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The Challenge...
Currently, newly granted refugees are given a 28 day “grace period” before the Home Office withdraws all financial and accommodation support. During this period, they are expected to:
- Access mainstream benefits or employment, along with their National Insurance Number
- Secure their own accommodation
- Open a current bank account in which to receive their financial support
This rapid change in circumstances is a challenge for newly arrived refugees, often with limited or no understanding of the English language and UK systems.
Equally, family reunion members who join a family member in the UK who already has positive leave to remain status, have no grace period at all as do not go through the same asylum process and often find themselves destitute as a result.
The Solution
As this project has a key focus on successful transition to independent living and is constrained by a very short 'grace-period', it is important that priorities are established in order to reduce the risk of destitution. In order to address essential needs such as housing and financial support, our advisers work through a systematic action plan with our service users. This action plan was developed using our understanding of the process and has developed in line with our continually expanding knowledge of the challenges faced.
The other crucial part of this project is our mentoring scheme which involves using trained volunteer mentors to support advisers by taking services users to appointments, helping them to access key services and
We are also continually developing links with different organisations who can assist with parts of the process including with housing, bank accounts, employability, furniture, benefits etc
Case study
Universal Credit
Thanks to New Horizon, they had supported me from day one with their welfare support package, upon the first assessment they carried out about my need, they submitted Universal Credit Claim fro me and once it was successful they step into my housing need.
Housing support
New Horizon managed to facilitate my integration in Sunderland after they were able to get me out of a multi-occupancy accomodation into my own two bedrooms bungalow
My dream comes true
I couldn't be any happier whilst I was about to move to Manchester
My housing journey in pictures
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