The Specialist Advice Team provides specialist advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees through complex casework.
Our main areas of work are:
– resettlement support for newly recognised refugees
– post family reunion support
– welfare rights and benefits
– homelessness and housing
– complex asylum support issues
– access to health and social care
– access to education and employment
– support for families with no recourse to public funds
– support for survivors of domestic or racial abuse
– support for LGBTQI+ individuals
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clients supported in 2022/23
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clients helped to secure suitable accommodation and set up their homes
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families reunited through the Family Reunion Scheme
Case Study
A client was referred to NNRF by the British Red Cross at a very difficult time in his life. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given limited leave to remain on human rights grounds so that he could get treatment for his illness. Having terminal cancer, and undergoing chemotherapy during the COVID pandemic meant he was clinically extremely vulnerable and had to shield whilst living in shared NASS accommodation.
His specialist advice caseworker helped him book transport to his hospital appointments. Through contacting the Home Office, we managed to get him a mobile biometrics appointment to get his biometric residence permit, to avoid him travelling to Sheffield for this during lockdown. Once he had his permit, we helped him open a bank account and apply for benefits. There were long delays with his benefit payments due to the Job Centre refusing to accept he was terminally ill. This resulted in us consulting Bhatia Best solicitors, who successfully challenged the Job Centre decision. Once he received his discontinuation letter, he was then referred to Broxtowe Housing Solutions who, due to advocacy from the specialist advice team, accommodated him in an independent living complex. He is now living there comfortably whilst managing his illness.
I have learnt so much about the client group in general, about the whole immigration process. I can transfer this new knowledge to any future role I undertake within social work. The clients were also great to work with, I loved being able to empower people to take steps towards reaching their outcomes.
Louise, Social work student
‘A thousand thanks wouldn’t be enough!’
– Omar, SAT client
‘What I enjoyed most about volunteering in SAT was the ability to take ownership of a case, provide advice to people and see how that advice leads to a positive outcome in people’s lives.’
– Abdulrasheed, SAT volunteer