Asylum Rights Programme

There are around 3,000 asylum seekers in Wales [1]. They can often find it difficult to access their rights while navigating the UK’s complex asylum system.

The Asylum Rights Programme is a partnership of seven Welsh organisations. It aims to promote and ensure the rights of people seeking asylum and living in Wales in three ways:

• Ensuring that people seeking asylum know their rights and have support, where and when needed, to claim them.
• Ensuring that professionals working with people seeking asylum understand the needs of the people they are supporting, as well as their role in contributing to a Wales where rights are enjoyed.
• Informing and influencing public understanding about the right to asylum and the benefits of welcoming people in need to Wales. 

 

For specialist support for female asylum seekers please go here

Ensuring that people seeking asylum know their rights and have support, where and when needed, to claim them.  Download a copy of our leaflet here to find out how people can access the services.

Casework help

The Asylum Rights Programme will offer one-to-one information, advice and casework support to people seeking asylum across Wales from April 2017 until March 2020.  Where practical, people will have access to advisors in person through services based in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham.

Cardiff

Welsh Refugee Council, 120-122 Broadway, Cardiff, CF24 1NJ

Please call 02920 489 800 for our drop-in times or to make an appointment

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays: 9:30 am -12:30 pm and 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Wednesdays and Fridays: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

 

 

Newport

Welsh Refugee Council, 125 Lower Dock Street, Newport, NP20 1EG

01633 266 420

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm – 2:00 - 3:30 pm

 

Swansea

EYST, 11 St Helens Road, Swansea SA1 4AB

01792 466 980/1

Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm by appointment only

 

Wrexham

Bawso, 33 Grosvenor Road, Wrexham, LL11 1BT

01978 355 818

Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

 

Volunteering opportunities

We will also be seeking to support those from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds into sustainable volunteering opportunities. If you would like to let us know about any volunteering opportunities you have available or to let us know if you are working with someone who would like to volunteer please contact arp@services.wrc.wales

Advocacy groups

DPIA are supporting an asylum seeker and refugee forum in Swansea to empower asylum seekers and refugees to highlight and challenge the issues which affect them. To refer someone to the forum please contact DPIA on www.dpia.org.uk.  Please note: This forum is open ONLY to those from an asylum seeker or refugee background.

 

Ensuring that professionals working with people seeking asylum understand the needs of the people they are supporting, as well as their role in contributing to a Wales where rights are enjoyed.

Training

We will be providing the following training to professionals working with asylum seekers and refugees:

• Asylum seeker and refugee needs – things to be aware of when providing services
• Forced marriage, FGM and Modern Day Slavery

 To enquire about training for your organisation or to join the waiting list for training sessions please contact arp@services.wrc.wales

Speakers

DPIA are supporting a group of speakers who have experience of life as a refugee and/ or an asylum seeker. To make an enquiry about asking a speaker to attend an event you are holding please contact DPIA on www.dpia.org.uk 

 

Informing and influencing public understanding about the right to asylum and the benefits of welcoming people in need to Wales. 

Awareness raising

As well as seeking to promote positive stories of asylum seekers in Wales throughout the year, we will be using national days of interest to focus awareness of the contribution of asylum seekers and refugees to Wales. These key dates are:

Black History Month                October 2017

Human Rights Day                  10th December, 2017

Sanctuary in the Senedd       23rd January, 2018

Holocaust Memorial Day        27th January, 2018

St David's Day                          01st March 2018

International Women's Day   08th March, 2018

Refugee Week Wales              18th - 24th June, 2018