Bristol Refugee Rights

Do you need advice? Do you want to claim asylum? Have you been refused asylum? Are you an asylum seeker who is homeless or without financial support? Are you having issues in your accommodation? Are you a migrant without secure immigration status and are you at risk of homelessness? Have you been trafficked to the UK? We may be able to help.

What we do:

1) We share information and resources so you can understand the asylum system and access your rights for yourself

2) We give advice and casework support when extra help is needed, such as: preventing homelessness; challenging bad decisions by the Home Office; keeping you safe from harm and abuse

What we do not do:

Support not relating to asylum claims or support, or for people with Leave to Remain, this includes: Debt (except NHS overseas patient charges) Benefits (except asylum support) Help applying for bank accounts, driving licenses, or jobs Regulated immigration advice, including: Advice about the content of an asylum claim Completing PIQ forms or ‘Asylum Questionnaires’

How to access BRR advice

If you live in a hotel, speak to a worker from BRR, Borderlands, Mind, Red Cross, The Haven or North Somerset Welcomes Refugees at the hotel. If you do not live in a hotel, visit our Drop-in on Wednesday at 10am in Wellspring Settlement BS5 0AX

Project CLEAR provides support for asylum seekers with multiple complex needs, which make it particularly difficult to navigate the asylum system and access other support. CLEAR clients typically have experience of more than one of the following: severe mental and/or physical health issues, disabilities, complex immigration history, experience of the criminal justice system, long term rough sleeping, survivors of domestic abuse.

This service is access via an internal referral from BRR advice service.

To access BRR's services or find out how we can help, call 07526 352 353 – open 10-1 Monday and Tuesday or leave a voicemail message anytime. Please tell us your name and phone number. We will call you back when we can. If you need an interpreter, tell us which language you speak

Bristol Refugee Rights have an outreach team who regularly visit IA hotels in Bristol. We offer signposting and advice on issues relating to asylum claims and asylum support, as well as workshops on integration and knowing your rights. For information such as when we visit, please contact Tara.

Pride Without Borders is our support group for Bristol-based LGBTQ+ people seeking asylum and those with refugee status. We meet every 2 weeks and spend time together. We support and listen to each other and enjoy celebrating our identities and cultures together. We sometimes go to fun nights out and events.

We aim to connect with Bristol’s great LGBTQ+ community. The manager and our great team of volunteers can give you support and advice so you can stay safe and get what you need. This includes help understanding the asylum system, accessing housing and finance, supporting you if your housing is not safe or you are at risk of homelessness.

LGBTQ+ people aged 13 to 25 could join another group called Freedom Youth. You don’t have to be an asylum seeker or refugee.

We aim for half of our volunteer team to be BRR members, asylum seekers and refugees who use our services. We offer tailored training and support to member volunteers including support into employment. Speak to any member of staff at the drop in or get in touch by email.

For many asylum seekers this social space is a home away from home, especially for those who are insecurely housed, homeless or living in inadequate accommodation. A warm and welcoming social space offering: Tea, coffee and snacks A free hot lunch Haircuts Art table Games An opportunity to meet new people and make friends referrals and signposting to other services in the city No appointment needed Membership Bristol Refugee Rights’ members are people currently in the UK asylum process or who have recently been granted refugee status when they first get in contact. Members must be living in the Bristol area.