Awaiting Decision

What am I entitled to?

You will get £9.58 each week for each person in your household if you live in a hotel that provides food. You will get £47.39 each week for each person in your household if you live in a hotel that does not provide food. All your money will be loaded onto your ASPEN debit card.

Your asylum support is paid by the Home Office and administered by Migrant Help. If you have any issues with your ASPEN card you should contact Migrant Help.

To contact Migrant Help, ring 0808 8010 503 or visit their website.

Additional payments

• If you are pregnant, you are entitled to receive £3 extra per week during your pregnancy
• For every child under 1 year old, you will receive an extra £5 per week on top of normal payments, and £3 for each child aged 1 to 3.
• £300 maternity grant. You need to apply between 8 weeks before the baby is due and 6 weeks after the birth

What am I entitled to?
You are not eligible for homelessness assistance or council housing allocation from Newham Council.

If you are worried that you may become homeless you can contact Shelter Homelessness Charity: 0808 800 4444

If you become homeless you can ask for support from Newham staff that attend your hotel to help you signpost to organisations that can house you.

What am I entitled to?

Children aged 3 - 4 years old can get free early years education.All children aged 5 - 16 years old, regardless of immigration status, are legally required to attend school.

Children aged 5 to 11 will attend primary school. Children aged 11 to 16 will attend secondary school.

People aged 16 - 18 years old must be in full-time education or at work.
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All primary-aged pupils in Newham receive free school meals. Please speak to a Family Navigator about this.

Need help with school applications? Please speak to a Family Navigator about this.

Come along to the Newham One-Stop Shop to talk to a team member to help with your child’s school application.

The one-Stop Shops are every Thursday, 10am to 2pm at Stratford Library, 3 The Grove, E15 1EL

What am I entitled to?

Newham Council’s Adult Learning team has many courses for adults aged 19 and over. Many of the courses are suitable for beginners or for those wanting to improve their skills and all courses are at times to suit you.

There are lots of free courses on offer:

• English language
• Maths skills
• Digital skills
• Business
• Arts and fashion
• Cake decorating and cooking

For more information, please visit their website.

For more information about English and maths courses, you can call 020 3373 8254.

There are organisations in Newham who offer free education and skills sessions to people regardless of how long they have been in the UK. Visit our directory to find services where you can learn a new skill or hobby.

Contact the Welcome Newham Team who can give further details and support.
020 3373 3222, Monday to Friday 10am-5pm
Email: Welcome.Newham@newham.gov.uk

What is the NHS?

The NHS stands for the National Health Service. It refers to the Government-funded medical and health care services that you can use for free.

For more information about the NHS and how it works, please visit our About the NHS pages.

What am I entitled to?

Anyone can register for a doctors service (a GP) free of charge. You do not need to prove your address or show identification to register for a GP.

For information about how to register for a GP, please read more our 'Register for a GP' page.

Where to go

You can get help for physical and mental health from all of these services:

• Doctors (GPs): all basic medical care including immunisations, flu, stress, anxiety, low mood and referrals to specialist services
• Pharmacies: for minor illness and to get prescriptions
• Call 111 for advice and information including when your doctor is closed
• Hospitals: specialist services – usually needs referral from the GP
• Urgent Care/Accident and Emergency: for emergencies when you need help right away
• Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk

You are entitled to an HC2 certificate to help with health costs.

This will be sent to you directly by UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration).

If you have not received your certificate, you can ask for support in the hotel to complete the application and send it. They will be able to provide you the form.

Doctors of the World

If you do not have a GP and are having trouble registering, you can contact Doctors of the World UK for support.

Call their advice line (Freephone 0808 164 7686) open on Mondays to Thursdays, 10am-12pm. We can call back with an interpreter.

Drop in to their clinic in Stratford, 80-92 High Street, Stratford, E15 2NE.Open 9.30am-5pm - Tuesdays (women and children only), Wednesdays and Thursdays. Last appointments are at 3pm. Appointments are usually given out in the morning so best to arrive earlier in the day. You may be asked to return later the same day.

There are services in Newham that can help you if you are pregnant or have children under 5 years old.

If you are pregnant
Your maternity care will be free through the NHS. Newham University has a maternity unit and specialist teams that can support you through your pregnancy. 

You can self-refer to this service here.

For more information please go to their website.

Health Visitors
Please call the single point of access line on telephone number 0203 373 9983 or email CHIS@newham.gov.uk.

Health visitors work with children and their families from pregnancy until children are five.

Health visitors improve the health and wellbeing of all children aged 0-5 and prevent ill health through health promotion.

The Magpie Project
Address: Forest Lane Lodge, Magpie Close, E7 9DE

Visit The Magpie Project for free support and activities.

Transport costs are paid for.

• Drop into Magpie’s supported stay and play sessions on Monday and Wednesday, 10am to 1pm. There is also breakfast and lunch provided. This is during term times only.
• Register for English conversation classes on Thursdays, 12.30 to 2pm. Lunch is provided.
• Music session and breakfast Fridays 10am.

Self refer to their service here

Newham Nurture
Visit Newham Nurture for help during your pregnancy and after birth. There is no need to book, just visit one of the sessions. Travel costs are paid for.

If you have questions, you can call Newham Nurture on: 07542 128 205. Sessions are during term time only.

There are organisations close by that provide free hot meals and food products.

If you have a kitchen, you can get help from a food bank via the Newham Food Alliance.

There are many other services that can help you with free hot meals:

Ascension Church
Ascension Church Centre, Baxter Road, E16 3HJ
Free hot meals Tuesdays 10am to 2pm. Can just turn up
Activities include: English language sessions, Gardening, Food bank, Activities for children, Family support, Community café and Free Pilates class from 10-11am.

Highway Vineyard Church
88A Romford Rd, E15 4EH
Free hot meals Tuesdays, 11.30am-3pm. No need to book.
Activiites include: Board games, Puzzles, Watch a film, English conversation groups and Creative workshops

The Renewal Programme
395 High Street, E12 6PG Free hot meals
Tuesdays 11am-1.30pm (As part of existing foodbank café sessions)
Wednesdays 12.30-3pm
Friday 11am-1.30pm (As part of existing foodbank café sessions)
Contact 07473 159 269 to book and find out more.

The 5es Development
St Marks Community Centre, 218 Tollgate Road, E6 5YA
Tuesdays 11am-1pm and Fridays 11am-1pm
Whatsapp 07491999289
Activities include: Wellbeing group sessions and Social connection

All Saints West Ham
All Saints Church, Church Street, Stratford, E15 3HU - Tuesdays

The Dockland Settlements
TMO Building, 17 Doran Walk, E15 2JL.
Food bank Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.30pm-12pm
No need to book

What am I entitled to?
You can access free Mental Health services in Newham

Newham 24 Hour Mental Health Crisis Helpline
Free support is available if your mental health is getting worse or you are in distress and need support from a qualified mental health professional call 0800 073 0066.

Take a look at the Healthy Mind section of our website to find out what services are here to support you.

Mental wellbeing support services for refugees

• Refugee Council Ukrainian Therapeutic Service - face to face or online counselling in Stratford
• HostNation befriending service for refugees
• Ultimate Counselling mental health support or call 020 8594 1514
• Newham Nurture Parents in Mind mental health support for women during and after pregnancy

What am I entitled to?
There are no barriers to health and wellbeing support based on your immigration status.
All children and young people can access free Mental Health services if you are an asylum seeker.

Please visit our Mental Health Support for Under 18s page on our website for more information.

Newham 24 Hour Mental Health Crisis Helpline
Free support is available if your mental health is getting worse or you are in distress and need support from a qualified mental health professional call 0800 073 0066.

What is Social Care?
Adult Social Care provides advice, information and assistance to promote your independence in the local community as much as possible.

Telephone 0208 430 2000 (Option 2)

Call Adult Social Care or self-refer yourself or someone you know here if you have concerns about daily living such as:

• Managing personal care
• Washing and dressing
• Using the toilet or bathroom
• Accessing areas in the home
• Getting out and about into the community

Occupational Therapy
You might receive an assessment from an Occupational Therapist (OT).

Occupational Therapy may teach you new ways of doing things, provide you with equipment to make sure you are as safe and independent as possible.

Contact Access to Adult Social Care for advice: 020 8430 2000 option 2.

Are you a carer?
Do you care for an adult with a physical disability, learning disability, sensory loss, mental illness, drug or alcohol dependency or long term health condition?

Newham aims to support our residents who have caring responsibilities for family, friends and neighbours.

If you are concerned about your caring role and need advice and information contact the Newham Carer's Community.

What services are available for children and young people in Newham?

• Children's Centres are places for all families with children under 5 to enjoy activities and access help and advice. Find more information here.
• Youth Zones open to provide youth sessions and one-to-one support for young people aged 9-18. Find more information here or email youth.zones@newham.gov.uk
• You can browse all services and support on our Family Health pages.

Newham Council can offer targeted early help support if you feel you need more additional support. This could be in the form of parenting courses as well as linking you and your child to Children Centre and other activities in the borough.

If you are worried about a child, you can contact our Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub. Find more information about safeguarding here.

If you are a young person with a social worker and you are not happy with the service you are being provided, you are entitled to some support through an independent advocate.
childrensrights@newham.gov.uk

You are generally not allowed to work while your claim for asylum is being considered. If a decision on your initial asylum claim after one year has not been made (and this delay is not attributed to you) you may request permission to work.

You are only allowed to work in one of the areas on the Shortage Occupation list. 

This right will cease if your claim for asylum is finally determined as unsuccessful.

Volunteering

Voluntary work is unpaid work. It can help build up skills and
experience for paid work, as well as build relationships with people, and the community.

Find out more about volunteering opportunities available on the Newham Council website.

Modern Day Slavery
If you are being pressured to work for little or no money you may be a victim of Modern Day Slavery.

If you have concerns about a child being exploited at work, please contact Newham MASH on 020 3373 4600 during office hours (Monday to Thursday, 9am-5.15pm or Friday 9am to 5.00pm) or 020 8430 2000 at any other time and if the referral is urgent.

If you have concerns about an adult being exploited at work, call the 24 hour Safeguarding helpline on 020 3373 0440.

You can also call The Salvation Army’s confidential Referral Helpline on
0800 808 3733. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What am I entitled to?
Please call the police on 999 if you are in immediate danger of violence or abuse from someone in your home.

Visit the Newham Council Domestic Abuse page for more information.

What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding adults means protecting adults at risk from abuse or neglect by taking steps to prevent or stop it from happening.

Who is an adult at risk?
A vulnerable adult at risk is anyone aged 18 and over who:

• Has care and support needs
• Is experiencing, or at risk of abuse or neglect
• Is unable to protect themselves

What is abuse?
Abuse can be a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, which causes harm or distress. It happens in many forms such as:

• Neglect acts of omission
• Self-neglect
• Physical abuse
• Psychological abuse
• Financial or material abuse
• Human trafficking
• Hate crime

Anyone can be an abuser and abuse can also happen anywhere.

How to raise a concern about an adult in Newham
Please call the 24 hour Safeguarding helpline on 020 3373 0440 or let us know about a safeguarding concern online.

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) is behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress to other people.

For example:

• Noisy or nuisance neighbours
• Vandalism
• Aggressive behaviour

If you feel you have been victim of ASB you can report it to Newham’s Community Safety Partnership: 020 8430 2000.

Visit the ‘Community Safety Partnership’ page for information about how Newham Council is keeping its communities safe from ASB and crime.

https://www.newham.gov.uk/council/community-safety-partnership/1

A hate crime is hostility towards someone because of:

• Race/ethnicity/where you are from
• Religion or beliefs
• Disability
• Gender identity
• Sexual orientation

Discriminating against someone because of any of these is unacceptable and can be illegal.

If you have been the victim of a hate crime you can report it to the police by calling 999.

If you are uncomfortable with talking to the police you can report it to StopHateUK: 0800 138 1625