Asylum seekers
Asylum seekers are people who flee their home country and seek refuge in another, possibly because of conflict or human rights abuses.
The United Kingdom signed up to the 1951 United Nations Convention which requires it to offer refuge to a person who can demonstrate a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion or nationality or because they are members of a particular social group or have a particular political opinion.
This section gives information about asylum seekers and the work of our Asylum Seeker Co-ordination Team.
Why do asylum seekers come to Wolverhampton?
Wolverhampton has a proud history of welcoming people from other nations to the city.
Prior to 1999 asylum seekers often arrived in the town but in that year the Government decided to formalise the dispersal process that was already taking place within the United Kingdom in a bid to minimise pressure on public services such as health and housing.
The National Asylum Support Service - now known as IND Asylum - was established in 2000 and is responsible for co-ordinating the dispersal process and securing accommodation and support for asylum seekers. IND Asylum has contracts with both us and private groups to provide accommodation and support to destitute asylum seekers.
As part of the West Midlands Consortium which includes Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley and Wolverhampton councils, we are contracted to provide accommodation and support for a maximum of 350 asylum seekers at any one time.
What do we provide asylum seekers with?
We provide asylum seekers with basically furnished properties according to individuals needs, not wants.
Most asylum seekers are housed in flats or maisonettes across the city which are equipped with essential furniture only. Computers, microwaves, televisions, washing machines or vacuum cleaners are not included.
Payment includes all costs associated with the accommodation including council tax, furniture, rent and utilities.
Everything we provide to asylum seekers is paid for by the UK Border Agency, part of the Home Office, and is not subsidised by us through either tax or rent collected from council tenants.
What payments do asylum seekers receive?
The typical weekly living allowances for asylum seekers for 2008-09 are as follows:
- Qualifying couples: £66.13
- Single person aged 18 but under 25: £33.39
- Single person aged 25 or over: £42.16
These allowances are paid by UK Border Agency.
Our aims and objectives
Our Asylum Seeker Co-ordination Team aims to provide asylum seekers with a comprehensive front line support service while they are awaiting a decision on their asylum application.
This support is extended if they receive a positive decision - while if they are unsuccessful with their claim for asylum we will work with them and the immigration service to help them return to their home country.
The team is based at 174 Chervil Rise, Heath Town, and our offices are open to the public from 9am to 1pm, Monday to Friday. You can also contact us on phone between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, or e-mail asylum@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
Other sources of support and advice
A number of organisations in Wolverhampton, other than our own Asylum Seeker Co-ordination Team, offer help and support to asylum seekers. For more details of other local support, visit our special section.
Elsewhere, a number of classes are run which may help asylum seekers settle in to their new home. The City of Wolverhampton College and our Adult Education Service provide a range of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes, including speaking and understanding English (spoken English) and reading and writing English (written English). These courses are available at a number of different levels, and lead to recognised qualifications.
There are also courses covering:
- Information technology
- Numeracy
- Life skills
- Maths
- Asian dressmaking
- First aid
- Citizenship and
- Employability skills.
The City of Wolverhampton College also has a rolling programme of Advanced Citizenship courses.
And there are a number of other useful websites run by national bodies which give information for and about asylum seekers, including:
Contact us
To find out more about the support our Asylum Seeker Co-ordination Team can give to asylum seekers or to find out how we can help you, get in touch with using the contact details below:
e-mail: asylum@wolverhampton.gov.uk Phone: 01902 554721 or 552598
Minicom: 01902 555554
Fax: 01902 552587
You can also write to us or visit us (weekdays, 9am to 1pm) at:
Asylum Seeker Co-ordination Team
174 Chervil Rise
Heath Town
Wolverhampton
WV10 0HP
Location map of the Asylum Seeker Co-ordination Team