Some organisations and agencies in the Leeds area who can help asylum seekers and refugees
List last updated on 20 January 2022
Please send any corrections or additions to [email protected]
Organisations marked * have programmes specially for refugees and asylum seekers
Recommended!
For more details and many other organisations, see:
- Leeds Transition Guide: https://transitionguide.org.uk/
- Help in Leeds: https://helpinleeds.com/using-this-directory/
- Migration Yorkshire: https://www.migrationyorkshire.org.uk/?page=directory
- Learning English in Yorkshire and the Humber: https://www.learningenglish.org.uk/
General
* Refugee Council
Provides general help for refugees & asylum seekers – refugee rights, mental health, employment resettlement, children. Runs the Health Access for Refugees Programme.
Website: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/
Contact via website: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/contact/
Phone: 0113 2449404
* British Red Cross
Help with urgent needs, eg food parcels & vouchers, small amounts of money, clothes, toiletries, blankets, baby items. Also help with family reunion and for victims of trafficking.
Website: https://www.redcross.org.uk
Get help as a refugee: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-help-as-a-refugee
Phone: 0113 201 5267
Email: [email protected]
* New Roots project
Provides welfare, finance, housing health, immigration advice; social integration advice & activities; employment & training advice. A joint project of RETAS, the Refugee Council and PATH Yorkshire.
Website: https://retasleeds.weebly.com/new-roots.html
Phone: 0113 380 5630
* Hamara Centre, Beeston
Health Promotion, Youth Activities, Older People’s Services, Saturday Supplementary School, Learning Disabilities, Education and Employment & Training.
Website: https://www.hamara.org.uk/
Citizens Advice Bureau = Leeds Citizens Advice
Free, confidential, independent advice and information on many subjects including benefits, tax credits, debt, housing & employment.
Website: https://citizensadviceleeds.org.uk/
Phone: 0113 223 4400
Community/public spaces
One Stop Centres: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/neighbourhoods-and-community/onestop-centres
Community Hubs: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/neighbourhoods-and-community/community-hubs
Libraries: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/leisure/libraries
Leeds City Council
The Council can help with almost all issues. The website lists the areas of work and has a search facility.
Website: https://www.leeds.gov.uk
Important Covid information: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus
Applying for Benefits
Citizens Advice Bureau: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/local/leeds
Phone: 0113 223 4400
Children’s/Family Issues
Family information Service: https://familyinformation.leeds.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx
Phone: 0113 378 9700
Children’s centres: https://familyinformation.leeds.gov.uk/childrens-centres
Phone: 0113 378 9700
Support for young refugees, email: [email protected]
Education/Training
English classes
The following are specific examples of organisations that provide classes and information about learning English:
- Directory of English classes in Leeds and across Yorkshire and the Humber: https://www.learningenglish.org.uk
- RETAS: https://retasleeds.weebly.com/esol-classes.html
- LASSN English at Home: https://lassn.org.uk/english-at-home/
- Leeds City College: https://www.leedscitycollege.ac.uk/our-courses/?course_type=esol
* Refugee Education and Training Advice Service (RETAS)
English classes (English to Speakers of Other Languages and International English Language Testing System); ‘Welcome to Leeds’ support project; accessing health services; assistance with education, training, re-qualification.
Website: https://retasleeds.weebly.com
Phone: 0113 380 5630
* Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network (LASSN)
The ‘English at Home’ project is for asylum seekers only, providing basic English lessons at home for asylum seekers who can’t access classes.
Website: https://lassn.org.uk
Phone: 0113 373 1759
Start (was Leeds Pathway)
Website: https://www.startinleeds.com (was https://www.leeds.gov.uk/leedspathways/home)
Phone: 0113 276 8080
Leeds City College
Website: https://www.leedscitycollege.ac.uk
Employment
* Refugee Education and Training Advice Service (RETAS)
Assistance with employment training, requalification and finding a job.
Website: https://retasleeds.weebly.com
Phone: 0113 380 5630
Jobcentre Plus
Government office, part of the Department for Work and Pensions
Website: https://find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk/
In Leeds: https://www.jobcentreguide.co.uk/leeds-jobcentre
Phone: 0345 604 3719
PATH Yorkshire
Training and support in finding employment.
Website: https://www.pathyorkshire.co.uk
Phone: 0113 262 4600
Food
* Positive Action for Refugees & Asylum Seekers (PAFRAS)
Support for destitute asylum seekers, including independent immigration advice, casework, mental health support. Weekly drop-in session every Wednesday with hot meal / food parcel, from 10am-1:30pm in St Aidan’s Church, Harehills. Also emergency crisis intervention – food parcels, vouchers, emergency accommodation.
Website: https://www.pafras.org.uk
Phone: 0113 262 2163
St George’s Crypt
Website: https://www.stgeorgescrypt.org.uk
Phone: 0113 245 9061
Touchstone Well-Bean Café
Website: https://touchstonesupport.org.uk/intensive-community-support/wellbean-cafe/well-bean-hope-in-a-crisis-cafe-leeds/
Phone: 07760 173 476
Health/Medical
* Health Access for Refugees Programme (HARP)
Provided by the Refugee Council.
Website: https://refugeecouncil.org.uk/get-support/services/health-access-for-refugees/
* Solace
Provides mental health support.
Website: www.solace-uk.org.uk
Phone: 0113 487 8360 / 07899 304 905
Touchstone
Provides mental health and other support.
Website: https://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk
Phone: 0113 271 8277
National Health Service/Health centres
Website: https://www.nhs.uk
Find a service: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search
Housing
* Grace Hosting
Emergency accommodation in volunteers’ homes for destitute asylum seekers, run by the Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network (LASSN).
Website: https://lassn.org.uk/grace
Phone: 0113 373 1759
* Abigail Housing
Website: https://www.abigailhousing.org.uk
Phone: 0113 898 0574 / 07743 189 314
Legal
The following organisations can provide help with issues of refugee status and dealing with the Home Office.
* Migration Help
Website: https://www.migranthelpuk.org
Phone: 01304 203 977
Free asylum helpline: 0808 8010 503
* Positive Action for Refugees & Asylum Seekers (PAFRAS)
Website: https://www.pafras.org.uk
Phone: 0113 262 2163
* Manuel Bravo Project
Website: http://www.manuelbravo.org.uk
Phone: 0113 350 8608
Religion
Churches in Leeds: https://www.findachurch.co.uk/search/?address=Leeds+(West+Yorkshire)
Mosques in Leeds: http://mosques.muslimsinbritain.org/maps.php#/town/Leeds
Muslims in Britain: http://www.muslimsinbritain.org
Social Support
* Conversation Club
Website: https://ccleeds.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Conversation-Club-Leeds-2115973768685100/
* Conversation Cafe
Provided by the Leeds Playhouse, along with singing and youth groups and the Freedom Project.
Website: https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/creative-engagement/theatre-of-sanctuary/
Meeting Point Leeds
Based at Christ Church in Armley, working with Refugees and Asylum Seekers towards social integration, and in association with other organisations to meet needs such as health, employment, advice, family support or food provision.
Website: http://meetingpointleeds.org.uk/
Phone: 0113 279 6700
Sports/Exercise
Active Leeds: https://active.leeds.gov.uk/
Find a leisure centre: https://active.leeds.gov.uk/findacentre
Transport
West Yorkshire Metro
Website: https://www.wymetro.com
Phone: 0113 245 7676
National Rail
Website: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
Phone: 08457 48 49 50
Volunteering
Voluntary Action Leeds
Website: https://doinggoodleeds.org.uk/voluntary-action-leeds
Phone: 0113 297 7920
Women’s Issues
Leeds Women’s Aid
Website: https://leedswomensaid.co.uk
Phone: 0113 244 2578
Helpline: 0113 246 0401
