Responding to the challenges and needs of refugee and asylum-seeking adults
This page serves as a resource centre tailored to the needs and unique experiences of refugee and asylum-seeking adults settling in the UK. It addresses challenges related to immigration status; the safeguarding of human rights and welfare; access to housing, healthcare (including mental health and wellbeing support), and social care; education, training and employment opportunities; as well as language barriers to integration and other challenges to social inclusion.
Managing these challenges is essential to support refugees and asylum seekers as they rebuild their lives. Ensuring secure immigration status and the protection of human rights provides stability and a sense of safety. Access to adequate housing, healthcare, and mental health support helps individuals maintain wellbeing and participate more fully in daily life. Social care support reduces vulnerability, while access to education, training, and employment opportunities allows individuals to develop skills and enables independence. Overcoming language barriers further enhances communication and social interaction, making it easier to engage with services and local communities. Collectively, addressing these challenges fosters inclusion, independence, and active participation in society, which are key components of effective social integration.
Follow the links below to access the resources.
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After you get refugee status. Advice & information. Citizen Advice.
Useful advice and information for young refugees, care leavers, parents, and carers about the support available after receiving refugee status, including housing, benefits, education, and settling in the UK.
Asylum decision-making guidance (asylum instructions). Collection. UK Visas & Immigration. UK Government.
Guidance on how asylum decisions are made, including specific information relating to asylum-seeking adults, children, young people, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, safeguarding, and age assessment processes.
Asylum Information Guide. Scottish Refugee Council (2025).
The guide provides practical information for people seeking asylum in the UK. It explains the asylum process, legal rights and responsibilities, housing and financial support, healthcare, education, and access to local support services. It is designed to help asylum seekers better understand the procedures and resources available while navigating the UK asylum system.
Asylum Intake Unit. Asylum screening. UK Visas & Immigration, UK Government.
Information about the UK asylum screening process, including guidance on safeguarding and support for asylum-seeking adults, children, young people, and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children entering the asylum system.
Best practice guide to asylum and human rights appeals: Contents. Henderson, M., Moffatt, R., & Pickup, A. (Revised 2023 Edition). Electronic Immigration Network, EIN.
This document provides detailed guidance on preparing and presenting asylum and human rights appeals in the UK. It covers legal procedures, evidence gathering, case preparation, advocacy strategies, and tribunal processes, serving as a practical resource for legal practitioners and advisers working in immigration and refugee law.
Conducting asylum interviews: Caseworker guidance. UK Visas & Immigration. UK Government.
The document provides guidance for immigration caseworkers on how to carry out fair, sensitive, and effective asylum interviews. It outlines procedures for questioning applicants, assessing credibility, ensuring confidentiality, identifying vulnerabilities, and complying with legal and human rights standards during the asylum decision-making process.
Information booklet for asylum applications. Guidance. UK Visas and Immigration. UK Government.
The booklet provides essential information for individuals applying for asylum in the UK. It explains the asylum application process, applicants’ rights and responsibilities, interview procedures, available support services, and what to expect while a claim is being considered. It is intended to help asylum seekers understand the legal process and access appropriate support during their application.
JustRight Scotland (JRS)
JustRight Scotland is a Scottish charity that provides specialist legal advice, representation, advocacy, and rights-based support for refugees, migrants, and people seeking asylum, including vulnerable children, young people, and families in Scotland.
The charity offers dedicated support to unaccompanied children and other vulnerable young people navigating the UK immigration and asylum system, including asylum claims, family reunification, and human rights-related matters.
In addition to providing direct legal representation, JustRight Scotland campaigns and advises on policy and law reform to protect the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children and vulnerable young people affected by displacement.
Protecting refugees in the UK. Guidance. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, UK.
UNHCR, UK provides guidance on the rights and protection of refugees and asylum seekers in the United Kingdom. The document outlines international refugee protection principles, the UK asylum system, legal safeguards, and the role of UNHCR in supporting individuals seeking safety from persecution, conflict, or human rights abuses.
Right to Remain - Toolkit
Right to Remain is a UK-based organisation that provides free, practical guidance and resources about the immigration and asylum system. It helps refugees and asylum seekers, including children and young people, understand their legal rights, navigate the asylum process, and access essential support services.
Right to Remain produces the Toolkit, which provides step-by-step guidance on the UK asylum and immigration system. It is designed to help refugee and asylum-seeking adults and children understand the legal process. It provides expert-informed information from those who have experience of the system, including lawyers, community groups, and people who have gone through it themselves. The toolkit covers different stages of the asylum and immigration process, explaining rights, options, and practical steps adults and children or those supporting them can take to navigate the system effectively.
The Right to Remain Toolkit website is regularly updated. Readers can stay informed about major changes to the asylum and immigration system and updates to the guide, by visiting the Legal Updates website.
Additional information about the asylum and immigration system is available through legal information videos on the organisation’s YouTube Channel and in a number of languages.
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After you get refugee status. Advice & information. Citizen Advice.
Useful advice and information for young refugees, care leavers, parents, and carers about the support available after receiving refugee status, including housing, benefits, education, and settling in the UK.
Asylum helplines. Advice & support. UK Visas & Immigration, UK Government.
Help is available by phone for asylum applicants and refugees who need advice about the asylum process, housing issues, financial support, adapting to life in the UK, or integrating into their local community, including accessing services, education, employment, and everyday life.
Asylum seekers with care needs: Caseworkers guidance. UK Visas & Immigration. UK Government.
This provides guidance for caseworkers on identifying and supporting asylum seekers who have physical, mental health, disability, or social care needs. The document outlines procedures for assessing vulnerabilities, coordinating with local authorities and healthcare services, and ensuring that individuals receive appropriate care and support throughout the asylum process.
Asylum support: Overview & guidance. UK Visas & Immigration, UK Government.
Asylum seekers and their family may be entitled to support including housing, financial assistance, free state school and health care from the National Health Service (NHS) to help them while waiting to find out if they will be given asylum.
Asylum support: UK rights and expectations. Guidance. Home Office. UK Government.
This provides guidance for asylum seekers on the support available while their claim is being processed in the UK. The document explains eligibility for housing and financial assistance, reporting responsibilities, behavioural expectations, access to healthcare and education, and the conditions applicants must follow while receiving asylum support.
Best practice guide to asylum and human rights appeals: Contents. Henderson, M., Moffatt, R., & Pickup, A. (Revised 2023 Edition). Electronic Immigration Network, EIN.
This document provides detailed guidance on preparing and presenting asylum and human rights appeals in the UK. It covers legal procedures, evidence gathering, case preparation, advocacy strategies, and tribunal processes, serving as a practical resource for legal practitioners and advisers working in immigration and refugee law.
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross is the UK's largest independent provider of support for refugees and people seeking asylum, including children. This includes emergency help, one-to-one casework, one-off support, and signposting about where to get help.
The organisation also provides other services including family reunion, tracing missing family, sexual and gender based-violence support, anti-trafficking support and advice and many more.
In addition, British Red Cross offers psychosocial support through its mental health team including free mental health resources and information on its website.
Access British Red Cross services available in specific regions across the UK.
Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB)
CFAB is a UK-based charity and a member of the International Social Service (ISS), an international network of social workers, lawyers, child protection professionals, and partner organisations. The charity supports children and families across borders, with a focus on child protection and family reunification.
CFAB works to ensure that children who have been separated from their families due to divorce, forced migration, asylum seeking, or trafficking, receive the care and protection they need.
Claiming Universal Credit and other benefits if you are a refugee. Guidance. Department for Work & Pensions. UK Government.
This document provides guidance for refugees on accessing welfare benefits in the UK. It explains eligibility for Universal Credit and other financial support, how to apply, required documentation, and the assistance available to help refugees transition from asylum support to mainstream benefits and employment.
The Helen Bamber Foundation
The Helen Bamber Foundation is a UK-based human rights charity that supports child and adult survivors of trafficking, torture, and other forms of extreme trauma. Its core mission centres on protecting survivors of torture, trafficking, conflict, and exploitation, while advocating for their rights and ensuring their safety and dignity.
A key aspect of the foundation’s work is its therapeutic, trauma-informed approach. It provides specialised psychological support, including counselling and mental health services, to help survivors recover from the effects of violence, war, and displacement. These therapeutic programmes are designed to promote emotional wellbeing, resilience, and long-term recovery.
In addition to mental health support, the foundation offers holistic assistance by helping service users access legal representation, education, safe housing, and essential welfare services. This integrated approach ensures that their immediate needs are met while also supporting their long-term integration and stability.
Legal framework, social welfare provision, and housing for asylum seekers in the UK. Home Office, UK Government.
In the UK, housing for asylum seekers, including children, is funded by the government and managed by the Home Office which contracts private companies to manages and maintain properties. The UK government has a legal duty to provide asylum support including accommodation under several Acts of Parliament, financial assistance, free state school and health care from the National Health Service (NHS) to help them while waiting to find out if they will be given asylum.
The Children Act 1989 requires local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, including providing accommodation for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children as children in care. In practice, local authorities are responsible for delivering this care, arranging suitable housing, assigning social workers, and creating care plans to ensure the children’s safety and wellbeing.
The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 requires the government to provide housing and basic financial support to asylum-seeking families who cannot support themselves.
The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 ensures that young people who have been in care continue to receive support with accommodation as they move into adulthood.
Alongside this, organisations such as Migrant Help play a support and advisory role, helping families and children apply for housing, understand their entitlements, and resolve issues with accommodation. In certain cases, such as victims of trafficking or modern slavery, Migrant Help may also directly provide safe, specialist accommodation and tailored support.
Local Government Association, LGA. Resources and support: Refugees, asylum seekers & unaccompanied children.
Local Government Association provides practical information and support for local authorities working with displaced people. It outlines responsibilities and best practices for supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, including access to housing, safeguarding, education, health services, and multi-agency coordination.
Migrant Help - Youth Welfare Project
Migrant Help is a welfare and advisory charity that supports refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable children including victims of modern slavery, human trafficking, and other vulnerable migrants.
Migrant Help runs the Youth Welfare Project in collaboration with a number of specialist organisations and charities across the UK. Migrant Help coordinates and supports the Youth Welfare Project, overseeing delivery, guiding Youth Welfare Officers, facilitating referrals, and ensuring consistent, trauma-informed support for asylum-seeking young people.
The project provides a youth work–style, trauma-informed approach, supporting refugee and asylum-seeking young people aged 18–25 to navigate the asylum process and address mental health challenges. Youth Welfare Officers offer guidance, tailored activities, and opportunities, helping young people access education, healthcare, community networks, and essential social and emotional support.
The Youth Welfare Project is delivered locally through the following partner organisations:
London– Young Roots
Sheffield – Children and Young People’s Empowerment Projects (Chilypep)
Stockport– Stockport– Stockport Race Equality Partnership (S-REP)
Wales – TGP Cymru
Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation. Guidelines. Home Office, Department for Education, & Department of Health & Social Care. UK Government.
The document provides guidance for professionals across health, education, and social services on identifying, preventing, and responding to female genital mutilation (FGM). It explains legal duties, safeguarding responsibilities, risk indicators, reporting procedures, and coordinated multi-agency approaches to protect individuals at risk and support affected women and girls.
No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) - Support for migrant families in England: A quick assessment tool.
The Tool was developed by the No Recourse to Public Funds Network and the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society at the University of Oxford. It helps determine whether someone without access to public funds may still be eligible for local authority support, such as social services, housing assistance, or immigration advice.
Protecting refugees in the UK. Guidance. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, UK.
UNHCR, UK provides guidance on the rights and protection of refugees and asylum seekers in the United Kingdom. The document outlines international refugee protection principles, the UK asylum system, legal safeguards, and the role of UNHCR in supporting individuals seeking safety from persecution, conflict, or human rights abuses.
Refugees, asylum and human rights: Services. UK Government.
This is an overview of the support and services available to refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. It explains how individuals can access housing, financial assistance, healthcare, legal advice, and integration support, as well as outlining their rights under asylum and human rights law.
Refugee Council
The Refugee Council provides nationwide support for refugee and asylum-seeking children and adults, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC). These include mental health support, age assessments, education access, and helping them rebuild their lives in the UK.
Their Help for Refugees and People Seeking Asylum page offers information and support across categories such as advice, housing, education, children, and young people. Services and projects can be searched by keyword, location, or type of service.
The organisation offers comprehensive mental health support to refugees and asylum seekers across the UK through its various services and projects, including one-to-one counselling, therapeutic support for unaccompanied children and families, psychoeducation workshops and many more.
In addition, they offer the Refugees into Jobs service that provides advice on employment for refugees across the UK.
Safeguarding women and girls at risk of FGM: Guidance. Department of Health & Social Care. UK Government.
This document provides guidance for health and care professionals on identifying and responding to risks of female genital mutilation (FGM). It outlines safeguarding responsibilities, clinical indicators of FGM, reporting requirements, and procedures for offering protection, support, and referral to appropriate specialist services for women and girls at risk or affected.
Safe Passage International
Safe Passage is a charity that supports refugee children, particularly unaccompanied minors access to safe and legal routes to protection and family reunion across the UK, France, and Greece. It is primarily a children’s refugee charity, though it also supports some young people and families affected by displacement and war.
In the UK, it provides specialist legal support and assistance to help children safely reunite with their families, navigate complex asylum and immigration procedures, and access their rights under UK and international law.
The organisation also works on family reunion applications and provides related legal representation. In addition to its direct casework, Safe Passage campaigns to improve policies and raise awareness of the challenges faced by refugee children, promoting a safer and fairer system for vulnerable young people.
Sanctuary, Safety and Solidarity: A guide for service providers supporting LGBT asylum seekers and refugees. Equality Network & Scottish Trans. (2021).
This is a practical guidance resource for organisations working with LGBT asylum seekers and refugees. It outlines best practice for providing inclusive, safe, and culturally sensitive support, including understanding asylum claims based on sexual orientation or gender identity, addressing discrimination and trauma, and ensuring access to appropriate legal, housing, and health services.
The Scottish Refugee Council
The Scottish Refugee Council is a Scottish charity that provides practical support and advice to refugees and asylum seekers to help them rebuild their lives in Scotland.
The Scottish Refugee Council provides direct support services for refugees and people seeking asylum in Scotland. These services offer practical help, advice, and advocacy on issues such as housing, benefits, education, healthcare, employment, and integration into society.
In addition to its direct, face-to-face services, the organisation also provides a range of online resources in various languages through its website. These include resources specifically designed for newly granted refugees, which help individuals understand their rights and access essential services after receiving refugee status. There are also resources for people who have been refused asylum, offering guidance on their options and where to seek further support.
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Action for Community and Housing (ACH)
Action for Community and Housing, also known as Ashley Community & Housing, is a non-profit social enterprise widely recognised for its housing and integration support services. It supports refugees and migrants to build fulfilling, independent lives across the West of England and the Midlands, including in cities such as Birmingham, Bristol, Coventry, and Wolverhampton.
ACH provides supported housing and helps individuals access safe accommodation while transitioning into independent living through its accommodation and housing support services. It offers safe, shared, fully furnished accommodation for single adults with low to medium support needs. In addition, it provides a small number of non-supported homes, as well as limited emergency accommodation for people in urgent need.
Action Foundation
Action Foundation is a Newcastle upon Tyne–based charity that supports refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrants across Tyne and Wear who are experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability.
Action Foundation supports refugees and asylum seekers by providing supported accommodation through its Action Housing project, offering safe housing to destitute individuals with no access to public funds who would otherwise face homelessness or be forced to sleep rough. It also helps refugees access private rented housing through its Action Letting scheme, working with landlords to secure affordable and flexible homes, particularly for those who need to move on quickly after leaving asylum accommodation upon gaining refugee status.
A housing practitioner's guide to integrating people seeking protection and refugees. Guide. McPhil, G. (2021). Scottish Refugee Council and Scottish Government.
This document provides practical guidance for housing professionals supporting refugees and asylum seekers. It focuses on best practices for securing accommodation, preventing homelessness, promoting integration, and working collaboratively with local services to support sustainable settlement and community inclusion.
Housing advice. Universal credit: Immigration and residence conditions. Shelter, England.
An online policy and advice guidance page on how immigration status affects access to Universal Credit and housing support. It explains eligibility rules, including residence conditions and “right to reside” requirements, and outlines how these factors influence access to housing assistance, benefits, and homelessness support for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in the UK.
Housing and the older ethnic minority population in England. Briefing paper. de Noronha, N. (2019). Race Equality Foundation & Housing Learning and Improvement Network, HLIN.
This is a briefing paper that explores housing inequalities faced by older ethnic minority people in England. It highlights issues such as poor housing conditions, discrimination, barriers to accessing appropriate accommodation, and the need for culturally sensitive and inclusive housing policies and services to improve later-life housing outcomes.
Housing. Housing guidance webpage. Scottish Refugee Council.
Scottish Refugee Council provides updated online housing information explaining people’s rights if they are homeless or have nowhere to live, as well as how the homelessness application process works.
Legal framework, social welfare provision, and housing for asylum seekers in the UK. Home Office, UK Government.
In the UK, housing for asylum seekers, including children, is funded by the government and managed by the Home Office which contracts private companies to manages and maintain properties. The UK government has a legal duty to provide asylum support, including accommodation under several Acts of Parliament, financial assistance, free state school and health care from the National Health Service (NHS) to help them while waiting to find out if they will be given asylum.
The Children Act 1989 requires local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, including providing accommodation for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children as children in care. In practice, local authorities are responsible for delivering this care, arranging suitable housing, assigning social workers, and creating care plans to ensure the children’s safety and wellbeing.
The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 requires the government to provide housing and basic financial support to asylum-seeking families who cannot support themselves.
The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 ensures that young people who have been in care continue to receive support with accommodation as they move into adulthood.
Alongside this, organisations such as Migrant Help play a support and advisory role, helping families and children apply for housing, understand their entitlements, and resolve issues with accommodation. In certain cases, such as victims of trafficking or modern slavery, Migrant Help may also directly provide safe, specialist accommodation and tailored support.
Living in dispersal accommodation. Guide. Home Office. UK Government.
This is a guidance document for asylum seekers placed in dispersal housing under the UK asylum support system. It explains what to expect when living in this type of accommodation, including housing conditions, tenancy rules, available support services, responsibilities of residents, and how accommodation is allocated and managed during the asylum process. It is available in a number of languages.
No Accommodation Network (NACCOM)
The No Accommodation Network is a UK-wide network of charities and community organisations working to end destitution among refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants who cannot access public funds.
Through its members, NACCOM helps to provide safe and temporary accommodation, as well as practical and emotional support for people experiencing homelessness and hardship within the UK asylum and immigration system. Many of the individuals supported have ‘no recourse to public funds’, leaving them at risk of destitution and exploitation.
Pathways to Independence UK
Pathways to Independence UK is a Brighton-based youth charity supporting vulnerable young people and young adults aged 14–25, including care leavers, unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors, and those experiencing social exclusion or housing instability.
Originally providing specialist supported accommodation, the organisation now focuses on mentoring, outreach, creative projects, and trauma-informed safe spaces to build confidence, life skills, and a sense of community. Through partnerships and advocacy, Pathways to Independence UK amplifies young people’s voices, promotes inclusion, and helps them transition successfully into adulthood, fostering belonging and connection across the communities it serves.
Race Equality Foundation (REF)
The Race Equality Foundation is a national charity that aims to tackle racism in UK society and to positively transform the lives of ethnically diverse populations, including refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.
The foundation aims to improve the health and care of this population by producing briefings, reports, and running projects such as the Better Health project. The project seeks to develop a national evidence-based resource to help health practitioners improve service provision for ethnically diverse communities and integrate race equality in their day-to-day work.
Key areas of REF’s work include health and social care, children and families, housing, and community. Follow the links below to access briefings and reports on these areas.
Refugees at Home
Refugees at Home is a UK-based charity that connects refugees and asylum seekers who need a place to stay with volunteer hosts who have a spare room in their home. The organisation’s goal is to provide short-term accommodation to those who would otherwise be homeless or living in unsafe or unsuitable conditions.
Refugees at Home offers services including host matching, home visits, and safeguarding, and provides ongoing support to both hosts and guests during the placement. The charity also raises awareness of the housing challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.
Room For Refugees
Room for Refugees is a community-hosting network and the longest-established refugee hosting programme in the UK. It offers safe, temporary homes and pastoral support for insecurely housed refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable people by matching them with households that have spare rooms or properties available.
The network is run by Positive Action in Housing, a Glasgow-based charity that supports refugees, asylum seekers and migrants experiencing homelessness, poverty and destitution.
Shelter
Shelter is a UK housing and homelessness charity that works to ensure everyone, including refugees and asylum seekers, has a safe, stable, and affordable home. The charity supports refugees and asylum seekers by providing housing advice and guidance, helping them access accommodation and understand their housing rights, rather than directly providing housing.
Shelter also campaigns for policy reform to address the root causes of housing insecurity. It supports professionals in the housing sector by providing expert guidance to those working with individuals facing housing challenges.
Shelter operates local hubs across England, offering in-person support to individuals and families in housing crisis, including help with housing applications, negotiations with landlords, and referrals to other support services.
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Access to healthcare. A guide for organisations working with people seeking asylum. Equality & Human Rights Commission. (2019).
This is a resource for service providers supporting asylum seekers. It explains how asylum seekers can access healthcare services in the UK, particularly the National Health Service (NHS), and outlines legal rights, and entitlements. The guide also supports organisations in helping asylum seekers overcome barriers to healthcare and ensuring equal and non-discriminatory access to medical services.
Female genital mutilation (FMG): Migrant health guide. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. UK Government.
This is a clinical and public health guidance resource for healthcare professionals. It provides information on identifying, safeguarding, and supporting individuals affected by or at risk of FGM, including health consequences, clinical management, safeguarding procedures, and culturally sensitive approaches to care and prevention.
Forced Migration and Mental Health. Special Edition. Tribe, R., Farsimadan, F., & Marshall, C. (2022), (eds.), International Review of Psychiatry,34,6.
This is a themed journal issue that explores the mental health impacts of forced migration. It brings together research on trauma, displacement, asylum experiences, and access to mental health care and highlights culturally informed, evidence-based approaches to supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
Forced migration: Psychosocial services and interventions including the role of education. Special Issue. Marshall, C., Farsimadan, F., & Tribe, R. (Eds.). (2023). Displaced Voices: A Journal of Migration, Archives and Cultural Heritage, 3, 1.
This is a special issue focusing on psychosocial support for people affected by forced migration. It examines mental health interventions, community-based support, and the role of education in promoting wellbeing, recovery, and social integration for refugees and asylum seekers.
Guidance for clinicians when working with refugees and asylum seekers. Guidance article. Tribe, R. & Farsimadan, F. (2022). International Review of Psychiatry, 34,6.
The article provides practical clinical guidance for supporting refugees and asylum seekers in mental health and healthcare settings, with a focus on trauma-informed and culturally responsive care. It emphasises that effective care requires not only clinical skill but also awareness of the broader legal, social, and cultural context impacting refugees’ mental health.
Guidelines for psychologists working with refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. Extended version. British Psychological Society. (2018).
The guidelines emphasise trauma-informed, culturally responsive and ethically grounded practice, highlighting the need to understand the impact of pre-migration trauma, forced displacement, and post-migration stressors such as detention, uncertainty, and social isolation. The guidelines stress building trust, working sensitively with interpreters, and adapting assessment and intervention approaches that are flexible and culturally appropriate. They also underline the importance of safeguarding, maintaining professional boundaries, and avoiding re-traumatisation during clinical work.
Guidelines for psychologists working with refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. A summary. British Psychological Society. (2018).
The summary version of the guidelines also advise psychologists to provide trauma-informed and culturally sensitive care for refugees and asylum seekers, adapting assessment and intervention to account for displacement-related stress and uncertainty. They also highlight the importance of using interpreters effectively, avoiding re-traumatisation, and considering social and legal factors affecting mental health.
The Helen Bamber Foundation
The Helen Bamber Foundation is a UK-based human rights charity that supports child and adult survivors of trafficking, torture, and other forms of extreme trauma. Its core mission centres on protecting survivors of torture, trafficking, conflict, and exploitation, while advocating for their rights and ensuring their safety and dignity.
A key aspect of the foundation’s work is its therapeutic, trauma-informed approach. It provides specialised psychological support, including counselling and mental health services, to help survivors recover from the effects of violence, war, and displacement. These therapeutic programmes are designed to promote emotional wellbeing, resilience, and long-term recovery.
In addition to mental health support, the foundation offers holistic assistance by helping service users access legal representation, education, safe housing, and essential welfare services. This integrated approach ensures that their immediate needs are met while also supporting their long-term integration and stability.
Human trafficking. Migrant health guide. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. UK Government.
The guide advises clinicians to recognise signs of trafficking, respond with a trauma-informed and safeguarding-focused approach, and prioritise patient safety and trust. It highlights the need for sensitive questioning, awareness of associated physical and mental health harms, and referral to appropriate specialist and safeguarding services.
Maternal health: Exploring the lived experiences of pregnant women seeking asylum. Maternity Action. (2022).
The report explores the lived experiences of pregnant women seeking asylum in the UK. It highlights that pregnant women seeking asylum in the UK often experience poor housing, poverty, and frequent moves, which negatively impact their physical and mental health. It highlights that while some support exists, systemic barriers in the asylum system create significant risks during pregnancy.
Mental health: Migrant health guide. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. UK Government.
The guide outlines common psychological difficulties among migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and trauma-related distress. It emphasises the importance of a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach, awareness of migration-related stressors, including uncertainty, isolation, and legal status, and appropriate referral to specialist mental health and support services.
The mental health of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK: 2025 Edition.Mental Health Foundation.
The report explains that asylum seekers and refugees in the UK are at significantly higher risk of mental health problems due to both pre-migration trauma and post-migration stressors. It highlights that these experiences increase the prevalence of PTSD, depression,anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, and emphasises the need for a trauma-informed, person-centred approachacross health, housing, and asylum systems to prevent further harm and support recovery.
Mental Health and Human Rights Info (MHHRI) Database
Mental Health and Human Rights Info is an international resource that offers a valuable database containing references, publications, guides, organisations, and more, covering key topics related to mental health and human rights violations in the context of disaster, war, and conflict.
The information is organised into thematic pages and the website is available in both English and Spanish.
The website also offers Gender-Based Violence Training Manuals designed for those who support survivors of gender-based violence or train professionals working directly with them.
The manuals address working with:
These manuals are available in multiple languages.
Migrants’ health. Guidance. NHS England. (2024).
The guidance outlines how healthcare services should support migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers by ensuring access to NHS care and removing barriers such as language, cost concerns, and system navigation difficulties. It highlights the importance of culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care, the effective use of interpreters, and awareness of the health impacts of migration, including mental health needs and social vulnerabilities.
Migrant health guide: Collection. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities & UK Health Security Agency. UK Government.
The collection provides clinicians with evidence-based guidance and resources to support the healthcare needs of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in the UK. It highlights common health needs, including infectious diseases, mental health conditions, maternal health issues, and the effects of trauma and social inequality and exclusion. The guidance highlights the importance of access to care, culturally sensitive and trauma-informed practice, the appropriate use of interpreters, and awareness of safeguarding matters.
Modern slavery and exploitation helpline. The helpline is part of leading anti-slavery charity Unseen that provides information, advice and guidance about any modern slavery issue for potential victims, businesses, the public and statutory agencies such as the NHS and police.
Protecting the mental health of people seeking sanctuary in the UK’s evolving legislative landscape: College Report CR242. Royal College of Psychiatrists (2024).
The report highlights that refugees and asylum seekers face prolonged asylum delays, insecure legal status, detention risks, and limited access to housing and welfare, all of which negatively impact their mental health and contribute to experiencing chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms.
Race Equality Foundation (REF)
The Race Equality Foundation is a national charity that aims to tackle racism in UK society and to positively transform the lives of ethnically diverse population including refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.
The foundation aims to improve health and care of this population by producing briefings, reports, and running projects such as the Better Health project. The project seeks to develop a national evidence-based resource to help health practitioners improve service provision for ethnically diverse communities and integrate race equality in their day-to-day work.
Key areas of REF’s work include health and social care, children and families, housing, and community. Follow the links below to access briefings and reports on these areas.
Refugee and asylum seeker patient health toolkit. British Medical Association.
The health toolkit provides practical guidance for clinicians to support the health needs of refugees and asylum seekers. It highlights common physical and mental health issues linked to trauma and displacement, and emphasises the importance of trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approaches, the use of trained interpreters, and awareness of legal issues and strategies to overcome barriers within the UK healthcare system.
Refugee Council
The Refugee Council provides nationwide support for refugee and asylum-seeking children and adults including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC). These include mental health support, age assessments, education access, helping them rebuild their lives in the UK.
Their Help for Refugees and People Seeking Asylum page offers information and support across categories such as advice, housing, education, children, and young people. Services and projects can be searched by keyword, location, or type of service.
The organisation offers comprehensive mental health support to refugees and asylum seekers across the UK through its various projects, including one-to-one counselling, therapeutic support for unaccompanied children and families, psychoeducation workshops and many more.
In addition, they offer the Refugees into Jobs service that provides advice on employment for refugees across the UK.
Ukraine: Migrant health guide. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. UK Government.
The guide provides clinicians with guidance on the health needs of Ukrainian migrants and refugees, highlighting common issues such as trauma-related mental health problems and chronic conditions. It highlights the importance of delivering trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care, using trained interpreters, and supporting access to NHS services and safeguarding provision.
Vulnerable migrants: Migrant health guide. Office for Health Improvement & Disparities. UK Government.
The guide on vulnerable migrants outlines key health risks faced by migrants in vulnerable situations, including poor mental health, unmet physical health needs, and exposure to exploitation or unsafe living conditions. It emphasises the need for access to appropriate health and support services, including safeguarding and trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care.
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Breadwinners
Breadwinners is a UK-based grassroots charity supporting young refugees and people seeking asylum aged 16–24 in London and Brighton through employment, training, and mentoring opportunities.
The organisation runs market stalls and a wholesale artisan bread business, through which it offers structured programmes such as Risers and Proofers that offer tailored training and work experience, including running market stalls and online shops.
By fostering independence and wellbeing in young refugees, Breadwinners helps them gain UK work experience, and transition into further work or education.
Brighter Futures
Brighter Futures is a youth-led project based in East London that supports young migrants aged 18 to 25 in London. Run in partnership by Praxis and Kazzum Arts, the initiative offers a safe, inclusive space where young people with lived experience of the immigration system can meet regularly to connect, share experiences, and support one another.
The group engages in creative expression, and peer-led activities including poetry, art, film and public events designed to raise awareness of migrant issues and challenge negative narratives while building community and agency.
City of Sanctuary UK
The City of Sanctuary is a UK-based charity that aims to create a culture of hospitality and support for people seeking sanctuary. It focuses on building safe and welcoming communities for those escaping persecution or violence. It brings together a national network of local groups such as councils, schools, libraries, and community organisations, to foster inclusion and compassion.
In addition, City of Sanctuary’s website provides resources that serve as comprehensive guides for organisations aiming to support people seeking sanctuary in their specific areas. The charity also offers teaching materials on its Schools of Sanctuary website to support schools in their sanctuary efforts.
Displaced Student Opportunities (DSO) UK
The Displaced Student Opportunities UK portal is a comprehensive resource designed to help refugees and asylum seekers, including young adults access higher education in the UK.
It provides a centralised platform where students can find a range of educational opportunities, including scholarships, online courses, and preparatory programmes.
The portal is jointly hosted by three organisations: Refugee Education UK (REUK), Student Action for Refugees (STAR), and Universities of Sanctuary (UoS).
Hope for the Young
Hope for the Young is a London-based charity that supports young refugees, asylum seekers, and those with insecure immigration status, aged 16 to 28 to help them build stable and independent lives in the UK.
The organisation’s main activity is a structured mentoring programme, where trained volunteers provide consistent one-to-one support. Through this relationship, young people are helped to develop confidence, improve their English language skills, and gain the motivation and tools needed to progress in education and training.
A key part of its work is helping young people set realistic goals and plan their next steps, whether that involves enrolling in college, accessing further education, or moving towards employment. In addition, mentors also assist young people in navigating practical challenges such as accessing services, understanding systems in the UK, and building the skills needed for everyday life.
Permission to work: Caseworker guidance. UK Visas and Immigration. UK Government.
The guidance explains the rules and procedures for when asylum seekers may be granted permission to work in the UK. It outlines eligibility criteria, restrictions based on asylum claim duration and status, and the conditions under which work is permitted.
Permission to work and volunteering for asylum seekers. Guidance. UK Visas and Immigration. UK Government.
The guidance explains the conditions under which asylum seekers may be allowed to work or undertake voluntary roles in the UK. It clarifies eligibility rules, waiting periods, and restrictions on employment, while also outlining that volunteering is generally permitted if it does not amount to paid work.
Refugee Education (REUK)
The Refugee Education UK (REUK) supports young refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of trafficking, generally aged 14 to 25, in accessing, remaining in, and thriving within the UK education system, regardless of their faith, religion, or beliefs.
Their core programmes include Educational Mentoring, delivered across London, Oxford, and Birmingham, where trained volunteer mentors provide one-to-one weekly academic and wellbeing support to young refugees and asylum seekers.
In addition, REUK offers Educational Progression support to help young people access and navigate further and higher education, as well as an Educational Wellbeing programme that addresses barriers such as trauma, instability, and social isolation. REUK also carries out research, training, and advocacy work aimed at improving the wider education system for displaced children and young people in the UK.
Refugee Study
The Refugee Study is an information portal that supports refugees and asylum-seeking youths and adults, including those aged 16 and above, who wish to study in the UK.
It provides details about grants, scholarships, bursaries, and free courses, along with links to relevant funding organisations. It also offers tips to help users secure funding.
Student Action for Refugees (STAR)
Student Action for Refugees is a UK-wide network of university students working to build a more understanding and just society where refugees are welcomed and can thrive in the UK.
These student groups, based in colleges and universities, work alongside a central team of experts to create lasting change through multiple approaches. These include volunteering locally to support refugees and build connections, campaigning nationally for policy change and equal access to higher education for refugees, and learning about refugee protection and the asylum process in the UK through sessions with experts and peers.
While STAR primarily involves college and university students, its programmes and support services are designed to assist refugees and asylum seekers across a broad age range, typically 16 and above.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) UK
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is the United Nations organisation responsible for protecting and supporting refugees, including children and families, and others displaced by conflict, persecution, or disaster, who have been forced to flee their countries in search of safety.
The Refugee Education Report 2024 highlights the progress and ongoing challenges in ensuring refugee children and young people have access to quality education around the world. In the UK, UNHCR launched the Build Better Futures: Education initiative to help refugee children and young people access education and create better opportunities for their future.
In addition, UNHCR UK hosts a website that offers a collection of teaching materials on refugees, asylum, and migration for primary and secondary education, as well as some guidance for teachers working with refugee children in the classroom.
UNHCR UK also operates a multilingual ‘Help’ website that provides vital information on rights, obligations, and available services in the UK.
Universities of Sanctuary
The Universities of Sanctuary is a national network of university staff, lecturers, academics, and students, and an initiative of City of Sanctuary UK. The network was developed through a partnership between City of Sanctuary, Article 26, Student Action for Refugees and other organisations.
Its aim is to foster a culture and practice of welcome within universities, the wider community, and across the UK higher education sector. The network works to make higher education institutions places of safety, solidarity, and empowerment for people seeking sanctuary, including refugees and asylum seekers.
Working while an asylum claim is considered. Guidance. UK Visas & Immigration. UK Government.
The document explains the conditions under which asylum seekers may apply for permission to work while their claim is pending. It outlines eligibility rules, including waiting time requirements and restrictions on permitted occupations, highlighting that most applicants are not allowed to work unless specific criteria are met.
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Bora Shabaa Community Refugee Organisation
Bora Shabaa Community Refugee Organisation is a UK-based charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers, particularly in Hull and surrounding areas, by providing interpretation and translation services as part of its wider support work.
Through its Interpretation and Translation Services, the organisation offers free and informal language support to help individuals communicate and access essential services such as healthcare, housing, education, and employment. This service is available in several languages, including Swahili, Arabic, French, Kinyarwanda, and Taabwa, helping reduce language barriers for those rebuilding their lives in the UK.
Charity Translators
Charity Translators is a volunteer-led network, based in Exeter, UK, that provides free translation, interpreting, and language support to charities and community organisations. It operates through an international community of volunteers who use their language skills to help charities communicate more effectively with the people they support.
Rather than a traditional office-based organisation, its volunteers are based in different countries, working remotely. The network aims to bridge language barriers, particularly for charities with limited budgets, by offering accessible language services such as document translation and interpreting support.
Clear Voice – Migrant Help
Clear Voice is a social enterprise run by the UK charity Migrant Help and provides interpreting and translation services. These include professional telephone, video, and face-to-face interpreting, as well as translations, Sign Language, Braille, and Easy Read services for NGO’s, public sector organisations, legal firms, especially those working with refugees and asylum seekers across the UK.
Migrant Help also runs the InPower Project that funds unemployed refugees and migrants into education, allowing them to start work as professional interpreters. Once qualified, they can begin working with Clear Voice as professional interpreters.
Community Language Support Services (CLSS)
Community Language Support Services is a London-based charity, located in Islington, that supports refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrant communities, particularly those from East Africa and Arabic-speaking backgrounds, who have limited English language skills. The organisation operates mainly in Islington and neighbouring London boroughs, helping clients access services such as health, education, welfare, and legal support.
The organisation helps people overcome language barriers so they can access essential services and integrate into UK society. It provides interpreting and translation support, along with advice, advocacy, and practical assistance on issues such as healthcare, housing, education, and immigration. CLSS also offers outreach services, including home visits, form-filling help, and referrals to specialist agencies.
In addition to language support, CLSS runs workshops and community activities that promote wellbeing, reduce isolation, and build confidence, especially among vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre (CRMC) – Lingo Links
Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre (CRMC) – Lingo Links is a specialist interpreting and translation service operated by the Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre. Lingo Links provides professional interpreting and translation services in a wide range of languages for healthcare, education, social care, immigration, and community support settings. The service offers face-to-face, telephone, and video interpreting, as well as written translation services, helping refugees, asylum seekers, and migrant families across Coventry and the surrounding areas communicate more effectively with public services.
Everyday Language Solutions
Everyday Language Solutions is a not-for-profit organisation based in Stockton-on-Tees, North East England, providing interpreting, translation, and language support services for community groups, individuals, and service providers.
The organisation offers face-to-face interpreting, telephone interpreting, British Sign Language (BSL) support, and document translation across a wide range of languages. It works with sectors including healthcare, courts, schools, housing, immigration, social services, and asylum support services, with the aim of improving communication and access to services for people who do not speak English as a first language.
Guidance for commissioners: interpreting and translation services in Primary Care. Guidance. Primary Care Commissioning. (2018). NHS England.
The guidance explains how commissioners should ensure access to interpreting and translation services in primary care, emphasising that services should provide language support to facilitate accurate communication and fair access to healthcare for patients who are not fluent in English.
Language interpreting and translation: Migrant health guide. Office for Health Improvement & Disparities. UK Government.
This guide advises healthcare professionals to use qualified interpreters and translated materials to support accurate communication with patients who have limited knowledge of English language. It also highlights the importance of not using family members as interpreters and of maintaining confidentiality, patient safety, and access to healthcare.
Language Justice Programme – Nottingham Refugee Forum
The Language Justice Programme at the Nottingham Refugee Forum is a project that focuses on making sure refugees and asylum seekers can fully understand and be understood when accessing services and are not excluded because of language barriers. It provides professional interpreting services to help people communicate effectively with organisations such as healthcare providers, legal services, and support agencies.
The programme also offers free interpreting training, enabling refugees and migrants to develop skills and gain qualifications that can lead to employment or volunteering opportunities. In addition, it supports English language learning including, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), to help people build independence and confidence.
Language Services UK (LSUK)
Language Services UK is a professional translation and interpreting company that provides services across the United Kingdom to support communication between individuals who do not speak English and organisations delivering public services.
Language Services UK is not a free service provider; however, any free access would only occur indirectly, for example, when an organisation such as the NHS or a charity pays for interpreting services on behalf of the service user.
The organisation provides interpreting and translation services, including telephone, face-to-face, and written translation in many languages. It is mainly used by organisations such as charities, NGOs, healthcare providers, and local authorities that work with refugees, asylum seekers, and migrant communities. The service helps ensure that individuals can access essential services such as healthcare, legal advice, housing support, and social care without language barriers.
The National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI)
The National Register of Public Service Interpreters is a UK-based professional regulatory register that lists qualified interpreters. It does not provide direct refugee support, but it plays an important role in improving the quality of interpreting services used by refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in official settings.
NRPSI helps ensure that public service organisations such as courts, the NHS, the police, and local authorities can access properly trained and vetted interpreters. This means that when refugees, asylum seekers, or migrants require communication support in legal, healthcare, or immigration settings, the interpreters used are reliable and professionally qualified. In this way, NRPSI helps improve communication and reduce language barriers in essential public services.
Praxis for Migrants and Refugees
Praxis for Migrants and Refugees is a London-based charity that supports migrants, refugees, and people with insecure immigration status. Alongside its wider advice and support work, it also provides interpreting and translation services designed to help overcome language barriers. Interpreters can be booked for spoken interpreting sessions, while written translation services help with important documents that individuals may need for legal, medical, or administrative purposes.
These services are used to support communication between migrants or refugees and key public services such as legal advisers, housing providers, healthcare professionals, and other support organisations. By offering these language services, Praxis helps ensure that migrants and refugees can better understand information, access essential services, and communicate their needs more effectively.
Refugees in Effective & Active Partnership (REAP)
Refugees in Effective & Active Partnership is a West London-based, refugee-led charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers to rebuild their lives in the UK. It provides practical help, such as community interpreting, English language support, training, and workshops that help people access essential services like healthcare, education, and housing.
REAP also runs events and campaigns to improve awareness and strengthen support for refugees, while working with public services and organisations to make their systems more accessible and effective.
Sussex Interpreting Services (SIS)
Sussex Interpreting Services is a charitable social enterprise based in Brighton that provides professional services, including community interpreting, translation, and bilingual advocacy, to support clients during interactions with public services. These services are free for refugees, asylum seekers, and other non-English speakers.
The SIS website also offers a downloadable information booklet outlining their services in multiple languages. In addition, SIS has produced dual-language appointment letters to help service providers communicate key details, such as date, time, location, and preparatory instructions, to clients in both English and their native language. These letters promote clarity and help reduce misunderstandings.
Tarjimly
Tarjimly is a non-profit humanitarian technology organisation and mobile app that connects refugees, immigrants, and professionals working with them with on-demand translators and interpreters in real time.
The name “Tarjimly” comes from the Arabic phrase, which means “translate for me.” Its mission is to eliminate humanitarian language barriers on a global scale, increasing the efficiency of humanitarian services and improving the lives of refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants.
Tarjimly’s joint mobile and web platforms offer Tarjimly Essentials, a free translation and interpretation service available at the click of a button. This service is accessible to individuals facing language barriers, as well as non-profit organisations, educational institutions, healthcare providers, humanitarian workers, and volunteers.
Translation House
Translation House is a UK-based private company that provides professional translation and interpreting services to help people and organisations communicate in different languages. It works with a large network of qualified linguists to deliver accurate translations, including certified documents used for official purposes.
The company operates in areas such as immigration, courts, healthcare (NHS), and social services where It translates important documents and provides interpreters for legal and medical appointments. These services are often used in immigration and asylum processes, so they can indirectly help refugees. However, the company is commercial and does not specifically focus on refugee support or free services.
In addition, Linguassist Translation & Interpreting Services UK is a UK-based commercial language service provider offering similar translation and interpreting services across sectors such as healthcare, legal, and public services, often supporting communication in immigration-related contexts.
Voices in Refuge
Voices in Refuge is a Nottingham-based community interest company that provides interpreting services and interpreter training, particularly in refugee and asylum-seeker settings.
The organisation offers trained interpreters in a wide range of community languages for in-person, telephone, and remote interpreting. It also delivers community interpreting training for bilingual refugees and other multilingual individuals, helping participants develop professional interpreting skills and employment opportunities.
Profits generated by the organisation help support the work of Nottingham Refugee Forum.
Wales Interpretation and Translation Services (WITS)
Wales Interpretation and Translation Services is a public sector interpreting and translation service that provides professional language support across Wales. Its interpreters and translators hold qualifications at various levels, are vetted, and work across public sector settings including healthcare, legal, police, social care, and community services to support people who do not speak English or Welsh as a first language.
The service provides face-to-face, telephone, video, and on-demand interpreting, as well as written translation, British Sign Language (BSL), Braille, transcription, and proofreading services in a wide range of languages.
Working with an interpreter: Toolkit for practitioners and interpreters. Good Practice Guide. Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland and Centre for Translation & Interpreting Studies in Scotland (2006, updated 2013, revised 2018).
The toolkit provides practical guidance for both practitioners and interpreters on working effectively together in mental health settings. It outlines good practice for preparation, communication, and role boundaries, emphasising clear, accurate interpretation, confidentiality, and collaborative working to support safe and effective care for service users.
Working with interpreters in mental health (2nd ed.). Tribe, R., Thompson, K., & Raval, H. (Eds.). (2026). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003558026
An edited book that explores best practice in using interpreters in mental health settings. It highlights the importance of collaborative, culturally sensitive, and ethically informed practice and focuses on improving communication, therapeutic relationships, and access to care for service users who do not share the clinician’s language.
Working with interpreters in Mental Health: Guidance. The British Psychological Society. (2026).
The guidance emphasises that psychologists should be skilled in working with interpreters and help promote inclusive practice for non-English speaking and d/Deaf service users, including developing language support policies and accessible materials. It highlights the importance of treating interpreters as valued team members, supporting their wellbeing, and recognising their contribution to effective, inclusive mental health care that benefits all parties.
Working with interpreters online or via the telephone. Guidance. British Psychological Society. (2020).
The guidance advises psychologists on how to work effectively with online and telephone interpreters, highlighting the importance of preparation, clear communication, and managing the practical limits of remote interpreting. It also emphasises maintaining confidentiality, ensuring accurate interpretation, and adjusting clinical practice to improve communication and engagement in therapy.
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A housing practitioner's guide to integrating people seeking protection and refugees.Guide. McPhil, G. (2021). Scottish Refugee Council & Scottish Government.
This document provides practical guidance for housing professionals supporting refugees and asylum seekers. It focuses on best practices for securing accommodation, preventing homelessness, promoting integration, and working collaboratively with local services to support sustainable settlement and community inclusion.
Asylum helplines. Advice and support. UK Visas and Immigration, UK Government.
Help is available by phone for asylum applicants and refugees who need advice about the asylum process, housing issues, financial support, adapting to life in the UK, or integrating into their local community, including accessing services, education, employment, and everyday life.
English for All
English for All is a programme delivered by English for All, a UK-based Community Interest Organisation, which provides free, person-centred English language support to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrant communities in the North East of England, particularly in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The organisation delivers both face-to-face and online classes. It includes structured lessons, conversation groups, and one-to-one mentoring, helping participants improve communication skills, access essential services, gain employment, build confidence and social connections and integrate within their communities.
Going Full Circle. The primary needs and experiences of refugees and people seeking asylum living in London. The London Refugee Advocacy Forum & Refugee Council. (2022).
Going the Full Circle highlights the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, focusing on gaps in support services and the need for a more coordinated, person-centred approach. It examines challenges such as housing, healthcare, legal support, employment, and social integration, while showing how poverty, insecure immigration status, and language barriers can make rebuilding life in the UK more difficult.
Guidance for psychologists on working with community organisations. Guidance. The British Psychological Society. (2018).
The guidance encourages psychologists to work collaboratively with community organisations to improve access, engagement, and culturally appropriate support for service users. It highlights the importance of building respectful partnerships, sharing expertise, and understanding community contexts to enhance psychological practice and reach underserved groups.
Integrating refugees: What works? What can work? What does not work? A summary of the evidence. Second edition. Coley, J. et al. (2019). Home Office, UK Government.
A summary of the evidence on refugee integration, identifying factors that support successful settlement such as language acquisition, employment opportunities, stable housing, and community connections. It also highlights barriers like discrimination, poor access to services, and insecure immigration status, and states that integration is most effective when support is coordinated and long-term.
International Rescue Committee UK (IRC UK)
The International Rescue Committee UK is a humanitarian organisation that supports refugees and vulnerable migrants to rebuild their lives and successfully integrate into the UK. It helps new arrivals in the UK to navigate local services like healthcare and education and supports them to find employment and gain the skills that will allow them to prosper in the UK.
IRC UK offers a range of integration services for refugees and other vulnerable migrants. These include orientation services to help new arrivals navigate British systems, translation services, peer mentoring and wellbeing support, all aimed at helping individuals build independence, participate fully in their communities, and integrate successfully into life in the UK.
Refugee Council
The Refugee Council provides nationwide support for refugee and asylum-seeking children and adults, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC). These include mental health support, age assessments, education access, and helping them rebuild their lives in the UK.
The Refugee Council supports the integration of refugees and asylum seekers through provision of both practical assistance and advocacy work, enabling them to settle in the UK, access essential services, and understand key systems such as housing, healthcare, and benefits. It also promotes integration by supporting English language learning, education, training, and employment opportunities, as well as providing wellbeing and mental health and therapeutic support for adults and children.
Their Help for Refugees and People Seeking Asylum page offers information and support across categories such as advice, housing, education, children, and young people. Services and projects can be searched by keyword, location, or type of service.
In addition, they offer the Refugees into Jobs service that provides advice on employment for refugees across the UK.
Refugee integration and resettlement analysis. Collection. Home Office. UK Government.
The above provides evidence base research on how refugees settle and integrate in the UK. It highlights key factors that support integration, such as employment, ability to communicate in English language, housing stability, and access to services, while also reporting ongoing barriers including legal uncertainty, discrimination, and mental health challenges.
Scottish Government policy hub: Supporting the integration of asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland.
The Scottish Government policy hub on Asylum and Refugees outlines Scotland’s approach to supporting asylum seekers and refugees. It highlights a commitment to inclusion, noting that while asylum decisions are made by the UK Government, Scotland focuses on delivering essential services such as healthcare, education, housing, and integration support.
The Scottish Government works in partnership with organisations including the Home Office, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), local authorities, and non-governmental organisations to promote early integration from the point of arrival and support long-term settlement.
Overall, the page provides a clear and accessible overview of policy, strategy, and practical support, while linking to more detailed guidance and resources.
It supports refugees and people seeking asylum by:
implementing the New Scots strategy to ensure they are supported to integrate from day one.
improving support for people with ‘no recourse to public funds’ through the Ending Destitution Together strategy.
providing funding to a range of support organisations.
taking a fair and proportionate share of the total number of refugees through the UK Refugee Resettlement schemes.
offering help and protection to unaccompanied children while their status is determined.
welcoming displaced people from Ukraine
Find out about your rights and entitlements in Scotland at Asylum and refugees on mygov.scot.
The Scottish Refugee Council
The Scottish Refugee Council is a Scottish charity that provides practical support and advice to refugees and asylum seekers to help them rebuild their lives in Scotland.
The Scottish Refugee Council provides direct support services for refugees and people seeking asylum in Scotland. These services offer practical help, advice, and advocacy on issues such as housing, benefits, education, healthcare, employment, and integration into society.
In addition to its direct, face-to-face services, the organisation also provides a range of online resources in various languages through its website. These include resources specifically designed for newly granted refugees, which help individuals understand their rights and access essential services after receiving refugee status. There are also resources for people who have been refused asylum, offering guidance on their options and where to seek further support.
Scottish Refugee Council's resource library
The Scottish Refugee Council’s resource library supports integration by providing a wide range of information and practical tools that help both refugees and professionals involved in their support. It offers guidance on key areas such as housing, healthcare, education, legal rights, and access to services, helping refugees and asylum seekers better understand and navigate complex systems. By making this information more accessible, it reduces language and knowledge barriers that can prevent people from fully engaging with essential services.
In addition, the resource library supports professionals such as social workers, teachers, and advisors by providing toolkits, training materials, and good practice guidance. It also includes research and policy briefings that improve understanding of the challenges faced by refugees and inform better service delivery.
Thus, the resource library plays an important role in promoting integration by enabling refugees to access the information they need, while also equipping organisations to provide informed and effective support that encourages participation in education, employment, and community life.
Scottish Refugee Council's New Toolkits to support refugee integration in Scotland and beyond. (2021). Scottish Refugee Council.
Speak Street
Speak Street is a London-based not-for-profit community-based language and integration organisation that provides language support and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programmes for migrants and refugees. It focuses on informal, community-based learning rather than traditional classroom teaching, helping people improve their everyday English through conversation practice, workshops, and engaging social activities.
The organisation also develops language learning resources and works with charities and community groups to support English learning in settings such as community centres and migrant accommodation. Through its programmes, Speak Street helps refugees and migrants build confidence in using English, improve communication skills, and better integrate into daily life in the UK.
Welcome: A guide for new refugees. Home Office & UK Visas & Immigration. UK Government.
This is an information booklet designed to help newly granted refugees settle in the UK. It explains key rights and entitlements, such as access to work, housing, healthcare, education, and benefits, and provides guidance on next steps for integration, including finding accommodation, applying for financial support, and accessing local services. It is available in a number of languages.