Refugees and asylum seekers - help and advice

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In Suffolk there are a number of organisations who provide advice and support to refugees and asylum seekers, including:

The Refugee Council
4-8 Museum Street
Ipswich
IP4 1JE
Telephone: 01473 221560
Telephone helpline: 01473 297900 (for individuals or agencies with queries relating to asylum issues)
Web: www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/howwehelp/directly/main/ipswich
National site: www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/
The Refugee Council provide free advice and information to refugees and asylum seekers in their own language through their One Stop Services. Clients can discuss any problems they may have as an asylum seeker or refugee including the asylum process and support and entitlement. The Refugee Council mulitlingual information leaflet, 'Are you destitute and at the end of the asylum process?', has been updated to reflect changes in legislation and procedures and is available in 19 languages: http://languages.refugeecouncil.org.uk/english/index.htm

Suffolk Refugee Support Forum

38 St Matthews Street
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 3EP
Telephone: 01473 400785
SRSF provide advice and support to refugees and asylum seekers living in Suffolk. They are a charity based in Ipswich but help refugees and asylum seekers all over Suffolk. There are drop in sessions in Ipswich on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays (9.30 - 16.30).

Suffolk Refugee Support Forum is also hosting an employment legal advice surgery every other Tuesday between 10am and 1pm at their office in St Matthew's Street.

The service is provided by Jonathan Tozer of Attwells Solicitors. Initial advice is free and if a case is taken to tribunal it will be on a no win, no fee basis. Jonathan will offer advice re. employment rights, injury at work and discrimination etc.

No appointment necessary is necessary, anyone wishing to use the service can just drop-in. This service will be open to all, with priority at busy times given to refugees and asylum seekers.

The Suffolk Refugee Support Forum are also hosting an additional advisory service to people living in Suffolk.  This service is available on Mondays and is provided by the Immigration Advisory Service.  Advice is free to people who are eligible otherwise modest fees are payable under the cost recovery service.

Immigration Advisory Service
4 Rigby’s Court
Norwich
NR2  1NT
Tel:  01603 666661
Fax:  01603 628026
web:  www.iasuk.org

The Immigration Advisory Service is an independent voluntary organisation with nearly 40 years experience in providing confidential, legal help to anyone refused entry to or permission to remain in the United Kingdom for any reason, including those who are claiming asylum.  The Immigration Advisory Service helps people who are subject to immigration controls including asylum seekers, visitors, students, spouses, fiancés, EEA nationals, work permit holders, working holidaymakers, dependant relatives and people in prison threatened with deportation.  The Immigration Advisory Service provides initial legal advice and representation at first stage appeals before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal as well as applications for reconsideration, applications for judicial review and appeals to the higher courts.
 

Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equality (ISCRE)
46A St Matthew's Street
Ipswich
IP1 1TE
Telephone: 01473 408111
Web: www.iscre.org.uk/Home%20Page.asp?nid=154&pid=159
National site: www.cehr.org.uk/
ISCRE provides information, advice and support of a non-financial nature to individuals and families who have experienced, or are experiencing, racial discrimination/harassment or race-related difficulties in circumstances where such information, advice and support are not readily available from other local agencies. They also provide information, advice and training on equality and diversity to employers and service providers.

CSV Media
CSV Media Clubhouse – Ipswich
The Point
120 Princes Street
Ipswich
IP1 1RS
Telephone: 01473 418 014
Fax: 01473 287 138
Email: ipswichmch@csv.org.uk
Web: www.mediaclubhouse.org.uk/
Community Service Volunteers (CSV) is the UK's largest volunteering and training organisation. The Clubhouse in Ipswich is a large digital multimedia centre with music and community art facilities. Amongst CSV's activities is work with Millenium Volunteers, the hosting of Ipswich Communiy Radio and provision of Information, Advice and Guidance sessions.

Suffolk Inter Faith Resource (SIFRE)
The SIFRE Centre
Long Street Building
University Campus Suffolk
Rope Walk
Ipswich
IP4 1LT
Telephone: 01473 343661
Email: aa@sifre.org.uk
Web: http://www.sifre.org.uk/
SIFRE was established in 1994 by a group of people representing the faiths and cultures of the residents of Ipswich and Suffolk. Their intent is to promote understanding between people of different faiths and to provide a means by which those who wish to increase their understanding of the different faiths have easy and ready access to that possibility.

British Red Cross
15 Chevallier St
Ipswich
IP1 2PF
Telephone: 01473 219260
Web: www.redcross.org.uk
The work undertaken by the Red Cross in this area includes providing support to refugees and asylum seekers from their centre in Chevallier Street.

Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB)
19 Tower Street
IPSWICH
Suffolk
IP1 3BE
Telephone: 01473 219777
Web: www.ipswichcab.org.uk
The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers. Above are the details of the Ipswich CAB, but there are also CAB offices around the county, find your nearest one using this link: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm


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