Support for refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants in Leeds over Christmas 2024 (last updated 13th Dec 2024)

Telephone support

• Migrant Help telephone advice and guidance for asylum support and repairs issues is now open 24/7 – 0808 8010 503  
• To report a problem to Migrant Help/Mears, check the email address list. Also, check (what Migrant Help can and cannot help with)
• Refugee Council’s Telephone infoline – 0808 196 7272 is open Monday and Thursday between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm. 

Face to Face Drop-Ins

Meeting Point

• Meeting Point drop-ins focus on providing food, clothing and a warm, friendly social space for refugees and asylum seekers.
• Monday 23rd December is a Food-parcels drop-in only.  Regular operations will resume on 6th January.

PAFRAS

• PAFRAS drop-ins (St Aidan’s Community Hall, Elford Place West, Leeds LS8 5QD):
• Wednesday 18th December 2024, 9:45 – 12:00, last drop-in before Christmas. Food parcels and presents NO ADVICE
• The PAFRAS office is closed from Friday, 20th December 2024, until Wednesday, 1st January 2025. No casework, advice or support will be available during this period.
• PAFRAS office re-opens on the 2nd of January 2025
• PAFRAS drop-in – Wednesday, 8th January 2025

Leeds Refugee Forum

• LRF activities will pause on Friday, 20th December, and we will resume on Monday, 6th January.
• Hardship Fund Payments:
  • We will consider referrals for this period and can process payments in advance on Wednesday, 18th December.
  • For those referred after this date, payments can be backdated accordingly.

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. 

Domestic Violence Support

Similarly, we hope no one needs to use the Leeds Domestic Violence Service 24HR HELPLINE 0113 246 0401

Drugs, Alcohol and Substance Use

• Forward Leeds will be open as usual up until Monday 23 December 2024, then:
• Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24 December 2024, 9am-3pm
• Christmas Day, Wednesday 25 December 2024, closed
• Boxing Day, Thursday 26 December 2024, closed
• Friday 27 December 2024, open 9am-3pm
• Saturday and Sunday closed as usual
• Monday 30 December 2024, open 9am-5pm
• New Year’s Eve, Tuesday 31 December 2024, open 9am-3pm
• New Year’s Day, Wednesday 1 January 2025, closed
• Thursday 2 January 2025, open as usual

Food  

• The Leeds Food Aid Network Map lists all emergency food providers on the Leeds Food Aid Network » Emergency Food webpage.

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 (including 25th December and 1st January) from 8 am – 11 pm 
• NHS Walk-In at Shakespeare Medical Centre in Lincoln Green is also open every day (including 25th December and 1st January) 8 am – 8 pm
• Emergency Dentists can be accessed by calling 111 
• Warm Spaces within the community are listed on the map.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Live Well Leeds

• has listed Emergency Contacts, including out-of-hours drop-ins.

Mindwell

• Mindwell have created a Mental health services directory – MindWell (mindwell-leeds.org.uk) 
• Details on how to self-refer to mental health support are here. Self-referral information – MindWell
• Mindwell Christmas Wellbeing Resource
• Mindwell Crisis Resource – (Download or print this information)

Touchstone

• Winter Wellbeing booklet 2024

• Winter wellbeing checklist for children and adults –Winter wellbeing checklists (leeds.gov.uk)

Homelessness/Accommodation

• People seeking asylum and refugees should contact LCC Housing Options – their out-of-hours number is 0113 378 8366
• 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 0113 378 8366
• St George’s Crypt will only usually take refugees or people with the right to remain in the UK.

Severe weather

• 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 3 pm.

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 

• A complete list of Home office numbers and contacts can be found here 
• 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 contact details
• Removals & Return – Voluntary Departure team – 0300 004 0202