Advice Agencies
GMB
GMB stands for the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union. The Union has an adult learning centre at St Marks school which provides ESOL and computer classes for new arrivals (whether refugee or migrant workers) in partnership with Eastleigh College.
It also provides advice and support to clients with employment problems. You do not have to be a member of the union to access its services.
St Marks School,
Stafford Rd
Southampton, Hampshire,
SO15 5TE
Telephone: 023 8077 4299
Refugee Action
Refugee Action is a national organisation with an office in Portsmouth. It provides advice and support to refugees and asylum seekers. The outreach service in Southampton takes place on a Tuesday and Friday at the Multicultural Centre, The Avenue, Southampton SO17 1XQ.
Contact details
Refugee Action Suite F3/4
2nd Floor Venture Tower
Fratton Road, Portsmouth
PO1 5DL
Telephone: 023 9285 7561
EU Welcome Project
Advice and information service for people from the new East European states who have joined the European Union since 2004 (known as the A10). 8 countries joined in 2004, the largest of which is Poland. A further two countries joined in 2007- Romania and Bulgaria.
Call Dave Adcock on 07786 392886
or email euwelcome@yahoo.co.uk
CLEAR
City Life Education and Action for Refugees (CLEAR) works with refugees and asylum seekers. It provides advice and support, English language and other courses such as ICT and Starting Your Own Business.
Advice drop-in: Tuesday and Thursday 9.30-15.00, Fridays 9.30-12.30.
CLEAR
George Williams House
Cranbury Pl
Southampton, Hampshire,
SO14 0LG
Telephone: 023 8022 1111
ESOL Helpline
CLEAR has a helpline for anyone wishing to learn English in Southampton. Any new arrival wanting to find out about courses learn English language should contact CLEAR on the number below.
ESOL Telephone: 023 8023 3772
or send an email to:
esol@clearproject.org.uk
Multicultural centre
The centre is open on a Tuesday and Friday and is run by the Red Cross. CLEAR, Refugee Action, Portsmouth Communiuty Legal Advice Centre all providing outreach services on the above days. Activities range from ESOL provision to advice and support for refugees and asylum seekers.
Avenue Multicultural centre
The Avenue,
Southampton
SO17 1XQ
Telephone: 023 8067 8787
Southampton and Winchester Volunteer Group (SWVG)
SWVG is a small registered charity which gives personal, practical and financial support to asylum seekers, especially those made destitute by current government policy.
Telephone: 0750 317 6350 (answerphone)
Employment Access Centre
Run by the Wheatsheaf Trust who can help with validating overseas qualifications through UK NARIC – the National Agency responsible for providing information, advice and expert opinion on vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications from over 180 countries worldwide.
Wheatsheaf House,
24 Bernard Street,
Southampton,
SO14 3AY
Telephone: 023 8022 3345
Drop-in: 1.30-4.30 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
Homeless Health Care Team
The homeless health care team help people who are homeless and who do not have a local GP. They also help asylum seekers and refugees who are new to the city and may not yet be registered with a doctor.
Homeless Health Care Team
30 Cranbury Avenue,
Southampton,
SO14 0LT
Telephone: 023 8033 6991
Pamela Campbell – NurseTeam Leader
HAMAOUS
For advice on money, contact Southampton City Council: the Housing and Money, Advice Outreach Service (HAMAOUS)
Referrals to the service can be made by telephone (call 023 8033 9206), or for email queries use the link below. If you are emailing a referral, please complete the attached referral form and send to outreach.advice@southampton.gov.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Provides a wide range of free, confidential and impartial advice on issues such as immigration, nationality, legal matters, benefits, housing etc.
3 Kings Park Road
Southampton, SO15 2AT
Telephone: 023 8022 3659
But I don´t speak English
If you don´t speak English well, the agency you are dealing with (police, social worker, advice organisations) should offer you an interpreter; ask for this if it is not offered to you.
If you are unhappy with the interpreter or are afraid they may not treat what you say in confidence, ask the agency to find another interpreter.
Access to Communication
Provides translation and interpreting services
Telephone: 023 8024 1300 or
Telephone: 023 8024 1301
National Agencies and Websites
Multikulti
Provides information and guidance on housing, immigration, health, welfare benefits, debt, education and employment in a variety of languages
My UKinfo