We know how hard it can be to find information and help on the asylum system. While Refugee Action has some services that can help in relation to asylum, we unfortunately can’t help with every type of query, especially those that need legal advice.

The following information includes the kind of help we can provide and the details of organisations that can help with other types of support.

Please note that we are not an international charity – we work with refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and so unfortunately can’t provide assistance to people looking for help in other countries.

If you need general asylum advice or information:

Asylum Info Groups (Liverpool) offers group sessions on the asylum process for newly arrived asylum seekers in Liverpool.
Phone: 07917 093 159

Increasing Asylum Justice (Manchester) – offers advice for asylum seekers in the Manchester area
Phone: 0161 831 5449, Monday – Thursday 09:30 – 13:00.

Advice Health & Therapeutic Service project (Bradford) offers immigration and asylum advice to asylum seekers and refugees in Bradford
Phone: 01274 924982

These services cannot always answer the phone immediately – please leave a message and a way to contact you back (including if you need an interpreter to help explain your situation) and we will get back to you as soon as we can. It may take a few days for someone to contact you because the services are very busy.

If you have claimed asylum and need accommodation and financial support:

Asylum Help provides free independent advice and guidance to asylum seekers across the UK.
Phone: 0808 8010 503, Monday – Friday: 08:30 – 17:30

This is not a Refugee Action service. More details can be found on the Asylum Help website http://asylumhelpuk.org/

If you have problems with your support/accommodation, or you have applied for support but it has been refused, or your support has been stopped, perhaps because your asylum claim was rejected:

Refugee Action offers the following services:

Asylum Crisis (London) –if you are an asylum seeker in London and you need accommodation or support or your support has been refused or terminated, this service can help you.
Phone: 0207 952 1599

You can contact our Asylum Crisis (Manchester) project by following this link.

Asylum Crisis (West Midlands) provides destitute people who are seeking asylum with the expert advice and casework they need to access support. Contact the project on 0121-201-3090 , email CARE@refugee-action.org.uk or use WhatsApp on 07827775956 or 07929769363.

Children and Families (Bradford) – helps families with children who are seeking asylum or have refugee status to get support, make friends and become active in their new communities in Bradford.
Phone: 01274 924982

These services cannot always answer the phone immediately – please leave a message and a way to contact you back (including if you need an interpreter to help explain your situation) and we will get back to you as soon as we can. It may take a few days for someone to contact you because the services are very busy.

Voluntary Departures and Assisted Voluntary Return:

Refugee Action no longer runs the Choices Assisted Voluntary Returns programme. The Assisted Voluntary Returns (AVR) programme is now managed entirely by the Home Office. They can be contacted about this and the details are as follows.

Voluntary Returns Service
voluntaryreturns@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 004 0202
Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.30 pm

Please be aware that if you contact the Home Office about AVR you will be notifying them of your interest in returning to your country of origin. The Home Office may take this information into account if you have a current application to remain in the UK or if you make one in the future. Please seek legal advice if you are not certain of your position.

Please seek legal advice if you are not certain.