Migrant Help

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Migrant Help
Founded1963; 61 years ago (1963)
Founded atKent, United Kingdom
TypeCharity
Registration no.1088631[1]
FocusMigration support
Migration advocacy
Policy research
HeadquartersDover, United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom
Chief Executive Officer
Caroline O’Connor[2]
Websitemigranthelpuk.org
Formerly called
Migrant Helpline
Kent Committee for the Welfare of Migrants (KCWM)

Migrant Help is a United Kingdom-based national charity that has been supporting migrants since 1963.[3]

The charity operates from 10 offices across the United Kingdom, providing advice, guidance and support to people seeking asylum, refugees and victims of modern-day slavery and human trafficking.[4][5][6] Asylum support services include face-to-face advice both in initial accommodation centers and on an outreach basis, along with a nationwide telephone service.[7] Most people seeking asylum have fled war or persecution and many arrive with limited understanding of life in the UK. Migrant Help provides them with advice, information and support to negotiate the asylum system, access services and overcome the challenges of integration.

Migrant Help works on Syrian Resettlement programs with local authorities in South East England, welcoming new families to the UK and supporting and orienting them to their new communities over an extended period.[8] The charity supports access to local healthcare and education services, English lessons, specialist counselling, managing budgets and becoming work ready.

Migrant Help also supports victims of modern-day slavery and human trafficking in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The charity works with a number of organisations around the UK including local authorities, strategic partners and volunteer groups on community-based schemes.[9]

Clear Voice[edit]

Clear Voice is a trading subsidiary of Migrant Help that delivers professional interpreting and translation services.[10][11] Clear Voice interpreters work extensively with refugees and people seeking asylum.

Clear Voice was established by Migrant Help in 2008 to provide high quality, cost-effective language services. Clear Voice specialises in the provision of telephone interpreting, face-to-face interpreting and translation services across the UK.[12]

All of Clear Voice’s profits are returned to Migrant Help, supporting the parent charity’s work. In 2022, Clear Voice delivered over 9.3 million minutes of telephone interpreting. This resulted in a donation of £1.7 million to Migrant Help.[13]

History[edit]

Kent Committee for the Welfare of Migrants[edit]

The charity now known as Migrant Help was set up in 1963 by Helen Ellis MBE, a leading figure in the provision of welfare support to migrants travelling through the Port of Dover.[3] The organisation, known at this time as the Kent Committee for the Welfare of Migrants (KCWM), was established in response to the growing number of migrants arriving at the Channel Ports.

In 1970, immigrants were given right of appeal against decisions relating to their entry. The United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service (UKIAS), funded by the Home Office, was established to represent migrants on 'appeal'. KCWM worked alongside the UKIAS to support the welfare of migrants arriving at the ports in Kent.

Migrant Helpline[edit]

In 1993, Helen Ellis retired after 50 years of service to migrants. In the following year (1994), the charity adopted the new name of Migrant Helpline. That same year, the charity received a grant from the Home Office to deliver support services to newly arrived people seeking asylum.

In 2002, Migrant Helpline was asked by the Home Office to establish and operate the first Induction Center. Here, briefings were delivered to people seeking asylum about the asylum process and their rights and responsibilities. Migrant Helpline's operation expanded to London and a reception service for people seeking asylum opened in Croydon. The charity was funded to manage the London accommodation center for newly arrived people seeking asylum, known as 'Emergency Initial Accommodation'.

A number of projects were established in the following years including the 'Sunrise' project to help new refugees integrate into life in the UK, a 'Training and Employment' project was launched for refugees in Kent (until 2009) and Migrant Helpline was invited to provide an independent advisory service to foreign national prisoners in Canterbury Prison.[14]

The 'European Migrant Advice' service was established in response to an increased need for support for EU migrants. This service was later extended in 2010 to meet support needs in Suffolk and Norfolk.

In 2008, the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Center approached the charity to provide support for victims of labour exploitation. The Victims of Slavery Support Service team was established.[9]

Migrant Help[edit]

In 2010, Migrant Helpline became known as Migrant Help. The charity continues to work to improve the lives of vulnerable migrants in partnership with other organisations and community groups. Migrant Help was shortlisted for Charity Awards in 2016 for innovation in advice and support to people seeking asylum.

Funding[edit]

Migrant Help has received significant Home Office funding since 1994.[15] In 2019, it secured a £100 million contract [16] to run the Home Office system called “Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE)” services, and act as the official point of contact for refugees to get advice on their asylum claims. In 2021, the value of this Home Office contract rose to £235 million.[16]

Projects[edit]

Throughout its lifetime Migrant Help has participated in a number of programs supporting migrants and refugees. These projects have been undertaken both independently and in association with other organisations, in particular the Home Office.

Migrant Help Projects
Period Project Description
1998‍–‍1999 Dover Asylum Project – Home Office Provision of reception and casework support to Kosovar refugees arriving from the Balkans.
2004‍–‍2009 Gateway Protection Programme – Home Office Provision of reception and orientation services for refugees being resettled in the UK.
2005‍–‍2006 Sunrise Pilot Project – Home Office Helping new refugees to integrate and find work. Included support writing CVs, identifying suitable jobs and interview training.
2006‍–‍2007 Gateway Protection Programme Resettlement Support Service in Brighton – Home Office Casework support services to newly settled refugees in Brighton.[17]
2005‍–‍2016 European Migrant Advice Service Supporting the integration of vulnerable and isolated EU migrants into local communities and services across Kent and Suffolk.
2006‍–‍2009 Training and Employment Project with Big Lottery Fund Supporting refugees in Kent to access training and secure employment
2015‍–‍2016 Gurkha Information, Advice and Guidance Service Support services helping retired Gurkha families successfully settle into like in the UK.[18]
2015‍–‍2018 Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Kent To provide support to refugees from Syria resettling in Kent.[19]
2016‍–‍2017 Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Essex To provide support to refugees from Syria resettling in Essex.[20]

Employment[edit]

Migrant Help employs 454 people from 40 different countries of origin.[21] Approximately 47% of staff are non-UK born and many have personal experiences of the refugee journey.

Migrant Help holds the "Investors in People" accreditation, is authorised by the Office of Immigration Services Commissioner, holds an Advice Quality Standard mark and is a National Living Wage employer.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Charity overview, MIGRANT HELPLINE - 1088631". register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Meet the management team". Migrant Help. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Who we are – Migrant Help". Migrant Help. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Where we work – Migrant Help". Migrant Help. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Migrant Help to take over provision of asylum advice services | Scottish Refugee Council". www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Services for Asylum Seekers". www.glasgow.gov.uk. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Migrant Help - Asylum Helplines - Helplines Partnership". Helplines Partnership. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme – Migrant Help". Migrant Help. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Specialist support for Victims of Human Trafficking". Migrant Help. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Clear Voice Interpreting Services". Clear Voice Interpreting Services. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Charity Details". beta.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Clear Voice – Migrant Help". Migrant Help. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  13. ^ "Our Social Impact". Clear Voice Interpreting Services. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Annual Report 2015 – Migrant Help". Migrant Help. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Migrant 'No' Help: the Home Office's charity gatekeeper". Corporate Watch. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Services - 15919-2018 - TED Tenders Electronic Daily". ted.europa.eu. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  17. ^ Collyer, Michael; de Guerre, Katie (December 2007). "'On that day I am born...': The experience of refugees resettled to Brighton and Hove under the Gateway Protection Programme October 2006 to October 2007". Sussex Centre for Migration Research, University of Sussex. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Migrant Help | Local Kent Directory". search3.openobjects.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  19. ^ "Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme" (PDF). cds.sevenoaks.gov.uk.
  20. ^ "Syrian refugees find safety in Essex". www.essex.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  21. ^ "Our people". Migrant Help. Retrieved 7 March 2023.

External links[edit]

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