language barriers and the lack of resources for English as an Additional Language (EAL) support.

Children will be adjusting to a new curriculum and different teaching and learning styles.

Some children will have special education needs and these may be difficult to diagnose and address.

There are challenges outside of the classroom that impact on academic success:

Home environments: Hotel accommodation (but also more permanent homes) may have limited or no internet and computer access, and limited space for completing homework.

Lack of parental support and engagement: Parents may not be able to support their children's learning because of language barriers or stress, for

Poverty: Limited financial resources may impact on nutrition, and the ability to buy uniforms and pay for extracurricular activities.

Despite these challenges, Katie stressed that she and her colleagues see resilience, determination, and a sense of hope as they work with young Afghan refugees.

How can teachers address the challenges Afghan refugee children face?

1. Guiding principles for working with Afghan refugee children in schools

Katie identified five key principles to guide work with Afghan refugee children:

Build trust and have patience. Taking time to do this will help children and their families feel welcome.

Look beyond the behaviour. Solutions to problem behaviour are best sought in collaboration with other staff.

Recognise that language ability is not an indicator of academic ability or talent. Katie stressed that teachers should guard against seeing the struggles a child may have with English as an indication of their academic potential. Many of the children will have academic gifts and other talents in music or art, for example.

Grow children's compassion and world view. Refugee children bring opportunities for building compassion and knowledge about the world among their classmates.

Recognise resilience and adopt an assets-based approach. Refugee children bring value to schools, for example by raising aspirations in the whole student body. In addition, they are multilingual and have linguistic resources in the languages they know that teachers can use as a foundation for their learning of English and learning through English.

With these principles in mind, Katie set out practical approaches, while stressing that teachers will need to tailor these approaches to fit their own context.

2. Practical approaches for supporting Afghan refugee children in schools

Strategies to cope with children in the fight-or-flight response:

Maintain calm, use a gentle voice, and move slowly.

Create a safe place, like a quiet room, where the child can recover.

Set simple manageable tasks that help to settle anxiety.

Strategies to help children adjust, by making sure they can be heard:

Move to a quiet space and listen carefully so that the child can feel they are heard.

If the demands on the teacher are too great, make use of referrals to other staff, such as the safeguarding officer or to outside services if a child has shared information that needs to be acted upon.

Katie advised teachers to be aware of topics that children might find too upsetting to talk about, that might trigger anxiety, such as their trip to the UK, or their family in Afghanistan, about whom they may be very worried, for example.

3. Practical interventions for supporting children

Peer support: As Katie explained, research has shown that peer support strategies, such as 'buddy systems', can help refugee children to settle in their new school environments. For Afghan children, buddies should ideally be of the same sex, speak a similar language, and most importantly be welcoming.

Period of adjustment: New children will need to know and understand the school and classroom rules, they will need information about key aspects of the school day, such as the timetable, the register, and what clothes or kit need to be worn at what times, and they will need to understand the school's expectations regarding behaviour. Teacher and classroom changes should be kept to a minimum and families should be informed of upcoming events and outings. Ehsan explained that older children who have had little or no schooling will need a period of grace as they learn to concentrate for longer periods. He suggested that teachers find out what their pupils are interested in to help connect them to learning and added a reminder that all children have background knowledge that teachers can draw on.

Pastoral care: Children should know who they can turn to if they need help and be linked to a school counsellor, or other support staff member, or to an external provider if necessary.

Welcome and inclusion: Creating an inclusive environment also means being aware of cultural and religious priorities, such as recognising Islamic holidays and providing halal food. Schools can enhance their messages of welcome by having signs and messages in Pashto and Dari, the two main languages of Afghanistan, and teachers should strive to pronounce children's names accurately. Photographs in the classroom of the previous Afghan flag, and of historical sites such as the Buddhas of Bamiyan and the Darul Aman Palace will help to comfort and welcome.

Language support: Language is a key pillar of refugee children's welcome and educational support. The Bell Foundation provides extensive support in the form of courses and other resources for teachers who work with children who use EAL (see the links below), as does NALDIC, the national subject association for EAL. Teachers can set up lunch or after-school groups for refugee children to participate in and draw on members of the local refugee community to support classroom work, including translating.

Extra academic support: REUK runs a mentorship programme in London, the West Midlands, East of England, and Oxford, with children aged 14-plus, who receive help with their homework. There are similar projects run by other organisations in other parts of the country.

4. Practical interventions for supporting parents

Language support: Pashto and Dari speakers, who speak good English, could be approached to assist at parents' evenings. Teachers can use Google Translate on a tablet during a meeting with parents and arrange for newsletters and messages to parents to be translated. This will help families to feel seen, included, and valued in the school community.

Helping families adjust: Organising a tour of the school for new families, with translation, and making sure that families understand the new and unfamiliar aspects of UK education, including its compulsory nature, will help to ease the difficulties of the transition. The Bell Foundation provides an 'About the English Education System' guidance document which is available in 22 languages including Dari and Pashto (see the links below). Schools could help families to fit in socially by connecting them with others in the community, and giving them information about helpful social groups, like mother and toddler groups.

Technology support: Refugee families are likely to struggle with the various digital platforms that schools use to communicate information, so sessions to offer basic skills such as how to log on will be necessary.

Signposting to further support: Teachers and schools are not alone in their efforts to welcome and support refugee children and their families, and schools can point families in the direction of other organisations who do work with refugees, for additional help and guidance.

A note on self-care

Katie reminded the audience that working with refugee children, especially those who have experienced trauma, can be emotionally draining. She urged teachers to look after their own wellbeing, to recognise the warning signs of the strain of experiencing vicarious trauma, and to take steps to access support from others.

What further information and training can teachers draw on?

REUK offers the following:

Training;

Resources in Pashto and Dari, and Ukrainian, for teachers and young people;

Hello apps, for general enquiries;

A welcome team for newly arrived Afghan and Ukrainian refugees.

Teachers can follow REUK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to their newsletter. Access their website here: Refugee Education UK | Home | London (reuk.org).

The Bell Foundation offers the following:

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How to support Afghan refugee children in schools

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This blog gives guidance and practical strategies to teachers on how to support Afghan refugee children in schools.

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The KaleidRAScope Project Annual Report 2021-22

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Sarah Edgar / Education Consultant / Newcastle City Council

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Sarah Edgar / Education Consultant / Newcastle City Council

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https://padlet.com/sarahedgar1/mfl-international-connections-vjf8qson1vxmx941

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There is a lot of momentum around the Schools of Sanctuary work in Newcastle and it is brilliant to see lots of schools interested in the work and getting involved.
You can find out more about Schools of Sanctuary and how to get involved, including a whole load of resources to help you on your journey here.

You can also hear from children who are pupils of recognised Schools of Sanctuary about what this means and why this is important to them here:

"If we can do this, we can do anything"

Being a School of Sanctuary is a really big deal. But don't take our word for it, listen to these kids...

These students are all at schools in Newcastle - these fantastic schools all recently received their School of Sanctuary award🥳🧡👏 pic.twitter.com/xeOquX9XtO

- City of Sanctuary UK 🧡 (@CityofSanctuary) October 18, 2022

How to get involved:
For schools that want to get involved there is timetable of training sessions and events planned for the 2022/23 academic year. There are also fortnightly Q&A drop-ins throughout the year where you can find out more about Schools of Sanctuary and how to get involved, as well as ask questions and get support with your application. You can find the full timetable of events here.

Work of the existing schools of sanctuary as well as those working towards their awards have looked at a variety of things as part of the process, including looking at their existing curriculum and weaving in themes relating to refugees and forced displacement; looking at the school library and having an area dedicated to books about refugees, asylum seekers and human rights; making resources available to staff e.g. a Schools of Sanctuary Folder; school staff completing the Newcastle City of Sanctuary training module and building in learning about refugees and asylum seekers into staff inductions and ongoing training. There has also been thought given to how the schools support new arrivals with schemes set up such as EAL buddies for new arrivals who have English as an additional language, Language of the Month and Parent English Classes.
Schools of Sanctuary awards in Newcastle:
We are extremely proud of all of the schools who go above and beyond to welcome people seeking sanctuary, this includes:
Atkinson Road Primary School Bridgewater Primary School Broadwood Primary School
Central Walker Primary School
Christ Church CE Primary School Hawthorn Primary School Hotspur Primary School Our Lady and St Annes Catholic Primary School St Catherines Catholic Primary School St Michael's RC Primary School W ingrove Primary School
Walkergate Primary School
More information - these will give you brilliant updates, ideas and resources:
West Walker Primary School

Here is a quote from one of the Newcastle schools: "We are thrilled with the award but even more so with the knowledge and understanding we have gained throughout the application process. Our Senior Leadership Team have used this period of reflection to further improve the offer we give to our most vulnerable pupils and have felt encouraged and supported."

Sign up to Schools of Sanctuary mailing list here

Subscribe to Schools of Sanctuary Newsletter

Follow Schools of Sanctuary on Twitter & Facebook
Organisations that can support your school with training and awareness raising sessions for staff and pupils:
Watch Event recordings

Attend upcoming events

Complete/share with staff the Online training module to get a simple overview of migration and support available in Newcastle

Red Cross Empathy and Migration sessions for pupils

West End Refugee Service awareness raising sessions for staff and pupils

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Schools of Sanctuary - Newcastle City of Sanctuary

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There is a lot of momentum around the Schools of Sanctuary work in Newcastle and it is brilliant to see lots of schools interested in the work and getting involved. You can find out more about Schools of Sanctuary and how to get involved, including a whole load of resources to help you on your [...]

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Newcastle is honoured to be a recognised City of Sanctuary; part of a network of towns and cities throughout the country that are proud to be places of safety, and which include people seeking sanctuary fully in the lives of their communities.
Newcastle has been welcoming people seeking sanctuary for many years. While those seeking asylum have no choice over where in the UK they are dispersed to, we take great pride in the fact that so many refugees chose to settle here once their claim for asylum has been determined. As a city we are committed to doing what we can to welcome those seeking sanctuary and to help rebuild lives.

If you have any ideas about Newcastle City of Sanctuary - if there is anything that you would like to chat about, ask about, or discuss please do contact us:

Email: [email protected]

Phone or Text: 07989 606 254

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Newcastle is honoured to be a recognised City of Sanctuary; part of a network of towns and cities throughout the country that are proud to be places of safety, and which include people seeking sanctuary fully in the lives of their communities. Newcastle has been welcoming people seeking sanctuary for many years.

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City of Sanctuary - City of Sanctuary UK

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Newcastle Council - Information to support people seeking sanctuary

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Newcastle Council - Information to support people seeking sanctuary

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Newcastle City Council is a recognised City of Sanctuary, committed to welcoming people seeking sanctuary and helping them to rebuild their lives. Read more about the asylum process in Newcastle on www.newcastle.gov.uk.

There are a local services that support both asylum seekers and refugees in Newcastle. The information below tells you about them. Click on the link to see the contact details for each organisation.

Who is an asylum seeker?

You are an Asylum Seeker if you have to leave your country to seek protection in another country, such as the UK.

An asylum seeker wants to have permission to stay in the UK. Asylum seekers can't work in the UK.

Who is a refugee?

A refugee has permission from the government to stay in the UK.

When you apply for asylum and are successful, you are a refugee. Refugees have formal documents and permission to stay in the UK. The permission lasts for 5 years and after that you return to your country or apply again. Refugees usually have permission to work.

While you wait for a decision about your claim for asylum, you may be able to get Asylum support to help with housing and benefits. If you have children, they will be able to attend free state school and you may be able to get free health treatment on the NHS.

Who is a refused or destitute asylum seeker?

If your application for asylum is not successful, you may be refused asylum. You may be at risk of homelessness or destitution.

You can still apply for short-term support if you've been refused asylum and are preparing to leave the UK.

Asylum Team at Newcastle City Council can give you advice if you are refused asylum.
Read more below on support for refused asylum seekers.
Where to get support in Newcastle

Here's a list of the local services that can help asylum seekers and refugees. Contact them to find out more.

The Asylum Team at Newcastle Council support:

newly arrived asylum seekers

refugees who have been given a decision on their asylum claim

The North of England Refugee Service support asylum seekers, refugees and people refused asylum with:

advice and support throughout the whole of the asylum process: This includes help to apply for asylum, welfare benefits, immigration, housing, education needs and employment skills and support during the claim process

integration service: supports people granted refugee status and leave to remain to help them rebuild lives in the UK

supported housing project: provides housing to people granted leave to remain, who are vulnerable and need support. This is short term housing and individualised support for up to 2 years and until clients can move on from supported housing to independent living

training and employment: as sessional interpreters to provide interpreting and translation services

support destitute asylum seekers when applying for 'section 4 support,' the support available if you are a refused asylum seeker

drop in advice sessions: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 1.30pm

The West End Refugee Service (WERS) is a charity working with refugees and asylum seekers living in the West End of Newcastle. Offer support, face-to-face, drop in, by telephone, by appointment and home visits. Their support includes:

Information, advice and advocacy: on issues that you need help with such as housing, education, health, benefits, education, accessing legal advice

buddying: regular meet ups with a volunteer buddy for social contact and to get to know Newcastle

essential goods support: free food, toiletries and essential items

emergency hardship fund and welfare support for destitute asylum seekers

SkillsMatch to find volunteering opportunities in Newcastle that match your skills, experiences and interests

volunteering opportunities: you can help with administration tasks, supporting refugees with information and being a Volunteer buddy

Garden Project meets every 2 weeks, Mondays 10am to 1pm

telephone support: Monday to Thursday, 10am to 1pm

Action Foundation offer:

information and advice

Inter Action drop in session

help to access services and legal services

English classes

support to get online including a device, data and training.

mentoring to help you access education, training and apply for jobs.

supported housing

housing support for destitute asylum seekers

British Red Cross support refugees with: information and personal support, family reunion support and family tracing. They give welfare support to destitute or refused asylum seekers.

Drop in information and advice sessions: No appointment needed

Refugees and asylum seekers can get help from the organisations listed below. A drop in session is a time where you can turn up without an appointment to speak to someone. They will help you to settle into life in Newcastle.

You can get free information, advice, practical help and support. They can put you in touch with other services that can help you with food parcels and benefits. Contact them to find out how they can help you.

Day of the week

Where and when

What's available

The West End Refugee Service (WERS)Drop in service is closed at the moment

Address: St Philip's Vicarage, St Philip's Close, Arthur's Hill, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5JE

Information and Advice (Case Work) Drop in:

Drop in service is closed at the moment. It normally runs Monday and Wednesday, 10am to 1pm

Contact WERS for more information

SkillsMatch: Drop in to find out more about how to develop skills, experience and practice English and meet new people

The West End Refugee Service (WERS)

Address: St Philip's Vicarage, St Philip's Close, Arthur's Hill, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5JE

Drop in service is closed at the moment.

Contact WERS for more information

Information and Advice (Case Work) Drop in usually runs on Wednesdays 10am to 1pm

Justice and Peace (Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle)

Address: St. Vincent's Support Centre, New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2TQ

When: Wednesdays and Fridays 11am to 1.45pm.

This service is for asylum seekers and destitute asylum seekers

Food, free WIFI, toiletries, clothes, bedding and shoes are available. They have a hardship fund for destitute asylum seekers.

Peace of Mind CIO

Address: Whitehall Road Methodist Church, Whitehall Road, Gateshead, NE8 4LH

When: Wednesdays 12pm to 2pm

Practical and emotional support. They help with: translation, registering with a GP, finding a solicitor, healthy living, food parcels, clothing, baby equipment, to settle in to the community and with destitution issues.

St James's Church

Address: Benwell Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 6RR
Email: church@benwellscotswood.com
When: Wednesdays 10am to 1pm

They offer help with:

your wellbeing

signposting you to other services in the community

foodbank vouchers

volunteering opportunities

free Wi Fi tea and coffee

conversation and spiritual support

social time or time for peace and quiet

Justice and Peace (Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle)

Address: St. Vincent's Support Centre, New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2TQ

When: Wednesdays and Fridays 11am to 1.45pm.

This service is for asylum seekers and destitute asylum seekers

Food, free WIFI, toiletries, clothes, bedding and shoes are available. They have a hardship fund for destitute asylum seekers.

African Community Advice North East (ACANE) supports African refugees and asylum seekers living in the North East of England. They provide information and advice, activities and training and advocacy.

Riverside Community Health Project offer migrant support, training, volunteering, English language classes, children's activities, outreach, parenting support and activities.

Peace of Mind CIO run projects to help refugees and asylum seekers. This includes: drop in services, parenting workshops, safety sessions, Bensham Community Food Co-op, activities for children and carers and money for emergencies.

Benefits advice

Refugees can apply for welfare benefits to help pay for your living costs.

Citizen's Advice Newcastle (CAN) give you free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information on a wide range of subjects including benefits, housing, employment, legal matters, immigration and family and personal matters.

Newcastle Welfare Rights Service give telephone benefits advice to people in certain groups living in Newcastle. They have self help material on their website. They run drop in advice sessions for people living in west Newcastle.

Buddying or befriending services

This is a service where local people volunteer to make friends with refugees and asylum seekers. Organisations match you with a local person who knows the area well. They meet up with you regularly to help you get to know Newcastle and to settle in.

HostNation is a befriending scheme, which matches local people, with refugees or asylum seekers living in Newcastle and Gateshead. Befrienders and their refugee friends make plans every week to meet up and get involved in things in Newcastle. Befriending takes place for 3 months.

The West End Refugee Service (WERS) has a buddying scheme. They arrange regular meet ups with a volunteer buddy, to help you make friends and get to know Newcastle.

Carers

You are a carer if you look after someone who can't manage without your help.

Newcastle Carers supports carers in Newcastle.

English classes (ESOL)

ESOL means, English classes for people who speak English as a second or other language. Where you can learn English or practice your conversation skills.

Classes can be informal groups to help you be more confident to speak English. Or formal classes where you can get a certificate or qualification to show that you can speak English.

For the full list of ESOL classes in Newcastle visit English lessons for people who speak English as a second or other language.

Employment support for refugees

If you are granted refugee status you can get a job. These places can help you find work.

Supported Employment Service at Newcastle City Council helps refugees find and stay in work. They help you to think about your career goals and how to achieve them. Support includes help to:

understand existing skills and how they are useful to the jobs market

write a CV and apply for jobs online

get ready for interviews

choose and gain qualifications

ongoing help to stay in work

work experience placements in

JET (Jobs Education and Training) work with BAME (Black Asian Minority Ethnic) communities, asylum seekers, refugees and New Migrant communities to get into training and find work. This includes training, help with job searching, applications, CVs and finding work experience. You can have one to one support from an experienced, qualified advisor. Support available includes:

English and Maths support (ESOL classes)

improve your confidence, skills and wellbeing

help to search for jobs, training, and volunteering opportunities

improve your interview and presentation skills

help to settle into Newcastle

women only integration sessions

Newcastle United Foundation run community football matchesfor unemployed people, refugees and migrants aged 18 to 29 years. It includes an employability support drop in.

Education: University Sanctuary Scholarships

Newcastle University has scholarships. The scholarships include full tuition fees and living expenses. They are for people seeking asylum in the UK and people from refugee backgrounds. You can apply for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate level programmes.

Family tracing services

British Red Cross support refugees with: case work, family reunion support and family tracing.

Salvation Army has a family tracing service. You can email, complete their online form or print it and return by post to begin the process. You need to provide some basic information about the person or people you are looking for such as, their name, date of birth, and last known address.

Food support

Visit InformationNOW to find where and how you can get free or cheap food in Newcastle.

NHS Healthy Start Scheme is for people who are pregnant or have children under the age of 4, who receive certain benefits. You get a free prepaid card to buy: milk, fruit and vegetables. You can also get free vitamins. People who don't have recourse to public funds can now apply to the Healthy Start Scheme. To apply you must:

have a child, or more than one child, under 4 years old

your family's take-home pay is less than £408 per month; and

you're excluded from claiming public funds because of your immigration status or lack of immigration status

Free school meals

The government has temporarily extended free school meals to families with no recourse to public funds during the coronavirus pandemic. They're available to children whose parents receive certain benefits and are at:

government funded schools, full time, up to the age of 19,

or in a nursery class or nursery school and attending for full days.

Find out if you're eligible for free school meals and how to apply on Newcastle.gov.uk
Hate crime or abuse

A hate crime is any act of violence, aggression, prejudice or hostility directed at you because of your:

Read more on InformationNOW about help if you are a victim of hate crime.

Contact Community Health & Social Care Direct if you are worried about the abuse or neglect of an adult in Newcastle. Read more about adult abuse and domestic abuse on InformationNOW.

Health services

You can read a full list of health services you can use Newcastle. This includes:

translation services

registering with a doctor

maternity services

mental health support

emergency services and urgent treatment

Housing support

While you are waiting a decision on your asylum claim, you can apply for financial support and housing from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). This is part of the Home Office.

The council is not responsible for placing or accommodating asylum seekers. Mears is the housing provider for the North East. Contact Migrant Help if you have any problems with housing or financial support.

Housing if you get refugee leave to remain

If you get refugee leave or some other form of leave to remain, you have to leave your asylum accommodation. You should be told 28 days in advance of the date you must leave. The teams below will help you to find a new place to live:

Action Letting rent properties to new refugees at risk of homelessness. They help single refugees access private rented housing in flexible and affordable ways

Housing help if you do not get refugee status

Action Housing provide supported accommodation for destitute asylum seekers, with no recourse to public funds.

Night Stop North East gives homeless people aged 16 years +, a place to stay in a trained volunteers' home for the night across Whitely Bay, Cumbria and Middlesbrough. This emergency accommodation is arranged on a night by night basis. Ring the helpline. Young people receive a private room, warm meal and somewhere safe to stay for the night, while Depaul UK look for a more permanent solution.
Read more below on support for refused asylum seekers.
Hong Kong Nationals

Are you a Hong Kong British National (Overseas) adult? Support is available for you and your dependants if you have been granted leave on the British National (Overseas) visa (sometimes called BNO). They will help you to access public services and to take up opportunities in the UK. Read the Welcome Guide on Gov.uk

Citizens Advice Newcastle offer free, confidential and independent support to people who've recently moved to the North East from Hong Kong. They can give advice on housing, employment, health care, schools and other issues.

Barnardo's run the free Boloh helpline until 30 June 2022 for Hong Kong Nationals.

North East Hongkongers Club support new arrivals from Hong Kong to settle into British society. They offer financial assistance to Hongkongers and their dependants who are suffering financial hardship

Immigration advice

Library of Sanctuary

Newcastle City Library and Community Hub is a Library of Sanctuary, which means it's a safe space for refugees and asylum seekers to visit. It provides free access to library and computer services, as well as family activities, community language resources and dedicated Library of Sanctuary books. Inside the building are:

Legal advice

Citizen's Advice Newcastle (CAN) give free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information on a wide range of subjects including benefits, housing, employment, legal matters, immigration and family and personal matters.

Read more on InformationNOW about where to get legal advice.

LGBTQ+ Support

Rainbow Home support LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or other members of the LGBTQ community) asylum seekers and refugees. They can help you:

with your asylum case and through the asylum process

record the evidence you need for your asylum claim

They offer social and emotional support in one to one or group sessions in a safe space, confidential sexual health support and mental health support.

Social and physical activity

The Comfrey Project has allotments in Newcastle and Gateshead. You can get involved in gardening to help improve your wellbeing.

North East Solidarity and Teaching (NEST) runs English sessions and a program of community integration activities including arts, sports and field trips.

Crossings Community Group is a music making and learning group. They meet most Monday evenings. They have a choir, an open music jam session, guitar learning, violin learning and children's choir. With opportunities to learn and perform. It is free and open to everyone.

Angelou Centre provides support for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) women. They run a café, cookery club, older women's group, and social and creative activities

Curious Monkey's Arriving project is a group for refugees and asylum seekers to do creative activities together. You can learn news skills. You can take part in: drama workshops and performances: online Zoom socials to catch up and practice English: theatre visits once a month. sharing food together. Help with travel costs is available.

West End Refugee Service WERS Garden Project meets every 2 weeks, Mondays 10am to 1pm. You can volunteer to become a buddy

Welcome to Badminton runs regular badminton sessions for fun, to make friends, learn new skills and keep healthy. No experience needed. All equipment is provided. Visit their Facebook page for more information on venues, days and times.
There are lots of places in Newcastle to be active. Visit InformationNOW to find:
Fitness activities: This is a full list of all of gyms and leisure centres in Newcastle. There is a cost for these services.
Swimming pools Events and activities
Survivors of torture

Freedom from Torture help asylum seekers and refugees who have survived torture recover and rebuild their lives in the UK. They offer:

specialist psychological therapy to help with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, nightmares, flashbacks, complex trauma, depression and other mental health needs

creative group activities like music and gardening, social groups and physical therapy

practical information and advice on accessing housing and healthcare

interpreters to translate for therapy sessions

training for professionals working with torture survivors

Victim Support helps people affected by crime and traumatic events. They provide individual, independent, emotional and practical help to you to cope and recover from the effects of crime. Support is free and available to everyone, whether or not the crime has been reported and regardless of when it happened.

Survivors of rape, gender based or sexual violence

They offer: face-to-face counselling, telephone helpline, email support, group work, specialist information and practical and emotional support.

Angelou Centre support black minoritsed and ethnic women in Newcastle who are, survivors of Honour Based Violence, Forced Marriage, 21st Century Slavery, Domestic Abuse and Trafficking. This includes counselling and accommodation.

IKWRO provides advice and support to Middle Eastern and North African women and girls living in the UK who are facing Forced Marriage, Child Marriage, "Honour" Based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation and Domestic Violence. They offer advice in Farsi, Dari, Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish, Pashto and English and run a free counselling service in Farsi, Kurdish, Arabic and English.

Ukrainian support

Opora is an online support hub for Ukrainians in the UK. They offer direct assistance to Ukrainian arrivals from, travel, baby supplies and tailored employment opportunities and business grants for long-term sustainable support. They also help Ukrainians find UK sponsors for the Government Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Read Newcastle City Council's website for more information on support for Ukrainians.
Victims of human trafficking or modern slavery

Human trafficking and slavery is a crime. If you have been brought to the UK and forced to work as a servant, prostitute or carrying out criminal activity, support is available.

In an emergency or if your life is in danger call the Police on 999.

Contact Community Health & Social Care Direct if you are worried that an adult is being abused in Newcastle. Read more about adult abuse and exploitation and domestic abuse on InformationNOW.

Migrant Help provide specialist support to keep you safe, including accommodation, counselling, help to reconnect with your family and getting new identification documents. You can talk to them if you feel there is a risk to you or your family's health and wellbeing. This can be to report suspected child neglect, domestic violence, sexual harassment or exploitation, anti-social behaviour, destitution or homelessness or suspected extremism or radicalisation

Angelou Centre support black minoritised and ethnic women in Newcastle who are, survivors of Honour Based Violence, Forced Marriage, 21st Century Slavery, Domestic Abuse and Trafficking. This includes counselling and accommodation.

Salvation Army give specialist support for adults forced into modern day slavery. This includes a confidential 24 hour a day helpline, support fund and mentoring. They can help to find family members.

Victim Support helps people affected by crime and traumatic events. They provide individual, independent, emotional and practical help to you to cope and recover from the effects of crime. Support is free and available to everyone, whether or not the crime has been reported and regardless of when it happened. They can help you if you've been a victim of any crime.

Modern slavery & exploitation helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7 UK national Helpline with advice and help for everyone. This helpline is provided by the anti-slavery charity Unseen.

Volunteering

You can volunteer your time and skills to help others. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, learn new skills, practice English and do something you enjoy. There are lots of volunteer roles in Newcastle. You can volunteer as soon as you arrive in the UK. You don't need 'leave to remain' or refugee status to volunteer.

Volunteer Centre Newcastle can help you find a volunteer role that interests you.

Read more about volunteering on InformationNOW.

Women only services

Angelou Centre provides women only support for black and minoritised women across the North East. This includes:

information and advice

training and employment support

counselling

supporting survivors of Honour Based Violence, Forced Marriage, 21st Century Slavery, Domestic Abuse and Trafficking

accommodation for survivors of abuse or violence

access to computers and classes

English as a second language courses (ESOL)

services for women who have no recourse to public funds

West End Women and Girls help women and girls to develop skills and confidence. Their services include:

First Step offer support and health sessions, English and computing classes, information about health and care systems in Newcastle.

Help if you are refused asylum

The West End Refugee Service (WERS) support destitute asylum seekers in the West end of Newcastle. They can help with:

advice, counselling and befriending

free clothing

emergency hardship fund

personal case support

welfare support and cash payments for destitute asylum seekers

North East Refugee Service (NERS) support destitute asylum seekers when applying for 'section 4 support'. This is the support available if you are a refused asylum seeker.

British Red Cross can give short term cash payments to people experiencing destitution throughout the asylum process. For example, if your Aspen card or benefits are delayed, while you wait for a decisions on section 4 application or a new claim for asylum. Support includes, cash payments for up to 12 weeks, travel tickets for Home office appointments and one off maternity payments for women.

Action Foundation can provide supported accommodation for destitute asylum seekers with no recourse to public funds

Angelou Centre support women who have no recourse to public funds.

Health services for refused asylum seekers

If you are a refused asylum seekers, you may have to pay for some health care. This includes if you are homeless or destitute. However, these services are still free:
Read more on InformationNOW about help available to use health services.
How to help charities supporting refugees and asylum seekers

Charities rely on volunteers and donations of money or essential items to support the people who need it. You can find out how to donate to charities to help refugees and asylum seekers on InformationNOW or contact any of the charities listed on this page to see how you can help.

The services listed on this page are provided by organisations independent to the council. We update this information regularly, but opening times and availability can change. Before attending a session we recommend you check it is running and that you're eligible to receive the service. Some services are only for adults or rough sleepers. Please note there may be a limit to the number of times you can access a service due to high demands in Newcastle. You can read more about InformationNOW's Terms and Conditions.

Acknowledgements

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Support for Asylum Seekers and Refugees - Information Now

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Newcastle City Council is a recognised City of Sanctuary, committed to welcoming people seeking sanctuary and helping them to rebuild their lives. Read more about the asylum process in Newcastle on www.newcastle.gov.uk. There are a local services that support both [...]