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Links
UNHCR is not responsible
for the content of external internet sites listed here or cited
elsewhere within this site.
Organisations
providing legal support and advice
The
Aire Centre
Provides information and advice throughout Europe on international
human rights law, including the rights of individuals under the
provisions of European Community Law.
Asylum
Aid
Asylum Aid is a charity which provides free legal advice and representation
to refugees and asylum-seekers seeking safety in the UK from persecution.
They also campaign for the fair treatment of refugees in the UK.
Bail
for Immigration Detainees (BID)
BID provides a free dedicated bail service for those detained under
immigration legislation.
Immigration
Advisory Service (IAS)
The Immigration Advisory Service is a charity with over thirty years'
experience and more than 250 staff members. It has branches located
throughout the UK and participates in the Community Legal Service
scheme. All their advisers are professionals specialising in immigration
and asylum. The IAS also operates a helpline.
Inform
Project
The Inform Project was set up by the Africa Educational Trust (AET)
in conjunction with over 40 refugee community organisations in London.
It is designed to be run by volunteers to help young refugees and
asylum seekers access more up to date information about education,
training and employment opportunities in the U.K, assist them gain
work experience and skills in the U.K, disseminate information on
services provided across the U.K. for refugee and asylum seekers
and foster networking among refugee community organisations in London.
Citizens
Advice
The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their money, legal
and other problems by providing information and advice, and by influencing
policymakers.
Joint
Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI)
JCWI is an independent national voluntary organisation, campaigning
for justice and combating racism in immigration and asylum law and
policy. JCWI offers free legal advice on immigration, nationality
and asylum matters from an advice telephone line.
Refugee
Legal Centre
Provides legal advice and representation for those seeking protection
under international and national Human Rights Asylum law. They also
deliver training and other support to those giving advice and representation
in such cases and seek to promote the interests of their clients
individually and collectively through law and public policy.
Other
legal organisations campaigning on asylum
European
Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)
ECRE is an umbrella organisation of 73 refugee-assisting agencies
in 30 countries working towards fair and humane policies for the
treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.
Immigration
Law Practitioners Association (ILPA)
The Immigration Law Practitioners' Association was established in
1984 by a group of leading UK immigration practitioners to: promote
and improve the advising and representation of immigrants; provide
information to members on domestic and European immigration, refugee
and nationality law; secure a non-racist, non-sexist, just and equitable
system of immigration, refugee and nationality law.
Support
for asylum seekers and refugees
Citizens
Advice
The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their money, legal
and other problems by providing information and advice, and by influencing
policymakers.
Refugee
Action
Refugee Action is an independent charity that supports refugees
and asylum seekers to build new lives in the UK. They campaign to
ensure that refugees' voices are heard in matters that affect them,
and that people's needs are met.
Refugee
Arrivals
They are an independent organisation giving advice and assistance
to newly arrived asylum seekers in the UK.
Refugee
Council
The Refugee Council is the largest organisation in the UK working
with asylum seekers and refugees. They not only give help and support,
but also work with asylum seekers and refugees to ensure their needs
and concerns are addressed.
Refugee
Education Training and Advisory Service (RETAS)
RETAS is a registered charitable organisation offering information,
advice and guidance on education, training and employment for refugees.
Refugees
Online
Provides training in website production and online journalism for
refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.
Other
Agencies helping refugees in the UK
Amnesty
International
Amnesty International is a worldwide voluntary movement of people
who campaign for human rights.
British
Red Cross
The British Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and
Red Crescent Movement, the world's largest independent humanitarian
organisation. The British Red Cross provides practical and emotional
assistance to vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers arriving in
the UK. They also restore family links of those separated by war
or disaster. On average, the British Red Cross reunites one family
per day.
Medical
Foundation
Founded in 1985, the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims
of Torture is an independent charity that provides care and rehabilitation
to survivors of torture and other forms of organised violence. The
Medical Foundation is the UK's only treatment centre dedicated to
helping the survivors of torture and organised violence.
Oxfam
Oxfam GB is a development, relief, and campaigning organisation
dedicated to finding lasting solutions to poverty and suffering
around the world. Oxfam supported the Refugee Council by opening
a night shelter and day centre for asylum-seekers in London, now
called the One Stop Service. They offer emergency food and shelter
as well as help with language classes and legal and health advice.
They have also worked with other agencies to help provide clothing
to many individuals and families left destitute in Great Britain,
and often ill prepared for the harsher British winters.
PRAXIS
Praxis is a membership organisation advancing the human rights and
social justice of people displaced by war, conflict, impoverishment
and environmental degradation.
Refugee
Action
Refugee Action is an independent charity that supports refugees
and asylum seekers to build new lives in the UK. They campaign to
ensure that refugees' voices are heard in matters that affect them,
and that people's needs are met.
Refugee
Council
The Refugee Council is the largest organisation in the UK working
with asylum seekers and refugees. They not only give help and support,
but also work with asylum seekers and refugees to ensure their needs
and concerns are addressed.
Save
the Children
They are the UK's leading international children's charity, working
to create a better future for children. They are active in the UK,
as well as around 70 countries worldwide. They involve children
in what they do - they believe in listening and learning from them.
Save the Children is currently campaigning for refugee and asylum
seeker children's rights.
Scottish
Refugee Council
They are the Scottish Charity that provide advice, information and
assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland. They promote
a strategic response to refugee needs and campaign to ensure Scotland
plays its role meeting the UK's legal and humanitarian obligations
under the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees.
Student
Action for Refugees (STAR)
STAR is an organisation that gives university students and young
people (16-18 years) the opportunity to learn about and raise awareness
of refugee issues in innovative ways, support refugees in a practical
way in their local communities through volunteering and campaign
with and for the rights of refugees everywhere
Other
Agencies helping refugees Worldwide
The
AMAR International Charitable Foundation (AMAR)
AMAR's aim is to recover and to sustain professional services in
medicine, public health, education and basic need provision within
refugee and other communities living under stress in war zones or
in areas of civil disorder and disruption.
Amnesty
International
Amnesty International is a worldwide voluntary movement of people
who campaign for human rights.
Care
International UK
CARE
provides emergency food and shelter to survivors of natural disasters,
wars and conflicts. They remain with communities long after initial
relief efforts are completed and support initiatives to enable people
to rebuild their lives and to face the future with renewed confidence.
CAFOD
CAFOD is a major British charity that has been fighting world poverty
since 962. CAFOD funds partner organisations working in over 70
countries. Projects range from working with child soldiers in Sierra
Leone to building homes for Afghan refugees in Shamshatoo.
Concern
Concern's mission is to enable absolutely poor people to achieve
major improvements in their lifestyles which are sustainable without
ongoing support from Concern. They work with the poor themselves
and with local and international partners who share our vision to
create just and peaceful societies where the poor can exercise their
fundamental rights. Projects include working in the north of Afghanistan
providing emergency relief to internally displaced people.
Christian
Aid
An agency of the churches in the UK and Ireland, Christian Aid works
wherever the need is greatest, irrespective of religion. It supports
local organisations, which are best placed to understand local needs,
as well as giving help on the ground through 16 overseas offices.
Christian
Aid launched emergency programmes which have helped more than 500,000
people in Afghanistan. The assistance has ranged from the provision
of emergency food relief, clothing, tents and clean drinking water,
through to distributing seeds and fertilisers for the spring planting,
and the replenishment of livestock. Longer-term development work
has continued enabling communities to strengthen their local structures
through vocational training, health worker training, construction
of clinics, micro credit, seed banks, fruit tree planting, irrigation
works and vegetable plots.
International
Red Cross
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's
largest independent humanitarian organisation. The International
Federation - through its network of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
- is well placed to assist refugees and displaced people.
Medical
Emergency Relief International (MERLIN)
Merlin exists to respond to medical emergencies in the most vulnerable
parts of the world. For example, Merlin has provided healthcare
to locals, returnees and displaced people in the Democratic Republic
of Congo.
Medecins
Sans Frontieres (MSF)
MSF is an independent humanitarian medical aid agency committed
to two objectives: providing medical aid wherever needed, regardless
of race, religion, politics or sex and raising awareness of the
plight of the people they help. For example, MSF provides health
care for 30,000 Liberian refugees in Sierra Leone.
Ockenden
International (OI)
Ockenden International is an award-winning charity whose aim is
to ease the suffering of refugees in today's world and give them
a chance of a more stable future. OI is a non-governmental, politically
neutral organisation working directly with refugee communities in
some of the poorest and most war-torn countries including Afghanistan,
Cambodia and Sudan. Bridging the gap between aid and development,
OI helps to give refugees the education, skills and confidence they
need to re-build their lives.
Oxfam
Oxfam GB is a development, relief, and campaigning organisation
dedicated to finding lasting solutions to poverty and suffering
around the world. For example, Oxfam has been working in Somaliland
since 1991, initially addressing the immediate emergency needs of
refugees returning from Ethiopia.
RedR
RedR relieves suffering in disasters by selecting, training and
providing competent and effective personnel to humanitarian aid
agencies worldwide. The members of RedR's registers form a unique
body of highly motivated and competent individuals who can be called
upon at very short notice to strengthen the response of front-line
humanitarian agencies.
Save
the Children
They are the UK's leading international children's charity, working
to create a better future for children. They work in around 70 countries
worldwide. They involve children in what they do - they believe
in listening and learning from them. An example of their work is
the reunification of thousands of families torn apart by war in
Africa and Bosnia.
World
University Service
The World University Service works with refugees in development
education in parts of Africa, Peru and the Middle East.
Inter Govermental Organisations in the UK
International
Labour Organisation - (ILO)
The International Labour Organization is the UN specialised agency
which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally
recognized human and labour rights. It was founded in 1919 and is
the only surviving major creation of the Treaty of Versailles which
brought the League of Nations into being and it became the first
specialized agency of the UN in 1946.
International
Maritime Organisation (IMO)
The International Maritime Organisation is the United Nations specialised
agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing
pollution from ships. They are also commited to technical co-operation.
International
Organisation for Migration (IOM)
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is committed
to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants
and society. As an intergovernmental body, IOM acts with its partners
in the international community to assist in meeting the operational
challenges of migration, advance understanding of migration issues,
encourage social and economic development through migration and
uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.
United Nations
Association (UNA)
The United Nations Association of the UK is a voluntary, membership-based
non-governmental organisation. They campaign, educate and fundraise
to help turn the ideals of the United Nations into reality.
United
Nations Information Centre (UNIC)
The main functions of the London office are official representation
of the United Nations in the United Kingdom and Ireland and dissemination
of UN information to the media, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs),
academic institutions and the general public.
UNICEF
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is a global champion
for children's rights which makes a lasting difference by working
with communities and influencing governments.
Educational/Research
Africa
Educational Trust
The Trust supports education in Africa, African students studying
outside of Africa and research and dissemination of information
about Africa.
Inform
Project
The Inform Project was set up by the Africa Educational Trust (AET)
in conjunction with over 40 refugee community organisations in London.
It is designed to be run by volunteers to help young refugees and
asylum seekers access more up to date information about education,
training and employment opportunities in the U.K, assist them gain
work experience and skills in the U.K, disseminate information on
services provided across the U.K. for refugee and asylum seekers
and foster networking among refugee community organisations in London.
Information
Centre about Asylum and Refugees (ICAR)
ICAR is an independent centre set up to collect, compile and disseminate
up to date, comprehensive and academically credible information
about refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, in order to promote
better understanding of the issues. It responds to the need for
authoritative, independently generated information for democratic
debate, and for a counterweight to misinformation and stereotyping
in press coverage and political discussion.
Overseas
Development Institute (ODI)
ODI is Britain's an independent think-tank on international development
and humanitarian issues. Their mission is to inspire and inform
policy and practice which lead to the reduction of poverty, the
alleviation of suffering and the achievement of sustainable livelihoods
in developing countries. They do this by locking together high-quality
applied research, practical policy advice, and policy-focused dissemination
and debate. They work with partners in the public and private sectors,
in both developing and developed countries.
Refugee Community History Project
The Refugee Community History Project is seeking out the untold stories of refugees who have settled in London since 1951. This is a major initiative to record refugees' first hand experiences for current and future generations to explore. Over 150 refugees from 15 different groups have taken part. This web site contains sections -- both audio and text -- of the conversations with those refugees. Refugees flee to foreign countries, like the UK, because of persecution in their original home, or because of a well-founded fear of persecution. This may be because of a refugee's race, religion, nationality, social group, political opinion, or as a result of war. The project is run as a partnership and is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the City Parochial Foundation, through the Trust for London.
Refugee
Studies Centre (RSC)
The RSC has conducted research into the theory and practice of humanitarian
assistance, the legal status and dynamics of displacement, human
rights and citizenship, and the psychological effects of forced
migration. Over the next few years it will focus these concerns
around four interrelated research themes:
· Asylum from an international legal and political perspective
· Conflict and post-conflict reintegration
· Diasporas and transnational communities
· Development-induced displacement and resettlement
RETAS
RETAS is an advice agency specifically for education and employment
for refugees.
Refugee Women's Groups
Refugee
Women's Association
Provides a range of services to help refugee women settle down successfully
in Britain. These include confidential advice and counselling, ESOL
courses, Jobsearch course, customised training courses in specific
skills.
Action
for Refugee Women
Their women's work informs and supports all that they do to meet
the particular needs of women.
Refugee
Women's Resource Project
The Refugee Women's Resource Project was set up in April 2000
by Asylum Aid, a registered charity which provides free legal representation
and advice to asylum seekers and refugees. It aims to enable women
fleeing serious human rights violations to gain protection in the
UK.
Refugee Women's
Legal Group
The Refugee Women's Legal Group (RWLG) was established at the beginning
of 1996 by individuals and organisations concerned about the impact
of changes in immigration law on women seeking asylum in the UK.
Central among its aims is the development of a gendered perspective
on refugee law and policy. The aim of their website is to provide
practitioners and others working with refugee women access to appropriate
sources of information and support to assist in the presentation
of individual cases.
UK youth organisations and projects
Albanian
Youth Action
This charity organisation addresses welfare issues for Albanian
speaking people in the UK, and especially youth. In 1996, a specific
project has been launched to work against the marginalisation of
young Albanian refugees. The project supports unaccompanied young
refugees from former Yugoslavia - mostly ethnic Albanian minors
from Kosovo, Albania, and the surrounding Balkan region.
British
Youth Council (BYC)
The BYC is an independent charity, which functions as a representative
body for young people in the UK. It forwards their views to government,
political parties, and the media. Campaigns of the BYC, such as
'End Child Poverty', 'Beat Poverty' or 'Sport Relief' address a
wide range of social and political issues.
The
Children's Society
The Children's Society is a national charity, which runs projects
all over the UK, aimed at driving public debate on issues concerning
children. Their Social Policy Unit seeks to influence legislation
and government policy, and currently tackles issues such as human
rights submission, child poverty, health, youth justice, and refugees.
The Children's Society is a member of the Refugee Children's Consortium.
Global
Youth Work
Development education aims to raise awareness and understanding
of how global issues affect the everyday lives of individuals, communities
and societies and how all of us can and do influence the global.
Global Youth Work is informal education which starts from young
people's everyday experiences, seeks to develop their understanding
of the local and the global influences on their lives, and encourages
positive action for change.
National
Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS)
NCVYS is the independent voice of the voluntary youth sector in
England. A diverse network of over 150 national voluntary youth
organisations and regional and local youth networks, NCVYS has been
working since 1936 to support voluntary and community organisations
that work with young people.
NCVYS co-ordinates
National
Youth Agency (NYA)
The NYA is a government-funded organisation, which aims to advance
youth work in order to support young people's personal and social
development. It works on a local and national level, supporting
local youth projects, and launching the Youth Work Week. In 2003
Youth Work Week will be 1st - 7th November, with the theme 'Your
Roots, Your Community'. Its information centre provides a comprehensive
collection of resources on work with young people.
Prince's
Trust
The
Prince’s Trust exists to help young people, aged 14 –
30 overcome the barriers in their lives that prevent them from fulfilling
their potential. For
most young refugees, life can be a continuous series of difficulties
that have to be endured. The Trust is committed to assisting them,
along with all young people in the UK, to enrich their skills and
to become welcome and valued members of our society.
Student
Action for Refugees (STAR)
STAR is a unique organisation giving university students and young
people the opportunity to: learn about and raise awareness of refugee
issues in innovative ways; support refugees in a practical way in
their local communities through volunteering and campaign with and
for the rights of refugees everywhere. The STAR network is made
up of university based student groups, young people (16-18 year
olds) involved in the STAR Youth Programme and Friends of STAR (individuals
and organisations who support the work of STAR).
UK
Youth Parliament (UKYP)
The UKYP aims to promote political awareness amongst British teenagers
by giving them a representative voice, which will be listened to
by government, political parties and service providers.
Woodcraft
Folk
The Woodcraft Folk is an educational movement for children and young
people, designed to develop self confidence and activity in society,
with the aim of building a world based on equality, friendship,
peace and co-operation. They provide games and activities which
raise awareness of refugee issues.
International youth organisations and
projects
Action
Aid
One of UK's largest development agencies, Action Aid provides overseas
aid to third world countries. The School and Youth Programme supplies
education packs, youth and teaching materials, and launches education
campaigns on issues such as HIV/Aids, international aid, and food
rights.
Catholic
Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)
CAFOD is a major British charity that has been fighting world poverty
since 962. CAFOD funds partner organisations working in over 70
countries. Projects range from working with child soldiers in Sierra
Leone to building homes for Afghan refugees in Shamshatoo.
Christian
Aid
An agency of the churches in the UK and Ireland, Christian Aid works
wherever the need is greatest, irrespective of religion. Global
Gang is the Christian Aid website for children and young people,
aimed at raising awareness about the developing world, and encouraging
action.
Connect
Youth International
Formerly known as the Youth Exchange Centre, Connect Youth International
is a department of the British Council, which promotes non-formal
exchanges of young people between the UK and other countries. Connect
offers exchange programmes, individual voluntary service, and provides
funding for people working in the youth field - giving young people
international experiences. It is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, the DfEs, and the Education and Culture department of the
European Commission.
European
Youth Forum
The European Youth Forum is an international organisation established
by national youth councils and international non-governmental youth
organisations in order to represent the interests of young people
all over Europe. It aims to promote equal right and opportunities.
The central focus lies on youth policy, as a consultative body for
international organisations such as the European Union.
Oxfam
- Coolplanet
Oxfam is a development, relief, and campaigning organisation dedicated
to finding lasting solutions to poverty and suffering around the
world. Its development education programme attempts to forward the
skills, values and attitudes necessary for young people to become
global citizens.
Save
the Children
They are the UK's leading international children's charity, working
to create a better future for children. They are active in the UK,
as well as around 70 countries worldwide. They involve children
in what they do - they believe in listening and learning from them.
Save the Children is currently campaigning for refugee and asylum
seeker children's rights.
Y
Care International
Y Care is the international development agency of the YMCA movement
working with vulnerable young people and their communities in 30
developing countries. It aims to raise awareness about development
through campaigns and educational activities. The Y Care International
Journal regularly covers a variety of social issues, including refugees
and asylum.
UNICEF
UNICEF promotes children's and young people's rights across the
globe. They encourage young people to become active citizens taking
on their rights and responsibilities and show how young people can
get involved. This site looks at children's rights and issues affecting
children world-wide.
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