Asylum, Refugees and Resettlement Scheme

a warm welcome

Information, advice and support to help newly arrived families settle and feel welcomed in Sandwell.

Newly arrived families, asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants should feel safe, respected and understood. 

Families need support with accommodation, education, childcare, family support, health, benefits and employment.

There is lots of advice and practical support available to help families settle into their new life.

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Government Guidance

Claim Asylum in the UK

The process for claiming asylum in the UK.

Asylum Helplines

Get help by phone if you’re an asylum applicant or refugee and you need advice about the asylum process or adapting to life in the UK.

Visas and Immigration

What you need to know about visas and immigration.


Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme

Information and advice on the Afghan Resettlement Scheme

Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy

Information and guidance on the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.


Local Government support for unaccompanied children

Councils play a key role in supporting asylum seekers, resettlement and unaccompanied children.

Immigration information for Ukrainians in the UK

Information about the immigration routes available for Ukrainian nationals in the UK, British nationals and their family members.

Homes for Ukraine Guidance

Guidance on the Homes for Ukraine scheme which outlines the role of councils across England play in supporting the scheme.

Ukrainians and NHS Healthcare

All Ukrainians arriving in England will be able to access NHS healthcare free of charge, including GP and nurse consultations, hospital services, and urgent care centres.


Settled Status

Step by Step Guide -  what you need to do to stay in the UK if you or your family are from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

Settled status for a child

Each child must have their own application. You can apply for your child or they can apply for themselves.

EU Settlement Scheme in Sandwell

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and you and your family have not applied to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK, please get in touch with Brushstrokes on 0121 565 2234 or via email. They can provide free advice to residents from Sandwell and West Birmingham.

Settling in Sandwell

Settling in Sandwell

Find local support services and advice to help newly arrived families in Sandwell

Asylum Support Service in Sandwell

Local Authority asylum support service to help families making the transition from asylum seeker to resident


Brushstrokes

A community partnership working with newly arrived families, refugees, asylum seekers to rebuild lives and make new homes.

Immigration Advice in Sandwell

A weekly immigration advice clinic held by Brushstrokes


Asylum Support Services

Find asylum support services 

Sandwell City of Sanctuary

A network of organisations, groups and individuals pledging to build a culture of welcome across the borough as part of the national City of Sanctuary network.  

Resilient Residents

Services to help Sandwell residents with housing, money, welfare, health and wellbeing

Going to school in Sandwell

STEPS

The STEPS Centre supports children and their families/carers who are new to Sandwell and the UK, and speak English as an additional language.

The STEPS Centre provides:

  • EAL development for children new to Sandwell and the UK and for whom English is an additional language
  • Information and short courses for their parents and carers
  • EAL CPD opportunities for Sandwell schools
  • Support for the transition of newly arrived children into Sandwell schools

Going to school in Sandwell

How to apply for a school place in Sandwell


Education Benefits

Find out if you can get help with school uniform costs, free school meals and help with school travel costs.

Free Childcare for 2, 3 and 4 year olds

Your 2-year-old may get free childcare if you are getting support under the Immigration and Asylum Act and have either:

  • claimed asylum in the UK and are waiting for a decision (known as ‘part 6’)
  • been refused asylum in the UK (known as ‘section 4’)

A 2-year-old you care for may also get free childcare if your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, and you have any of the following:

  • leave to remain with ‘no recourse to public funds’ on family or private life grounds
  • support from your local council because you have ‘a child in need’, for example they have a disability or a child protection plan
  • the right to live in the UK because you’re the main carer of a British citizen (known as a Zambrano Carer)

Afghanistan Resettlement Education Grant

The Local Authority received funding for education, including free childcare for 2,3 and 4 year old  (15 and 30 hours). 


Families in the Afghanistan Resettlement programme can access 2, 3 and 4 year old funding.


Ukraine refugees will be entitled to claim benefits as soon as they arrive.


Families can apply for 2 year old early education funding once they have a national insurance number and their Universal Credit claim confirmed. 

To meet the economic eligibility criteria families on Universal Credit will need to confirm a household income of £15,400 or less after tax, not including benefit payments.  


Free Childcare for 2 year olds

Free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)

Find an ESOL class

English for Speakers of Other Languages  (ESOL)


Sandwell language network

language support in the borough (including English for Speakers of Other Languages – ESOL)


Sandwell Adult and Family Learning (SAFL)

Functional English Skills and Conversational English classes


Sandwell College

ESOL classes to improve your English


Openlearn

Free online resources for Ukrainians settling in the UK

Family Support

Children's Centres in Sandwell

Children's Centres provide support to families with children and young adults 0-19 years (up to 25 years if they have special education needs or disabilities).

They offer family support, early learning , information and advice on health, parenting, money and benefits, education and school readiness. 

There are lots of free services and activities at your local children's centre.


Parent and Toddler Groups in Sandwell

Parent and Toddler Groups are places to meet other families with babies and toddlers. A chance to socialise and give your baby an opportunity to play, grow and develop.


Parenting Classes and support

Parenting programmes provide you with the opportunities to learn and improve your parenting skills, helping you understand your children's needs and helping you cope with present and future difficulties.

They also provide you with a chance to meet and share experiences with other parents and make new friends


Sandwell Family Life

support services in Sandwell

Health

NHS Advice

National Health Service (NHS) advice and support


Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Find doctors (GP), health practitioners and health services in Sandwell


Sandwell Health Visiting Service

Health Visitors work with parents and carers who have new babies, offering support from the ante-natal period until your child starts school at five years


Sandwell Health and Wellbeing Services

Find local health and wellbeing services

Money, welfare and benefits

Benefits Advice in Sandwell

free independent and impartial advice and support on all welfare benefits


Citizen's Advice in Sandwell

Citizens Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on:

Money

Legal Matters

Immigration

and other problems


Financial Support for families

information and support services to help families with money and benefits


Volunteering in Sandwell

find volunteering opportunities, meet new people, learn new skills

Page last reviewed: 22/06/2023

Actions

Get in touch with us

Family Information Service

family_information@sandwell.gov.uk
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