Salford City Council strives to provide access to services, support and a variety of activities to people who are fleeing violence and persecution in their own countries.
Salford City Council is proud to be a growing diverse and inclusive authority and we welcome all new residents in our city, including those that are seeking sanctuary. We are developing a welcome pack for all new arrival people and families which will be translated into our most used languages. The important information within these packs will hopefully help you settle more quickly into our community.
Health care
The main way to access healthcare in the UK is through a local doctor called a General Practitioner (GP). You can register with a GP on the NHS website or speak to staff who are supporting you or drop into one of the Salford's Gateway Centres and staff at the reception desk will be able to help you.
Registering with a GP is free and you do not need proof of address, proof of immigration status, identification or an NHS number.
Health information and support services for refugees, migrants and asylum seekers (translation available in some cases)
Wellbeing
Oral health
Flu vaccine
Health visiting and school nursing
Speech and language support
Diabetes
Cancer
Mental health support
The Asylum Seeker Mental Health Consultation service helps service users understand their unique circumstances and assist them with the asylum seeker processes.
The service accepts referrals from Salford GP, crisis teams, A & E liaison, primary care psychology, Salford Royal Hospital and self-referral for service users who are resident in the Salford area who have not yet secured a local GP service and need assistance to do so.
For more support and advice on mental health issues please see the Partners in Salford.
Learning and education
English language classes
The government provides funding for English as a second or other language (ESOL) classes for people seeking asylum who have been waiting 6 months or more for a response to their asylum claim.
There are many opportunities in Salford to improve your English through these ESOL classes or through more relaxed ways in the community through our Talk English Learning Cafes. Regular classes are held at the following places:
Call Kasia on 0161 778 0146 for more information or see the Salford ESOL Facebook page.
Education for children and young people
All children and young people who are school-aged will need to apply for a school or college place as soon as possible. See the schools and college finder.
You can complete an online school application or by sending in a printed copy. Ask your housing officer to help or drop into one of the Salford Gateway Centres and staff at the reception will help you.
Childcare
Some 2 year olds and all 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to free funded childcare.
Help and support
Salford Family Hub are places in your local community offering services and support for families from different agencies in one building.
Sanctuary Seekers | University of Salford
Applying and studying at university can be a challenge for any student, but for those who are seeking sanctuary or been granted refugee status in the UK, there can be many legal and emotional challenges as well. We work in partnership with local and national organisations to ensure that we can offer effective support for you.
Article 26 scholarships
The University of Salford provides Article 26 scholarships to enable people seeking sanctuary/asylum or other forced migrant backgrounds to progress to higher education. Salford University is proud to be one of the first of a growing number of universities to offer Article 26 scholarships. These scholarships have been given out since 2012 and all scholarship holders have been successful in finishing and gaining a degree.
Help to buy school uniforms
Many Salford schools will help you with school uniform if they know you are an asylum seeker. You can get help from charities and Salford assist if you can get a support officer to refer you. See links below:
Free School Meals
A child will be entitled to free school meals when the family are receiving Home Office asylum support provided under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This includes section 95 or section 98 asylum support. The government have permanently extended free school meal eligibility to children in all households with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) status.
Regaining professional identity and supporting NHS workforce recruitment
REACHE (Refugee and Asylum Seekers Centre for Healthcare Professionals Education) established in 2003, has been supporting Refugee and Asylum-seeking Healthcare Professionals (RHPs) to register their qualifications in the UK. We have an education centre based at Salford Royal Hospital, part of the Northern Care Alliance Foundation and are supported by NHS England and the University of Manchester.
Transport
Asylum seeking children will get support to travel to school or college if the institution is 2 miles or more from their residence and the school has been allocated by the local authority.
Asylum seeking adults who enrol on full time courses at Salford City college such as ESOL are entitled to a bus pass if they live 2 miles or more from the learning centre.
Activities in Salford
There are many different activities that people seeking asylum in Salford can access.
Taking part in activities is good for your physical and mental health and will help you get to know the local area and community. There are lots of things to do in Salford including sport and leisure, arts, history, culture, countryside and waterways. To find our more see Visit Salford.
Free and simple ways to get active and move more
Salford has 60 parks and green spaces and 29 kilometres of traffic-free ‘loop lines’, all great for gentle walks, cycle rides, physical activities with the children or even working out outdoors. See the links below to find out what is available!
Volunteering in the community
We value the contribution that people seeking asylum want to make to their new community. People seeking asylum are restricted from gaining employment, we want to help prepare people seeking asylum for the workforce upon receiving their Leave to Remain. Please see the links below to find out how you can get involved in volunteering.
Hate crimes
A hate crime incident is an offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by an offender's hatred of someone because of their:
Hate crime incidents include:
Hate incidents can be verbal abuse but if the victim feels threatened or is caused distress, this could become a hate crime.
Report a hate crime
You can report any form of hate crime anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or phone the police's non-emergency reporting number on 101.
In an emergency ring 999.
Safeguarding concerns
Adults
If you have any safeguarding concerns, including the physical or mental wellbeing of yourself or someone you know or live with you can report this online, report safeguarding adult concerns or ring 0161 206 0604.
Children
If you have safeguarding concerns about a child, you must report this on the Salford Council website. report safeguarding children concerns or by ringing 0161 603 4500.
Help and support
Migrant Help gives telephone, email and web chat support to asylum applicants or refugees. They use interpreters. They provide free, independent advice and guidance to asylum seekers. You can ask for help:
Food banks and clubs in Salford
If you need emergency food, find your nearest food bank or club.
Cost of living support
For help with other items please click on the Cost-of-Living Support websites.
Legal advice
Asylum law is complicated, and getting good legal advice is important. Find a solicitor as soon as possible. There are very short deadlines for providing the evidence needed to support asylum claims.
Organisations and charities that can help you with your case include:
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