Organisations Resource

Here is a modest list of links to the many organisations that work with and/or for asylum seekers and refugees:

UNHCR- UN Refugee Agency

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help stateless people.

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UKBA –UK Border Agency

The agency protects the UK border and is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the UK.

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Amnesty International – When You Don’t Exist project

When you don’t exist is Amnesty International’s campaign for the human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in Europe and at its borders.

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City of Sanctuary – City of Sanctuary 

City of Sanctuary is a movement to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK. Their goal is to create a network of towns and cities throughout the country which are proud to be places of safety, and which include people seeking sanctuary fully in the life of their communities.

A City of Sanctuary is a place of safety and welcome for people whose lives are in danger in their own countries.

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Refugee Council- Refugee Council

The Refugee Council is the leading charity in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. They not only give direct help and support, but also work with asylum seekers and refugees to ensure their needs and concerns are addressed.

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Northern Refugee Centre – Northern Refugee Centre

The Northern Refugee Centre is an independent charitable organisation that exists to promote the welfare of refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable economic migrants within the Yorkshire and Humber region.

They provide advice and assistance to refugees and asylum seekers and offer support to refugee community organisations whilst also raising public awareness about the needs of individuals seeking refuge and protection within the region.

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NCADC – National Coalition of Anti- Deportation Campaigns

Founded in 1995, NCADC is a national organisation which supports community-led campaigns for justice in the asylum and immigration system, with a focus on supporting people facing forced removal.

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ASSIST – Asylum Seeker Support Initiative in Sheffield

(Asylum Seeker Support Initiative — Short Term) is currently the only Sheffield charity seeking to address destitution among asylum seekers.

Their aims

• To provide accommodation, food and support for asylum seekers in Sheffield who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress
• To advance the education of the public, and other statutory and voluntary organisations, in order to assist the inclusion of asylum seekers into the wider community

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Sheffield Committee To Defend Asylum Seekers – Sheffield Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers

Sheffield CDAS is an organisation which fights for asylum seekers who live in Sheffield to be allowed to stay in the UK. They meet once a month to organise and strategise anti-deportation campaigns and start new campaigns for asylum seekers who attend.

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Refugee Action- Refugee Action 

Refugee Action has over 28 years’ experience in the reception, resettlement, development and integration of asylum seekers and refugees.

Refugee Action’s Asylum Advice teams provide a reception service for newly arrived asylum seekers, as well as advice and advocacy.

Refugee Action’s community development workers promote the development of refugee communities.

They also run innovative projects to enhance opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers.

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Detention Action – Detention Action

People in detention often have very limited understanding of English, the legal system or their rights. Detention Action provides the vital support and advice that they need to cope in detention and navigate the system.

They support people held in Harmondsworth and Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centres, near Heathrow Airport in London, and people held under immigration powers in London prisons. They are completely independent from the government and from the detention centres.

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Migrant Voice– Migrant Voice

Migrant Voice is a migrant led organisation set up to develop the skills, capacity and confidence of members of migrant communities, including asylum seekers and refugees, to develop their own strategies to strengthen their voice, participation and representation in the media and at a policy making level, in order for them to participate more fully in society.

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End Child Detention- End Child Detention

This campaign is asking  governments to stop detaining children and their families. They claim that children do not belong in detention – and there are alternatives. The campaign was founded by the International Detention Coalition but is in fact a broader alliance.

Organisations endorsing the campaign

75 national regional and international organisations are already supporting the campaign. Among them the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM), the Fahamu Refugee Programme and Save the Children Australia. Also several large networks such as ECRE, Amnesty International and the Jesuit Refugee Service have welcomed the campaign.

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RASAG – Sheffield Refugee Asylum Seeker Action Group

Sheffield Refugee Asylum Seeker Action Group formed in April 2010 to plan activities for Sheffield’s Summer of Sanctuary. Apart from one development worker the group is made up of refugees and asylum seekers.

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RAPAR-  Refugee and Asylum Seeker Participatory Action Research

RAPAR (Refugee and Asylum Seeker Participatory Action Research) is a Manchester-based human rights organisation working with people, both locally and further afield, who are at risk of having their rights denied.

They work with — and many of us are, or have been — displaced* people facing challenges relating to citizenship, housing, deportation, employment, education, personal safety and other problems. We enable people’s access to the services they need, and release their abilities to find effective solutions to challenges facing them.

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DEWA – Development and Empowerment for Women’s Advancement

Development and Empowerment for Women’s Advancement (DEWA) is an organisation with a clear vision: equality, dignity and respect for all women worldwide.

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Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Pos­i­tive Action for Refuges and Asy­lum Seek­ers (PAFRAS) works with asy­lum seek­ers, refugees and local com­mu­ni­ties in Leeds and the sur­round­ing area.

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