This section gives practical information, mostly local. For national guidance about asylum including the process of claiming asylum, and links to helpful national organisations, go to “Asylum info“
The guidance on various topics below was reviewed in 2019. Some has been further updated in 2020 and 2021.
If you seek guidance from SWVG on something that isn’t covered here, go to https://swvg-refugees.org.uk/members/advice-to-members/
Other organisations which may be useful to asylum seekers and refugees in Southampton are listed here (click this link) and also below.
- AMC Southampton drop-in on Friday mornings Updated November 2023.
- Bedding: the desk team at AMC on a Friday morning can get the key to the bedding store. This usually has bedding, duvets and pillows
- Bicycles: SWVG tries to provide bikes where we can. Anyone who wants a bike (or their visitor) should contact David Rees.
- Bicycle repair: David Hendry, SWVG volunteer, maintains and repairs bikes and has a pot of funding to provide parts if they’re required. David is on dh3g16@soton.ac.uk (May 2021). Southampton City Council is providing free support for bike owners as part of its sustainable transport policies. From March 2022, this supports Bike Doctors in two locations: the Hub Cycleworks in Shirley offers bike safety checks in Guildhall Square on alternate Thursdays from 10am to 2pm, and Monty’s Bike Hub is offering the same at Bitterne Precinct, West End Road (SO18 5RR) every first and third Wednesday. The doctors can carry out minor alterations and adjustments for free – replacement work is also free and users just pay for parts e.g. replacement inner tube or brake pads. The doctors can also give advice on maintenance or if more extensive work is needed. SWVG has a budget for parts and equipment and can be accessed to help members keep their bikes on the road.
- Boxing gym: Inner City Boxing , 76B St. Mary Street, Southampton, SO14 1NY, is offering free membership and classes for asylum seekers using SWVG. You don’t train on your own – clients can participate in classes Mondays to Fridays from 6 -7 pm and Saturdays 11am – 12pm. See their flyer Inner City Boxing. Anyone interested should see the Friday desk team and ask for a letter of introduction. (Jan 2020)
- Children’s and babies’ clothing, equipment, toys
- Citizens Advice Southampton advice 0300 3302166. Southampton residents speak to an adviser from the Southampton office wherever possible, so get an adviser with comprehensive knowledge of local services. When all local advisers are busy, calls will be redirected to other Citizens Advice advisers in Hampshire.
- City of Sanctuary Winchester leaflet 2020
- Clothes – adult, children, school uniforms
- Clothing Drop-in is the last Friday of the month at Avenue St Andrews United Reformed Church, 10.30-12 noon. Enquiries to Southamptonaction@gmail.com
- Courses in English, employability, maths and more from the WEA
- Donating clothes etc – contact Southamptonaction@gmail.com if you want to give clothes, household items or toiletries because their storage is limited – and please read this guidance (Nov 2019)
- Domestic abuse – contact Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service.
- English Language learning
- Food: click this link to Southampton City Council’s list of outlets (Feb 2023) which they try to keep up-to-date. SWVG volunteers collected other information but we do not guarantee that it is up-to-date – if you want to look at it, click on:
- Food banks, shopping vouchers, home delivery,
- food bags (AMC – Red Cross guidance)
- places in Southampton where you can get food
- Health: a complicated topic. Click here to see more including:
- Government 2021 information about the rights of people from other countries in respect of health care:
- Refugee Council resources to help people access health services
- report on health needs for asylum seekers in Southampton and Portsmouth by Rebecca Wilkinson, Public Health Registrar, on behalf of the Wessex Global Health Network
- Leave to remain: see Government’s booklet “Welcome: a guide for new refugees“
- Medical care – Doctors of the World support for people denied or asked to pay for NHS hospital services and other non-primary care due to their immigration status.
- Mental Health and Wellbeing – lots of useful resources.
- Mobile phones, wifi, and contracts
- Safeguarding guidance. See also Safeguarding policy and procedures (2020). To report a case to SWVG’s Safeguarding lead David Retter use this SWVG Safeguarding incident report form
Guidance being updated
The pages below are being checked and updated. Please do not rely on their content without checking with the Co-ordinators.
- Getting things – awaiting update
- Opportunities for education – needs a volunteer to review and expand
- Volunteering – needs review