Support for refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants over Christmas 2022

Telephone support

• Migrant Help telephone advice and guidance for asylum support, and repairs issues is now open 24/7 – 0808 8010 503  
• Refugee Council’s Telephone infoline – 0808 196 7272 is open Monday and Thursdays between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm. The Infoline will be open until 12.30 on Monday 19th of December and will then be closed until 9.30 on Thursday 5th January.
• To report a problem to Migrant Help/Mears, check the email address list. Also check (what Migrant Help can and cannot help with)

Face to Face Drop-Ins

• Meeting Point drop-ins focus on providing food, clothing and a warm, friendly social space for refugees and asylum seekers.
  • Monday 19^th December 14:30-17:00 (last session before Xmas)
  • Wednesday 4^th January 14:30-17:00 (The women’s group is the first session after Xmas) 

• PAFRAS drop-ins (St Aidan’s Community Hall, Elford Place West, Leeds LS8 5QD):
  • Wednesday 14th December 10:00 – 13:00 is the last drop-in for casework.
  • Wednesday 21st December 10:00 – 13:00 Christmas drop-in to collect takeaway food, food parcels and presents for children.
  • The PAFRAS office is closed from Friday 23rd December until Tuesday 3rd January. No casework, advice or support will be available during this period.
  • PAFRAS re-opens on the 3rd of January.

Detention

• Let’s hope no one needs to use these resources for people who have been detained – but better to know about them than not. GOV have also issued Covid guidance on staying in touch with people in Removal Centres

Domestic Violence Support

• Similarly we hope noone needs to use the Leeds Domestic Violence Service 24HR HELPLINE 0113 246 0401

Food  

• The Leeds Food Aid Network Map lists all emergency food providers on the Leeds Food Aid Network » Emergency Food webpage.
• [update 12/12] Food Aid and Homeless Christmas Doc – (Click)
• [update 12/12]Christmas Foodbank and Food Parcel Provision (Click)

Health

Physical health

• Urgent treatment Centres are for people who need to see a Doctor or a Nurse urgently, but where the condition is not life threatening. Here are the details of the Urgent Treatment Centres in Leeds open every day (includes 25th December and 1st January) from 8am – 11pm 
• NHS Walk In at Shakespeare Medical Centre in Lincoln Green is also open every day (includes 25th December and 1st January) 8am – 8pm
• Emergency Dentists can be accessed by calling 111 

Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Mindwell have created a Mental health services directory – MindWell (mindwell-leeds.org.uk) and watch out for the wellbeing support offers over Xmas and new year via their news page.
• Live Well Leeds have listed Emergency Contacts including out of hours drop-ins.
• West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership local mental health crisis lines are open throughout the Christmas and New Year period:
• The Grief and Loss service number is 0808 196 3833 (open 8am – 8pm every day, including all bank holidays) There’s also an online chat and 24/7 crisis line: 0800 183 1485
• Winter wellbeing checklist for children and adults –Winter wellbeing checklists (leeds.gov.uk)
• Warm Spaces within the community are listed on the map.

Social Activities

Asha Neighbourhood Project (for women and children):

• Open Monday to Friday (9:30-4:30) until the 23^rd of December 2022.
• Re-opens – Tuesday the 3^rd of January 2023.

Left Bank (Cardigan Rd, Burley, Leeds LS6 1LJ) 

• Thursday 22^nd December (10am-2pm) Healthy Holidays Family Christmas Party book a space here 

Conversation Club Christmas Party – 15^th December 2022 1pm-3:30pm click here to book in advance

Rainbow Junktion community cafe are taking advanced bookings for Christmas lunch – 25^th December 2022 (12pm-3pm)

St Aidan’s Church Food Cycle Meal (Roundhay Road, LS5 5QD)

• Thursday 22^nd December 2022 6:30pm-8:00pm

Homelessness/Accommodation

People seeking asylum and refugees should contact LCC Housing options – their out of hours number is 07891 273939

• Micro Rainbow provide safe temporary shelter for LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers, refugees & people with unresolved migration status and can be contacted in emergencies during the Christmas holiday period (excluding New Year’s day & Christmas day). E: [email protected] Tel: 0800 358 5851
• Some emergency accommodation for roofless people may be available over this period, but it can only be accessed via LCC Housing Options 07891 273939.
• St George’s Crypt will only usually take refugees or people with the right to remain in the UK.
• If temperatures drop beneath zero degrees overnight then the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol kicks in and anyone can find shelter, regardless of their immigration status. You can find out if the SWEP has been declared by looking at the Street Support Website. Check daily after 3pm

Homeless Households with Children under 16

• Homeless households with children under 16, should contact Leeds City Council and ask for help under Section 17 of the Children’s Act (regardless of their immigration status). They can also use the emergency out of hours number 07891 273939.

Home Office

Cards

• Lost ARC/Aspen card queries – 0800 246 1327 (Migrant Help)

General

• This UK.GOV web tool takes you through a series of questions to help you find the right place to contact

Immigration Reporting Centres

• Current guidance and contacts details

Removals & Return

• Voluntary Departure team – 0300 004 0202

COVID Info and Support

• National Guidance – https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

• Leeds Info/Guidance – https://www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus

• Translated materials on Covid related topics –https://migrantinfohub.org.uk/multilingual-resources

• COVID Explained is a new website translated into 12 languages to bring all the up-to-date information in one place