Bryson Care Launches New National Emergencies Trust-Funded Support

Bryson Care and its partner charities, the Refugee Council, Scottish Refugee Council, and the Welsh Refugee Council, have been awarded a grant by the National Emergencies Trust to provide support for refugees and people seeking Asylum until March 2021.

Tailored to the needs of each region, the grant will fund digital access for those seeking Asylum in Northern Ireland, and a freephone Infoline and case work services across England, Scotland and Wales to support refugees and people seeking Asylum who have experienced hardship and mental ill health due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In Northern Ireland since lockdown began, those seeking Asylum have found it increasingly difficult to access critically essential services which would normally be facilitated face-to-face as more people work from home. To combat this problem unique to Northern Ireland, Bryson Care will provide their Service Users seeking Asylum with tablet computers and enable mobile internet access in Asylum accommodation.

In England, the Refugee Council will deliver additional services such as specialist mental health counselling and casework support for unaccompanied children and young people in Kent; holistic support for people seeking asylum in temporary hotel accommodation in Leeds, Rotherham and Hull; and mental health support for people seeking asylum in Birmingham and London.

The Scottish Refugee Council will provide specialist casework support for people seeking asylum who are destitute, and casework support for vulnerable families in the asylum system. The Welsh Refugee Council will deliver additional advice, casework and advocacy support for people seeking asylum and refugees across Wales, and employability and support accessing education and training for refugees.

Jo Marley, Director of Bryson Care, said:

We are delighted to receive this National Emergencies Trust grant award alongside our partners in England, Scotland and Wales. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected those seeking Asylum in Northern Ireland as essential services, such as solicitors and statutory agencies, work remotely. The tablet computers and mobile internet devices will not only enable those seeking Asylum to access these critical services, it will also help to reduce their social isolation and improve their mental wellbeing through contact with support networks and access to resources to improve their English language skills. Our dedicated team will provide additional support by sign-posting Service Users to other available COVID-19 related help and resources.

Mhairi Sharp, Chief Operating Officer, National Emergencies Trust, said:

With our latest funding allocation, NET is aiming to reach underserved groups that have been heavily impacted by coronavirus. We conducted a detailed gap analysis to review Coronavirus Appeal grants data to-date, as well as funding made available to groups from external sources, to identify key areas of unmet need. This showed an increased impact on refugee and asylum seeker communities – many of whom are unsure where to turn for help. The consortium led by Refugee Council provides frontline support through services like its emergency Infoline for those needing practical advice. We are proud to be working together to help some of the most in need during this difficult time.