Signposting

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NOTE – some of the things on this list may be out of date. If you know of something on this list that has changed, or something that should be added, please do let us know. Thank you!

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Urgent new arrival – if you have recently arrived in the UK and have desperate needs, Red Cross might be able to help. You can call them on 0116 479 0900 to book an appointment to discuss what you need. They can usually organise translation for your appointment if you ask for it when you call. They are also fantastic at signposting and referrals, so if they can’t help with something they might be able to suggest an organisation that can.

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Issues with accommodation:

• For Asylum Seekers (any issues with Serco accommodation or with the Home Office) – Migrant Help are the people to contact. If one phone operator can’t help with the issue, you can try again and see if a different person can! You might have to wait a while for them to answer the phone. Call them for free on 0808 8010 503 – this is the national helpline; you might also have the relevant local number which is usually better.
• If you have Refugee status (no longer under the Home Office or Serco) – Leicester City Council can help you find housing – though there is a severe Housing Crisis in Leicester City and it is very difficult to access council housing; there is a HUGE waiting list. They can support you to find private rented accommodation, including help with deposits, references and viewings. CALS Community Advice and Legal Services can also offer support to find housing, as can SHARP Leicester. If you are homeless, you can also receive advice and support from Action Homeless, and from The Bridge. 
• For the 8 week period after you receive Refugee Status (the time when you need to find accommodation as you will be evicted from Home Office housing) – you will have been allocated someone from the Home Office AMLO team to liaise with (Asylum Move-on Liaison Officers) – it’s their job to support people in this situation to access housing, benefits and ID documents etc. This can be a very distressing time, but the AMLO officers should help.

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Physical health – Assist medical practice, for asylum seekers – 45 East Bond Street LE1 4SX, 0116 294 6305. To get an appointment you have to phone at exactly 8am; unfortunately there aren’t always appointments available and it doesn’t always work very quickly. You may need to bring someone along to translate, though with certain languages on certain days Assist have help with this. Assist can also refer you for dental issues, opticians and other specialised health bits. Refugees can also access NHS Diverse Communities Specialist Nurses – and these usually have translation available for appointments.

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Mental health support – Support groups and counselling etc are available for women through New Futures, the Zinthiya trust, Quetzal, the Sharma centre, Mental Health Matters and likely other charities in Leicester too – these may have waiting lists but on the whole they seem to be very good. Some of the above also offer mental health support to men.

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School places for kids – You can contact the Choice Advice service for help with school applications. The staff there take the children’s details and submit an application to the council on your behalf, and they are really helpful. You can choose which schools you would prefer, though some schools have a waiting list so it’s not guaranteed that you’ll get a place at the school you like best. After the council allocate a school, they will email you to let you know. At this point you will need to contact the school and fill in the school application forms; usually the school staff can help with this if you need support. Once that’s sorted, the school might be able to help with uniform for the child (though not every school can do so).

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Clothes / coats / shoes and similar – Open Hands offer these things on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10-12. You will need a referral form – you can ask Red Cross or another local organisation to do the referral for you. Also the Hope Hub have clothing, coats, shoes and some household items: booking by appointment only – email hub@hopechurchwigston.co.uk to arrange a Monday-Wednesday appointment.

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Food – Again Open Hands (with referral form; see above). Or you can go to the foodbank at the Centre Project on Alfred Place – you will need to go for a needs assessment (Tuesdays 10-4) and then can access all kinds of support including groups and activities on Fridays as well as the Monday food bank and often good one-off things like haircuts and trips.

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(Free) English lessons – If you’ve been in the UK over 6 months then you can apply to Leicester College, though it’s a fairly rigorous application process and they can only offer free places to a limited number of asylum seekers. The college also have a crèche so can welcome young mums in the classes! Leicester University also run excellent free English classes for asylum seekers and refugees, for every ability level – email lalenquiries@le.ac.uk to contact them about the different classes and times. Open Hands also offer very good English classes; likewise Leicester City of Sanctuary. Leicester Adult Education is very good with a range of classes and groups as well, and can support people into a range of different learning opportunities for free.

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Baby bits / push chair or other baby equipment – Baby Basics are fantastic. You will need to ask someone from a local organisation (such as us or Red Cross or another organisation) to do a referral for you, giving details of what you need – then the things will be delivered to you once they’re ready. Leicester Mammas are also great for free antenatal sessions, mum-and-baby groups, social events, practical support, mental health support and learning sessions. People can also self-refer to Leicester GrowBaby to access needed practical items and pastoral support.

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Nursery – all families with kids aged 2-3 are entitled to 15 hours government-funded childcare (per child) with any nursery – you can apply for this within the nurseries directly and staff might be able to help with the process. Some have more rigorous registration forms than others. Some nurseries also have hidden charges for things like food/snacks – look out for this, make sure you are fully aware of any charges before signing up. 

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Leicester city of Sanctuary have a drop in every Wednesday, at The Bridge centre – this includes free samosas and hot drinks, signposting, paperwork support, social groups and activities, etc. They unfortunately don’t have space to welcome children into the centre at the moment, but adults and babies are welcome.

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TREC (The Race Equality Centre) offer all sorts of support including 1-1 practical help, groups, activities and trips. Afro Innovation also offer advice and various kinds of support.

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After18 provide support to 16-25s including tutoring, support groups, youth activities and practical help.

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Leicester Employment Hub can support people looking to find work, as can Twin UK and the Princes Trust. 

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NEST Leicester can offer guidance and support to those looking to appeal a negative decision from the Home Office. 

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Refugee Council do offer big-picture advocacy work; they might not be able to support specific cases but they can advocate for specific systemic changes – likewise Midlands Migrants Support.

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