At Migrant Help, our primary concern is to ensure that the needs of asylum seekers are addressed, and they receive the legal protection and care to which they are entitled.

We recognise that these are difficult times which, on occasion, may require extraordinary measures. As a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic and national and regional lockdowns, unfortunately, fewer clients have been moved from Initial to Dispersed accommodation.

Consequently, many are being housed in repurposed temporary sites, including hotels and ex-military bases, which pose their own set of challenges.

Asylum seekers are people who were forced to flee their country of origin because of a well-founded fear of persecution, conflict, violence, or other circumstances that have seriously disturbed public order, and who, as a result, require international protection. In our experience, access to support networks and local communities, as well as feelings of safety and stability, are vital for our clients, who are often recovering from serious trauma.

We are working together with our funders and partner organisations to ensure that the physical and mental wellbeing of asylum seekers is put first, they have an easily accessible way of raising any concerns and that we provide the information needed on their journey through the asylum process.

We believe that looking after the most vulnerable members of our society has never been more important. To this end, through our charitable funds, we have co-funded with the Home Office the roles of community support workers at both Napier and Penally barracks to provide additional on-site support. We have also helped co-ordinate the many offers of assistance from other charities and local organisations to address the needs of those accommodated in the barracks.

In line with our charitable aims and vision, we will do our very best to support people in these temporary settings, while working with the Home Office and accommodation providers to bring a return to more normal long-term arrangements.