Get Help
JRS UK supports destitute asylum seekers across Greater London, and people in immigration detention at Heathrow.
We are open for new registrations. Please continue reading for more information on how to register.
JRS UK provides services for destitute asylum seekers who are ‘Appeals Rights Exhausted’ and who are not eligible for, and do not receive asylum support, Section 4 support, or assistance from social services.
We welcome all nationalities, people of any faith and those who have no faith; there is no proselytising.
During COVID-19 restrictions, we are operating an over-the-phone registration and appointment system for those needing to access our services. To register, please phone 020 7488 7310 Monday to Friday between 10am – 5pm.
If we cannot take your call, please leave a message with your name and your phone number and we will call you back as soon as we can.
A member of the JRS team will contact you and check that you meet the criteria for our support, and discuss whether it is what you want. We will ask for some basic details and ask you to send us some evidence that you are an appeal rights exhausted asylum seeker.
Once you’ve been registered, we’ll introduce you to the ways JRS UK can help in more detail.
If we’re not able to register you at this time, these organisations may be able to help.
JRS Shop
As COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease, JRS is slowly starting to re-open our face-to-face services. Sadly, we are still not able to open the weekly Day Centre.
The centre is open in the afternoons for refugees registered with JRS to visit the JRS Shop: to collect food parcels, toiletries, enjoy a cup of tea, and, where possible, speak to a member of the JRS team for advice face-to-face.
A member of the JRS team will contact you to arrange a day and time for you to visit and explain the COVID-19 health & safety precautions we have in place.
You must have an appointment to visit JRS in Wapping at this time. If you come without an appointment, we’re sorry but we will have to turn you away.
For more information, or to register please contact us on 020 7488 7310. The JRS team remains available to support you as much as possible over the phone.
Advice, Support & Hardship Grants
Once registered with JRS, as well as accessing the JRS Shop (by appointmnet), you can receive small hardship grants via a top-up cash card (Equals card) and regular mobile phone credit top-ups too.
We continue to offer casework advice and support over the phone; as well as an emotional support & befriending scheme, where we pair you up with one of our volunteers for regular check-ins.
For more information, or to register with JRS UK, please contact us on 020 7488 7310
Refugee-led activities
Once registered with JRS UK, you’ll be able to participate in a range of online (and some face-to-face) activities including:
- Creative writing
- Drama
- Photography
- Acupuncture & Reflexology
- Bike lessons with The Bike Project
- Prayer and reflection groups
For more information, or to register with JRS UK, please contact us on 020 7488 7310
Detention Outreach Services
Our Detention Outreach team offers support to those currently detained at Colnbrook and Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centres near Heathrow. Our team of volunteers are on hand to offer emotional and pastoral support, and practical help during your time in detention. If we are not able to help you, we might know someone who can, and can assist you in contacting them.
If would like some support and someone to talk to you can call us on 020 7488 7319. Our services are free, confidential and open to everyone at Harmondsworth and Colnbrook. If we cannot take your call, leave a message with your name and phone number and we will call you back as soon as we can.
Post Detention Support
For many who experience immigration detention in the UK feelings of isolation and deterioration of physical and mental wellbeing are common. Unfortunately, the impact of detention continues to affect individuals long after release. JRS UK run a peer support group that brings together individuals who have experienced immigration detention in the UK.
This group is a safe space to speak with others about shared experiences, an opportunity for creative and skill building activities, and a place to help one another and rebuild trust.
If you have been supporting someone in detention and think that they would benefit from this group support contact William at william.neal@jrs.net or call 020 7488 7323.
Other places who may be able to offer you support
Other places who may be able to offer you support
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There are other places across London who may be able to offer support as well as JRS UK. Below is a short list of places.
Samaritans
116 123
Services:
- Call free helpline on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org to talk through any worries, concerns and troubles.
- Open 24/7, 365 days a year
Shelter
0808 800 4444
Various Locations: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Services:
- Help with housing issues and homelessness
- Applying for shelter
- Legal advice
- Book via phone or online
Manna Centre
12 Melior Street
SE1 3QP
(near London Bridge station)
020 7403 1931
Services:
- Daily Drop-in from 10 am – 1 pm
- Takeaway meal, consisting of a hot dinner and a sandwich.
- Housing & welfare advice helpline 020 7403 1931 (choose option 1)
- Mon/Wed/Friday: clothing (request slip needs to be filled)
British Red Cross
Services:
Refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants can get free emergency support including:
- food
- small amounts of cash
- clothes
- toiletries
- blankets
- baby items
What is offered depends where you are in the country. Help could also include:
- reuniting with family
- travel vouchers
- benefits and career advice
- help registering with a doctor or dentist
- coming with you to appointments
- learning about life in the UK
- getting to know your local area
- counselling
South London Refugee Association
The Woodlawns Centre
16 Leigham Court Road
SW16 2PJ
Services:
- Telephone advice prioritised for asylum seekers, new refugees at risk of destitution & families, individuals with no recourse to public funds on homelessness, housing issues, destitution, welfare benefits, asylum support and immigration issues.
- Caseworkers will continue to provide casework support to adults and young people remotely. We will be using interpreters to support phone conversations for those who need this.
- Support volunteers will call those identified as vulnerable or isolated regularly, checking in with them, having a chat and making sure that they have access to food and medicine if they are self-isolating.
- Women’s Group on Whatsapp and Zoom, and Women’s Group facilitator will be sharing resources, selfcare material, educational games for children, virtual yoga sessions and will be keeping the women updated with the
news and with changes. - Counsellor is providing telephone support for those receiving
casework support or advice from our team. - Youth Activities for young people ages 14 to 18 years who would
usually attend the Youth Club - Emergency Hardship Support, delivery of food and other essentials including toiletries and sanitary products. We can also provide small one-off hardship payments ( up to £20 per person) for families who are experiencing severe hardship and those who have no recourse to public funds. Please note that this emergency service is only available to clients with no other income or support and who
are local to us (Lambeth, Wandsworth, Merton, Croydon and Southwark).
Notre Dame Refugee Centre
Maison Pierre Chanel
16 Leicester Square
London, WC2H 7LE
Immigration advice line: 0207 440 2669 (10.30-12.30, Wednesdays & 10.30-13.30 on Fridays)
Services:
Support asylum seekers throughout the asylum process:
- Before an asylum claim has been lodged with the Home Office
- Whilst awaiting a decision.
- After the decision has been received, and regardless of whether the applicant has been recognised by the Home Office as a refugee.
- If recognised as a refugee, we can then assist with Family Reunion applications
- Support non-EU migrants who have not claimed asylum, but are seeking or have sought leave to remain under human rights legislation, usually through having established a private or family life under the European Convention on Human Rights.
- Non-EU family members of EU citizen’s resident in the UK can also receive assistance from us to regularise their stay, or bring other family members to the UK.
- Representing clients at the Immigration tribunal where there is merit in their case and legal aid is not available.
Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers
020 7732 0505
office@sdcas.org.uk
Various Day centres at Copleston Centre (Tuesdays), Peckham Park Road Baptist Church (Wednesdays) and St Mary’s Newington (Thursdays) are available to clients on a drop-in basis.
Services:
- Emergency parcels of food and other essentials to those who need them on Wednesdays at 121 Peckham Park Road, Peckham Park Road Baptist Church, SE15 6SX from 10am – 2pm
- Providing people access to food, toiletries, safe accommodation and government support
- Facilitating people’s access to healthcare
Hackney Migrant Centre
Services:
Book an appointment on the Advice Line, call 07961 014182 (Mondays, 10am -11.30am)
Advice line offers free advice and casework for all migrants regardless of immigration status, nationality or current place of residence on:
- Immigration
- Homelessness and insecure housing, including destitution cases with “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF)
- Poverty relief, including food bank vouchers and small grants
- Health advocacy, for help with access to NHS services, GP registration and problems with NHS charges.
Refugee Council
Services:
- Infoline (08081967272)– aims to connect refugees and people seeking asylum with organisations who can help. This is a short term project to support people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Crisis advice and practical support for refugees, help them to integrate into their new communities
- Mental health counselling to help refugees come to terms with the trauma so many of them have experienced.
- Support refugee children and young people who arrive in the UK alone.
