Extended Referral List
Here's a bloody great list of organisations and services supporting refugees and asylum seekers to access better care and support.
Healthcare Organisations + Services
Doctors of the World: Translated health information and volunteer-run clinics in London that offer primary care and health and social advice to excluded people e.g. refugees, and undocumented migrants. They also run a Safe Surgeries Scheme which includes practices that commit to taking steps to tackle barriers faced by migrants.
Refugee Council: Expert mental health support specialising in issues relating to refugees and asylum seekers, using a range of techniques. They also offer support with accessing healthcare, helping refugees and asylum seekers navigate British healthcare systems, translation, registering, filling firms etc.
NHS Low Income Scheme: helps with health costs such as prescriptions or travel to appointments.
Maternity Action: Migrant Women’s Rights Service is a confidential service that provides advice on housing and support options for all migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, including women who have overstayed their visas. This service is for individuals who are working with or supporting refugees and asylum seekers and not them personally.
Creating a Healthier Hull: a list of organisations offering support for refugees and asylum seekers in Hull.
The Haven: The Haven is a specialist primary healthcare service for asylum seekers and refugees who are new to Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. You access the service through referrals from health practitioners, housing providers, social workers, agencies etc.
Helen Bamber Foundation: refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced extreme human cruelty, e.g. torture and human trafficking. It provides specialist care such as psychological and physical therapy.
RESPOND: new rapid access, community-based screening and care planning service for all asylum-seeker families living in Barnet, Camden and Islington.
Mary Ward Legal Centre: Can help with organising repayment plans with NHS Trust.
St Georges, Wandsworth: The Homeless, Refugee and Asylum team helps with access, signposting, advocacy, facilitation, interpretation and more for refugees and asylum seekers in Wandsworth.
Red Cross: Advises and supports asylum seekers and refugees registering with GPs and dentists. They can also provide food, small amounts of cash and toiletries.
Sexual & Reproductive Health Services List
Abortion helplines
BPAS - 0808 506 0904, phone lines open 7am-9pm
Marie Stopes - 0345 300 8090, 24-hour booking and advice line
Doctors of the World: Medical service for typically excluded communities Medical service for typically excluded communities
Decolonise Contraception has a wide variety of projects and information. They have created a list of referral services, A guide to managing your sexual health and mental well-being during coronavirus (COVID-19) including but not limited too: What is coronavirus? What is self-isolation? What is social distancing? Busting myths. Can I have sex? STIs, HIV, PEP & PrEP, Contraception, Abortion Care, Periods, Endometriosis, Pregnancy Care, Menopause, Domestic Abuse Survivors, Mental Health
FORWARD: information on Female genital mutilation
London in Your Language: information about how to use different services as well as some practical words and phrases to help you access services and get the most out of them. They also have a YouTube Channel.
NHS Periods and fertility in the menstrual cycle
National Sexual Health helpline Advice on sexual health, contraception, pregnancy, emotional health 0300 123 7123 Open 9am-8pm Monday to Friday
Menstrual Matters: Research-based menstrual health website and blog
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
If you do not have any symptoms, you may be able to order a home STI testing kit from the following places, but your local sexual health clinic may also provide their own postal service:
• Sexual Health London – https://www.shl.uk/ (FREE)
• SH:24 – https://sh24.org.uk/ (FREE)
• Fettle – https://fettle.health/ (affordably priced)
SWARM (Sex Workers and Advocacy Collective Movement):
is a sex worker led collective based in the UK, who define sex workers as people who sell their own sexual labour or performance, or who have done so in the past. Available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week
Mental Health Support Services
Samaritans:Talk to the Samaritans any time you like, in your own way, and off the record – about whatever’s getting to you. Tel: 116 123 (24 hours)
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day
Visit the webchat page
SOS Suicide of Silence – for everyone
Call 0300 1020 505 – 9am to midnight every day
Email [email protected]
If you do not want to talk to someone over the phone, the text line open 24 hours a day, every day. Text “SHOUT” to 85258
Talk to someone you trust
Let family or friends know what’s going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe. There’s no right or wrong way to talk about feelings – starting the conversation is what’s important.
If you find it difficult to talk to someone you know, you could:
call a GP – ask for an emergency appointment
call 111 out of hours – they will help you find the support and help you need
If you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose – call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E. Or ask someone to call or take you.
Support Services for survivors of gender-based violence
Safeline Safeline is a leading specialist charity for sexual abuse and rape.
Supporting – offering counselling and support services for those who have been affected by the traumas that sexual abuse, rape and their associated issues reveal.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Refuge), 0808 2000 247
Rape Crisis Rape Crisis England & Wales is a national charity and the umbrella body for our network of independent member Rape Crisis Centres
Women and Girls’ Network Counselling and support to help women and girls recover from violence. Tel: 0808 801 0770
Samaritans Talk to the Samaritans any time you like, in your own way, and off the record – about whatever’s getting to you. Tel: 116 123 (24 hours)
Victim Support: Free and confidential support to help you deal with your experience,whether or not you report the crime. Also supports witnesses of crime. Tel: 0808 168 9111
The Havens (Sexual Assault Referral Centre): Urgent advice/appointments – 020 3299 6900, https://www.thehavens.org.uk/
Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (RASASC) (South London Rape Crisis): National Helpline – 0808 802 9999, 12-14.30pm and 19:00-21:30 daily – http://www.rasasc.org.uk/
Specialist Support Services for survivors of gender-based violence
Survivors UK (National) Information, support and counselling for men and boys (18+) who have been raped or sexually abused. Helpline Web Chat Monday – Friday 10am – 9pm, Saturday – Sunday 10am – 6pm; Contact the National Male Helpline: 0808 800 5005
Galop: is a charity that supports lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and queer people affected by sexual and domestic violence. They run London and National phone helplines as as well as an online chat service Saturday & Sunday: 15:00 – 19:00
Respond: helps children and adults with learning disabilities who have experienced abuse or trauma, as well as those who have abused others, through psychotherapy, advocacy and other support. Tel: 0808 808 0700
Revenge Porn Helpline: 10.00am-4.00pm, Monday to Friday – 0345 600 0459
National Centre for Domestic Violence: Can help with obtaining Non-Molestation Orders (injunctions): 0207 186 8270 or 0800 970 2070 and Press option 1: Information about getting an injunction
LAWA (Latin American women) LAWA is a dedicated free support service and the only refuge provider in the UK and Europe for Latin American, Black and minority ethnic women and children experiencing, or recovering from, domestic violence. We welcome women from any background, ethnicity, sexuality or ability, including trans* women.
Sistah SPACE Against Domestic Abuse (African & Caribbean) Sistah Space is a safe venue dedicated to African & Caribbean victims/survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. It is staffed and managed by volunteers
Southall Black Sisters Southall Black Sisters (SBS) was founded in 1979 to address the needs of black (Asian and Afro-Caribbean) women. It aims to empower women to escape poverty, violence, abuse and other restrictions on their lives which prevent them from asserting their human rights to freedom, equality and justice.
Jewish Women’s Aid: Specialist service with a helpline and counselling: The JWA helpline – 0808 801 0500, 9.30am – 9.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Chinese Information and Advice Centre (CIAC): part of the ASCENT consortium to provide linguist and culturally sensitive services to survivors of sexual and domestic violence and abuse
Asian Women’s Resource Centre (AWRC): Domestic violence and advocacy services available in five community languages: Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu:
More General Helpful Organisations
Citizens Advice: helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice, and by influencing policymakers.
Refugee Action: 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 Education Training and Advisory Service (RETAS): offers information, advice and guidance on education, training and employment for refugees.
The Unity Project can assist people with Limited Leave to Remain and 'No Recourse to Public Funds' (NRPF) to make a 'Change of Conditions' application for access to public funds.