Resources for children, unaccompanied minors, teenagers  and families

The organizations listed provide resources for children, unaccompanied minors, teenagers and families to get advice on the asylum-process, mental-health support, help with homework, access to education, and find a community and friends.

Advice

• Refugee Action (Bradford): Children and families project (in Bradford): One to one support for refugee and asylum seekers families as they arrive (support and advice on housing, education, benefits and accessing legal and immigration advice, as well as information about life and culture in the UK)https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/project/children-families-project/ (contact info: https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/refugee-action-bradford/)

• Barnet Refugee Service (Barnet, London) (every Thursday from 10:00 to 16:30): advice for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, helping them through the asylum system and ensuring that they get the help and advice they need http://www.b-r-s.org.uk/our-services/visiting-solicitor/(contact info: http://www.b-r-s.org.uk/our-services/visiting-solicitor/)

• Refugee Council:Advice for all unaccompanied children, victims of child trafficking, preparation for life in the UK + Miniila: application for unaccompanied children available on App Store and Google Play https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/get-support/contact-a-service-team/(contact info: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/get-support/contact-a-service-team/)

• British Red Cross: Help understanding the asylum process, preparing documents, e.g. letters and applications, health, education and social care support, learning, new skills, building confidence, knowing what support you can get and helping you to get it. https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-help-as-a-young-refugee-or-asylum-seeker(contact info:https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-help-as-a-refugee/contact-your-local-refugee-service) 

• British Red Cross (Birmingham, Leeds, Peterborough) (for unaccompanied refugees from 11 to 25): Provides life skills, advice, mental health support and leadership opportunities https://www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/how-we-support-refugees/surviving-to-thriving(contact info: thriving@redcross.org.ukor myviewstt@refugeecouncil.org.uk)

Mental Health Support

• Barnet Refugee Service (Barnet, London): Supports young refugees and asylum seeking children who have suffered trauma, abuse and neglect by supporting them to develop their self-esteem and capacity for resilience http://www.b-r-s.org.uk/our-services/youth-activities/(contact info: http://www.b-r-s.org.uk/our-services/youth-activities/)

• Refugee Council (East of England, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, London): Mental Health support https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/get-support/contact-a-service-team/(contact info: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/get-support/contact-a-service-team/)

• British Red Cross (Birmingham, Leeds, Peterborough) (for unaccompanied refugees from 11 to 25): Provides life skills, advice, mental health support and leadership opportunities https://www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/how-we-support-refugees/surviving-to-thriving(contact info: thriving@redcross.org.ukor myviewstt@refugeecouncil.org.uk)

• Refugee and Migrant Network Sutton Drop-in Centre (Sutton, London): one-to-one counselling for refugees needing a confidential setting to help them recover from traumatic events (loss, exile, torture) with interpreters available http://www.rmns.org.uk/what-we-offer.html(contact info: http://www.rmns.org.uk/what-we-offer.html/ Address: Trinity Church Hall, Hill Road, Sutton, SM1 1DZ) 

Education

• Barnet Refugee Service: Homework Club: Maths and English for children from Year 1 to 6 on weekends and some evenings (http://www.b-r-s.org.uk/our-services/homework-club/)

Caras (Tooting, London): Study Group: help with young peoples’ homework, application forms… http://caras.org.uk(Contact info: +44 (0)208 767 5378

info@caras.org.uk)

• Refugee Action (Bradford): Children and families project support groups for families, including a weekly after school club,  a reading group at the local library and trips during the school holidays for families, supportive environment to practice their English, learn more about British culture and get support for their school work https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/project/advice-health-therapeutic-services/(contact info at the bottom of the page https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/project/advice-health-therapeutic-services// Address: 40a Piccadilly, Bradford, BD1 3NN /Phone: 01274 924982)

Socializing and English Classes

• Barnet Refugee Service (Barnet, London):  Mums and tots group (mums and children under 5) (Tuesday 10am-12pm): Learn English, socialize, sing, dance… http://www.b-r-s.org.uk/our-services/mums-and-tots-group/(contact info: call 020 8905 9002/ email info@b-r-s.org.uk)

• Refugee Council (for all unaccompanied children and victims of child trafficking) Education, social life… + Miniila: application for unaccompanied children available on App Store and Google Play https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/get-support/contact-a-service-team/(contact info: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/get-support/contact-a-service-team/)

• British Red Cross: Place to meet new people, grow your talents and interests, learn and take part in activities, e.g. English, IT, math, art and drama therapy and music (subjects depend on where you are), get help preparing for exams, take day trips, e.g. for golf, football, cooking, get help adjusting to, life in the UK, learn to live independently, understand what you’re entitled to and have help getting it. https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-help-as-a-young-refugee-or-asylum-seeker(contact info:https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-help-as-a-refugee/contact-your-local-refugee-service) 

• British Red Cross (Birmingham, Leeds, Peterborough) (for unaccompanied refugees from 11 to 25): Provides life skills, advice, mental health support and leadership opportunities https://www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/how-we-support-refugees/surviving-to-thriving(contact info: thriving@redcross.org.ukor myviewstt@refugeecouncil.org.uk)

• Caras (Tooting, London): Mentoring: High skills volunteers paired to work for a year with children and young people. Supportgreater wellbeing, a sense of belonging, and help people to settle into their new area http://caras.org.uk(Contact info: call +44 (0)208 767 5378/ emailinfo@caras.org.uk)

• Caras (Tooting, London) (during school holidays): Family activity day: creative workshops for parents and children, where they can meet other families, eat a meal together, cook…http://caras.org.uk(Contact info: call +44 (0)208 767 5378/ email info@caras.org.uk)

• Caras (Tooting, London) (from 11 to 19): http://caras.org.uk/what-we-do/groups-2/ place for fun (table tennis, pool and air hockey), friendship and food http://caras.org.uk(Contact info: call +44 (0)208 767 5378/ email info@caras.org.uk)

• Barnet Refugee Service (Barnet, London) (Thursdays) (12-18 yo): Weekly Social Club: table football, table tennis, pool outdoor football, run cooking sessions, outings, fun psycho-social activities (Contact info: http://www.b-r-s.org.uk/our-services/youth-activities/, at Middlesex University)

• Refugee and Migrant Network Sutton (Sutton, London): Monday Toddler Group (Mondays, 9:30 to 10:45): parents with babies and toddlers who want to start to learn English with their children (contact info: http://www.rmns.org.uk/what-we-offer.html/ Address: Trinity Church Hall, Hill Road, Sutton, SM1 1DZ)