Need for refugee and asylum seeker services triples in Bristol

A Bristol charity offering support, solidarity and advice to refugees and asylum seekers is urging people for donations as the need for their services has tripled since 2020.

Bristol Refugee Rights (BRR) is the largest charity in the city to offer emotional, social and practical emotional to people seeking sanctuary, providing specialist advice regarding housing, financial help, healthcare and support in navigating the asylum system.

The charity said there are around 1500 people seeking asylum in Bristol at any one time, including from Afghanistan and Ukraine.

Some are in Home Office accommodation, but it estimates there are 200 in the city who have been refused asylum and are now destitute and sofa-surfing, homeless or vulnerably housed.

BRR said it needs to raise £12,000 to enable them to essential services “to empower and transform the lives of those most in need”.

“People seeking sanctuary arrive in Bristol, often shortly after arriving in the UK, with barely more than the clothes they are wearing and reeling from their journey,” the charity wrote.

“Not surprisingly they are confused and do not understand the asylum process.

“Having fled persecution in their home country, many are traumatised, in poor health, do not speak English, socially isolated and missing their family and friends.”

It added when an asylum claim is refused, the case for around 25 per cent of applicants, people are left destitute, unless they can make another claim or agree to return to their country of origin.

BRR offers holistic services which are a lifeline to those seeking refuge in Bristol, from English classes and wellbeing classes to outreach support for people seeking sanctuary housed in hotels on the outskirts of Bristol who can not afford to travel to the city.

Its welcome team offers a weekly drop-in for asylum seekers and refugees to get specialist legal advice, emotional and practical support, opening doors for a cup of tea, a chat, hot food as well as legal advice and practical support.

Little Amal made headlines across the world last year when she embarked on an 8,000km walk across Europe to focus attention on the urgent plight and needs of young refugees – photo: Rob Browne

The sessions have helped Farah and her son Gabriel, giving space to relax, study and address her asylum claim.

“I can chat to people and make friends and use the Creche because as a single mother its hard for me to get time to drink coffee or have any time to study,” Farah said.

“At the same time, it has helped him a lot to settle down with his anxiety and separation from me. It was hard for him to take eyes off me even for seconds because he would panic. Now he can be on his own as well.”

Its work is an uphill battle against the government’s policies and harmful narratives circling asylum seekers.

Suella Braverman, who was reappointed as home secretary a week after being forced to resign by former prime minister Liz Truss, was accused of using inflammatory language by refugee charities and opposition parties for saying southern England was facing an “invasion” of illegal migrants, while some Tory MPs and the ex-leader of UKIP said she was right to speak out.

To make a donation, visit this Just Giving page

Main photo: Micro Rainbow

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