Quick links to information in this section:		Main Contents
Legal advice General advice for refugees and asylum seekersAdvice about Housing and Benefits General Advice Talking to your member of parliament (MP) Detention		Local Information Getting Advice Keeping in Touch Information Services Transport Shopping and Money Household Services Health and Wellbeing Sports and Leisure Education and Training Work Women and Children Emergency

LEGAL ADVICE

                                 
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If you are claiming asylum in the UK or have other complicated immigration matters to deal with, you will need good legal advice from a solicitor (a qualified legal practioner) who is experienced in immigration law and can take on your case.

 

If you are claiming asylum you should use the services of a solicitor to help you fill in your Statement of Evidence Form, to advise you how to proceed as your case progresses, and especially if you need to appeal against any decision made by the Home Office.

 

Currently all asylum seekers are entitled to at least 5 hours of "Legal Aid" - that means that you will not have to pay for the solicitor for the first 5 hours. If there are further complications to your case or if you need to change solicitor you will be entitled to more hours of legal aid. You need to check with your solicitor or one of the other contacts in this section what the current situation is with regards to legal aid and what to do if you need more time from your solicitor.

 

If you have internet access you can find a list of solicitors on the Community Legal Service website, www.justask.org.uk.

 

The local law centres in North Manchester and South Manchester, as well as the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, all have drop-in sessions for legal advice as well as taking on clients.

 

 

General Advice For Refugees and ASYLUM SEEKERS

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There are a number of organisations in the UK which exist to give general help asylum seekers and refugees and to promote understanding of the issues faced by people those who have fled their home countries. These include the:

Ø      Immigration Advisory Service,

Ø      The Refugee Legal Centre,

Ø      The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants,

Ø      The Refugee Council

Ø      Asylum Aid

Most of these organisation are based in London, so it can be difficult to get to them and they are unlikely to take you on as a full client, but it may be worth calling their telephone advice lines or using their website for help with specific issues: see below for contact details.

 

Refugee Action is a national organisation which has an office in Manchester and a drop-in advice service for asylum-seekers and refugees. The drop-in gets very busy: it is sometimes quicker to use Refugee Action's free telephone advice service (called Clientline) to get advice on your problem.

 

Manchester Refugee Support Network (MRSN) also run an advice service. For help with practical problems or if you don't know where to go to get help, the Red Cross Orientation Service, Refugee Action, Manchester Refugee Support Network (MRSN) or the Multi-agency for Refugees in Manchester (MARIM) may be able to put you in touch with the right organisation.

 

Advice about Housing and Benefits

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If you are in NASS accommodation and you have problems with your support you need to contact your landlord or NASS.

 

If you are given indefinite leave to remain, humanitarian protection, discretionary leave or any other positive immigration status you need to talk to the Job Centre about your rights to UK welfare benefits. You can also talk to Manchester Advice , who have a number of bi-lingual advice workers called "Linkworkers" (see section below for further details).

 

If you have been asked to leave your  NASS accommodation because you have received a positive decision,  you need to go to your nearest Neighbourhood Office and  ask to be put on the re-housing register.

 

If you go to ask about benefits or housing please take as many documents about your status and current support to the appointment with you.

 

 

GENERAL ADVICE

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For more general advice on your rights, entitlements and how to find help, as well as assistance in sorting out problems with your support, you can contact the Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB). The central CAB in Swan Street, Manchester city centre is open every day.

 

The CAB also has several local branches but these are usually open only 1 or 2 days a week. Call the advice line number below for addresses and opening times of the local branches.

 

Those with refugee status who need advice about money, benefits, housing or legal matters can also go to the Manchester Advice team in the Town Hall. Manchester Advice has a number of bi-lingual advice workers called "Linkworkers". Who can provide advice in the following language:

 

Arabic, Bangla,  Bosnian, Chinese, Gujerati, Kutchi, Patois, Punjabi, Somali, Sylheti, Urdu and Vietnamese as well as in English.

 

 

Talking to your Member of Parliament (MP)

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If you have a serious problem and cannot find anyone to assist you, or you have questions or strong feelings about the Government's treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, it may be worth going to see your local MP. There is no guarantee that the MP will be able to help (though this is sometimes possible), however he or she should be made aware of important issues in the community. To find out who your MP is, call the Electoral Services Unit on 0161 234 3145 or look at Manchester City Council's website address: www.manchester.gov.uk/localdemocracy/mps/.

 

 

Detention

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If you or a friend/member of your family has been detained by immigration officials, you can get advice from the National Coalition for Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC), or from the Refugee Legal Centre. The Red Cross Refugee Service may be able to arrange for a volunteer to visit someone in detention.