our work > Choices assisted voluntary return programme
Choices Assisted Voluntary Return Service
Who is the Choices service for?
- Asylum seekers and refused asylum seekers
- Families and children
- People in the UK with no legal status (irregular migrants)
- People with discretionary leave to remain
What does the Choices service offer?
- Confidential, impartial and non-directive advice and information to help people to decide whether or not to return voluntarily to their country
- For those who decide not to return, referral to other services
For those who decide to return to their country,
we will support them with:
- Planning for the return - for example the journey from the airport to their home town / village, where they will live, what they would like to do, contacting family
- Applying for travel documents and booking flights
- Assistance at the airports, both in the UK and overseas if required
- Financial support with the flight, and in some cases for temporary help with reintegration
- Information on packages of support that may be available in the country of return; - education, employment, training, business packages
How do we run the service?
Like all Refugee Action’s advice services, we offer independent, confidential and non-directive advice. In other words, we give people the information they need to empower them to be able to make an informed decision. We do not try to persuade people either to return or not to return – we respect their decision.
Choices Offices
Our main Choices offices are in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds. We also have staff in Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Wolverhampton.
London
Refugee Action London
Head Office
Victoria Charity Centre
11 Belgrave Road
London
SW1V 1RB
Tel: 0808 800 0007
Fax: 0207 828 5334
Manchester
Refugee Action
Greater Manchester
23-37 Edge Street
Manchester
M4 1HW
Tel (clients): 0808 800 0007
Tel (admin): 0161 831 5420
Fax: 0161 834 7715
Birmingham
Refugee Action Birmingham
Jewellery Business Centre
95 Spencer Street
Birmingham
B18 6DA
Tel: 0121 201 3070
Leeds
Refugee Action Leeds
16 Lower Brunswick Street
Leeds
LS2 7PU
Tel: 0113 302 3050
Fax: 0113 243 6065
Contact us
Freephone number: 0808 800 0007
Email us: choices@refugee-action.org.uk
Who is the Choices service funded by?
The programme is funded by the UK Border Agency and the European Return Fund. However, as a charity we operate entirely independently from both of these agencies, providing confidential, independent and non-directive advice for people seeking assistance from us.
Co-financed by the European Return Fund
Working together to manage migration
Further Information
Stories of Return
Tendering and partnership working opportunities
Implementing this project will involve a number of opportunities for other organisations to work with us to prepare for and deliver this Service across the UK and in all of the countries of return.