We are OISC accredited to offer Asylum and Protection Advice at Level 1.
We do not offer legal advice. We help clients find solicitors.
CASEWORK & REFERRALS
We support clients with:
• finding solicitors
• accessing human rights assessments
• liaising with family reunion agencies
• general form filling
• translating letters so that they are understood by the recipient
• making referrals to and liaising with relevant organisations on clients’ behalf
EXPENSES
We support clients with transport costs to:
• Solicitor appointments
• Home Office signing points
• Home Office interviews in Croydon and Liverpool
• Other essential travel
We make Destitution Payments to clients in DASH hosted housing.
INTERPRETERS
Interpreting support (as available) for speakers of Farsi, Kurdish Sorani, Kurdish Komanji, Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Russian, French, Amharic, Tigrinya, Albanian…to name just some. Where possible we secure training for our volunteer interpreters through accredited schemes.
HOUSING
We support clients with housing issues including:
• liaison with G4S
• looking at housing options, post refusal
• we currently have 9 spaces in DASH hosted housing
• we support New Refugees (clients in recent receipt of Leave To Remain) by assisting them settle into new accommodation by helping them access furniture, carpets, vacuum cleaners and white goods. This service is in partnership with St Vincent de Paul Society, Welcome Centre and Acts 435. Additional donations have been regularly provided by Ghausia Mosque Lockwood, Salvation Army, Lindley Mormons and private donors.
HEALTH
We support clients with health matters including:
• Ensuring clients are registered with a GP and NHS dentist
• Taking clients to medical appointments, where appropriate
• Ensuring clients have a valid HC2 certificate for charges exemptions
• Assisting destitute clients to challenge health charges
• Regular HIV testing, in partnership with The Brunswick Centre
• Free eye tests, in partnership with Souten & Agyemang Optician
• Liaising with mental health services
• Liaising with local authority over care provision
• Visiting sick clients in hospital or at home
• Facilitating family visits to clients in hospital
• Working in close partnership with the White House Centre
As an approved VAC Community Voice Provider and member of the Equality Health Panel Huddersfield CCG, DASH attempts to represent asylum seeker/refugee experience in relation to health commissioning consultation and engagement exercises.
EDUCATION
We support clients, particularly children, with education matters including:
• Assistance with applying for school places
• Assistance with securing uniforms, in partnership with Uniform Exchange
• Assistance with securing transport costs for children unable to access local schools
• Liaison with schools, on behalf of client families, to aid communication where necessary
• ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) – 4 classes a week led by qualified tutors
FOOD & GOODS
At Thursday drop ins, clients can receive:
• Free hot lunch
• Bread to take away, part of the Tesco Fareshare scheme
• Fruit and vegetable bags for destitute clients
• Monthly food bags from Ghausia Mosque Lockwood
• New socks and underwear provided by Lindley Mormon Church
• Donated clothes
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
We try to give our clients emotional support by:
• Befriending
• Accompanying them to Leeds for Home Office signings
• Being a point of contact in emergencies/crises, including Home Office detention
• Referring and signposting to appropriate ‘wellbeing’ initiatives and organisations including Kirklees Young Carers (Barnardo’s), S2R and Sky Positive Minds.
NEW REFUGEES
We support those in recent receipt of Leave To Remain to:
• open a bank account
• access benefits (Universal Credit)
• deal with council tax and utilities issues
• assist with CVs
• Signpost to organisations that help improve employment prospects
[See also HOUSING]
TRIPS
We support clients to enjoy leisure and cultural activities by organising trips to:
• Kirklees Summer Camp, in partnership with Kirklees Cohesion
• DASH Family Weekend, in partnership with YHA & One17Design
• Football tournaments, in partnership with Manchester United Association of Former Players & Huddersfield Town Supporters’ Association
• Lawrence Batley Theatre, M6 Theatre Co, Leeds Playhouse, Opera North
• National Coal Mining Museum, Bradford Media Museum, Huddersfield Art Gallery
• Redbrook Sailing Club
TRAINING
Where possible, DASH seeks to source accredited training for clients, particularly those able to volunteer their skills at drop ins. These include qualifications in Food Safety, First Aid and Community Interpreting.