Support for Asylum Seekers and Refugees

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

There are 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.

If you are seeking protection to stay in the UK you need to apply for asylum. Read more on our Immigration and asylum page.

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.

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. They have an Asylum Seeker and Refugee Worker for carers who can support you, you can watch the video below to find out more:

Read more about support for 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 services such as Natures Landscapes 

Read more about support for refugees to prepare for work or a job  on InformationNOW

JET (Jobs Education and Training) help asylum seekers, refugees and people from new migrant communities to get ready to work. They can help you with training, job searches, job applications, CVs and to find work experience.  You can get help to:

• learn English and Maths (ESOL classes)
• improve your confidence, skills and wellbeing
• search for jobs, training, and volunteering opportunities
• improve your interview and presentation skills
• settle into Newcastle

You can see their ‘English For Newcastle’ page here for 10 short videos about living in the UK and in Newcastle.

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

Education: nursery, school and college

Children and young people can get educational psychology and intensive family support when in education from the KaleidRAScope project. Speak to your nursery, school or college to ask for this help.

Asylum Team at Newcastle City Council can signpost you to this service.

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.

Northumbria University has Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships for people seeking asylum in the UK. This covers all of the fees and and £1,000 towards your studies.

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.

• Foodbanks and emergency food parcels 
• Free and low cost meals

The NHS Healthy Start Scheme is for people who are more than 10 weeks pregnant, or have children under the age of 4, who get certain benefits.

You get a free prepaid card that’s topped up every 4 weeks to buy: milk, fruit and vegetables. You can also collect free vitamins from locations listed here. You can use the card in shops that accept Mastercard payments and sell at least one of these Healthy Start foods.

People who don’t have recourse to public funds can now apply to the Healthy Start Scheme. To apply you must:

• have a British child, or more than one British 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 your 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:

• age
• disability
• sexual orientation
• gender identity
• race or ethnicity
• religion or belief
• lifestyle

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

Contact Adult Social Care at Newcastle City Council 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:

• Asylum Team at Newcastle City Council support people during the asylum process. They support the ‘move on’ process if you are granted refugee status. They offer advice and signposting if you are refused asylum.
• Your Homes Newcastle Refugee Move On Team will contact you if you receive leave to remain. They help you find accommodation, access

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

Immigration advisers help with things like: advice, filling in the right forms and representing you at a tribunal. Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) regulates immigration advisers and make sure they meet certain standards. Find registered immigration advisers that give free advice you on the OISC website.

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:

• Citizens Advice Newcastle give information and support. They run drop in sessions
• Work and Thrive Central for job search and preparing for employment
• Your Homes Newcastle (social housing) drop in sessions are currently on hold during coronavirus

Legal advice

North East Law Centre provides free, confidential legal advice on immigration and asylum issues to people on a low income in Newcastle. Call them to make an appointment, during one of the times below or contact them online. They offer free telephone advice on:

• Family Law: Monday 10am to 1pm
• Welfare Benefits: Tuesday 10am to 12pm
• Education Law: Tuesday 1pm to 2pm
• Immigration and Asylum Law: Wednesday 1.30pm to 4.30pm
• Employment Law: Thursday 2pm to 4pm
• EU Settlement Scheme and complex cases: Friday 10am to 1pm
• Discrimination Law

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.

Museums of sanctuary

The 9 museums managed by Tyne and Wear Museums and archives are museums of sanctuary. This means they are a safe space for refugees and asylum seekers to visit, and can provide activities, signposting and support.

• Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort
• Discovery Museum
• Great North Museum: Hancock
• Hatton Gallery
• Laing Art Gallery
• Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum
• South Shields Museum and Art Gallery
• Stephenson Steam Railway
• The Shipley Art Gallery

Multaka  is a museum volunteering project for people with a migration background. People who have took part in Multaka have created tours and videos about exhibitions, North East history and more in different languages.

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

Newcastle United Foundation run community football matches on Saturdays 1pm to 3pm at SoccerWorld for unemployed people, refugees and migrants aged 18 to 29 years. It includes an employability support drop in.

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

Rape crisis Tyneside and Northumberland (RCTN) provide free sexual violence information and support services. These services are for women and girls over the age of 13 who live, work or study in Tyneside and Northumberland. They can help you if you have experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in your life. It’s an inclusive service for women including transgender, questioning, ethnically minoritised, disabled and refugee or asylum seekers.

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.

Stop the Traffik explain how to spot the signs of human trafficking. They have a Stay safe in the UK resource, to help people leaving the Ukraine find support in the UK to stay safe.

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:

• information, advice and advocacy
• women’s groups: One Stop Shop, Women’s Gardening, cookery, cycling
• families groups, girls groups and after school clubs
• support for victims 11 to 25 years old of domestic violence, honour based violence and forced marriage training courses
• Edible Elswick and West End Community Bakery
• English as a second language classes (ESOL)
• a small farm in Northumberland

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:

• register with a GP
• Accident and Emergency services (A&E), including Walk-in or Urgent Treatment centres
• NHS 111 telephone advice line
• treatment for specific infectious diseases and sexually transmitted infections (e.g. TB, HIV)
• treatment required for a physical or mental condition caused by: torture; female genital mutilation; domestic violence or sexual violence
• health visitors, school nurses and family planning
• end of life care

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.

Resources to support those recently arrived to the UK

Parenting in the UK (available in 12 languages)

Education in the UK 

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

Thank you to Newcastle City of Sanctuary and English Unlocked for working with us to develop this article.

Last updated: July 2, 2024