Welcome Newham Refugee Resettlement Programme

Welcome Newham One Stop Shop

Are you a newly arrived resident to Newham from outside the UK?

Newham Council, in partnership with the voluntary and community sector, have launched a weekly one-stop shop offering help and support newly arrived Newham Residents.

The weekly one-stop shops provide an opportunity for newly arrived residents (those granted their leave to remain within the last 6 months) to Newham and those seeking asylum to access a number of different service offerings to help establish a life in Newham. These are drop-in sessions so people can attend anytime - there is no need to RSVP. We also speak multiple languages.

The following in person assistance will be provided at the one-stop shop:

• Help to register with a Doctor for access to health services
• Support for pregnant and new mums
•  Support to apply for benefits to help towards your living costs
• Assistance to apply for school places for all children
•  Homelessness prevention and support
•  Biometric Resident Permit guidance
•  ASPEN and ARC card queries
•  Access to lessons to learn how speak English
• Support in finding work and volunteering opportunities
•  Help to work out the costs involved in affording accommodation in private rented sector and social housing

The one-stop shop is at Stratford Library, 1st Floor - 3 The Grove, E15 1EL every Thursday 10am to 3pm. On the first Thursday of every month there will be a focus on employment and volunteer opportunities.

Alternate Thursdays we host workshops on finding accommodation in the Private Rented Sector and Social Housing (3.30-5pm).

We look forward to seeing you there.

 For more information kindly send an email to Welcome.newham@newham.gov.uk or call  020 3373 3222

Welcome Newham Helpline

For anyone in Newham who is an asylum seeker or refugee, family, friends or host.

Can provide: free advice, support and answer questions on how to get help for health, money, food, jobs and housing.

Cannot help with: individual cases, case work or immigration status or advice.

Many languages spoken.

Email: Welcome.Newham@newham.gov.uk

Call our helpline on 020 3373 3222
 

You do NOT need a fixed address to register with a GP. You do NOT have to show ID, or proof of address or immigration status.

You do NOT have to pay to register or to have an appointment with a GP. Advice is confidential.

If you need to see a GP, but have difficulty speaking or understanding English, tell the staff at the GP surgery. They will be able to arrange for an interpreter. You will NOT be charged for this service.

Visit the page below for help to register and receive care from local family Dr, GP

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have produced a welcome guide for new arrivals. This includes getting used to life in the UK including how to find a home, access essential public services, healthcare, find work and childcare and education services. It also includes specific information for those arriving on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

• Guidance in English (PDF)
• Guidance in Ukrainian (PDF)
• Guidance in Russian (PDF)

We have also developed some Newham specific information to help arrivals and Ukrainian residents of Newham:

• Information for Ukrainian Residents of Newham about Arriving and Staying in the UK (PDF)
• Інформація для українських мешканців Ньюема щодо прибуття до Великої Британії та перебування на її території (PDF)
• Информация для украинских жителей Ньюэма о прибытии и пребывании в Великобритании (UK) (PDF)

To help your guest establish a new life in Newham, Newham have created an information slide pack highlighting the important services available to Ukrainians and how your guests can access these services.

Welcome Information Leaflets

Newham have a dedicated Volunteers Team that can help you find volunteering opportunities.

Why Volunteer?

• Volunteering is a great way to give something back to the community. It makes a difference to your local area and to the people who live here. It is also a fun, rewarding way to meet new people, improve the environment and the lives of others, and learn new skills.
• Volunteering is a great way of impressing potential employers. Helping at a local resident or community organisation can fill gaps in your work experience, boost your CV and allow you to try different types of roles to help you get a reference.
• Giving up your time to help others is rewarding in many ways and allows you to meet new people and learn some valuable new skills, raise your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Welcome Newham - Translator Volunteer
The Welcome Newham Team are looking for volunteer translators to assist with the weekly one-stop shops and private rented sector-housing sessions.

Please see the advert for more information and how to apply - Welcome Newham- Translator Volunteer.

A “Taste” of Community Interpreting 

• Do you speak other languages?
• Can you learn interpreting skills?
• Do you want to help people, and perhaps earn money from interpreting?
• Refugees in Effective and Active Partnership (REAP) run a community interpreting training programme.

If interested, please call or whatsapp Rachaporn on 07983 419388 or email interpreting@reap.org.uk. 

Volunteer’s Stories

PD's story

PD started volunteering summer 2022. She said ‘I have struggled since graduating university to realise my career path, I discovered volunteering as a way to try new things and meet new people- Libraries was something I was particularly interested in and was lucky enough to find a volunteer role in a Library in Newham.

PD volunteered for 2-3 days a week, for approx. 2 months, during which a full time role at the library came up. She said ‘By volunteering with the libraries I had a greater chance of securing a permanent role. I learnt how the libraries worked and was able to translate that experience during my application process. I was successful in gaining the permanent role and have now been working in Newham Libraries for approximately 2 months’.

But it’s not just a full time job that PD has gained ‘By volunteering I was able to gain a lot of confidence working with different people. I gained an insight into myself and was able to do things that I thought I wouldn't be able to’.

PG's story

PG joined the volunteer’s team on October 2023 with the intentions of connecting with the community better. In the short time that she has been an active volunteer, she has been involved with some of the projects that have been set up to help and enrich our communities from the food bank, coffee mornings and seasonal events.

She said, "Volunteering has been a wonderful way of meeting new people and gaining new skills or to refine existing ones. They also advertise training and employment opportunities within the borough which is how I found out about the apprenticeships for Newham council. I am now an apprentice for the Resident Engagement and participation team where I will be able to learn more about and take part in how the volunteer’s team deliver these services".

What am I entitled to?

• If you have No Recourse to Public Funds: 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

What am I entitled to?

• If you have Refugee Status: When you receive your refugee status you will have 28 days to move out of your accommodation.
• You can privately rent a house by contacting a local letting agent.  Newham Council can support you with moving to private rented sector accommodation.
• Average waiting times for a property on the Newham housing register can take many years and it does not guarantee success even if you are actively bidding due to the high demand for social housing. Newham Council can help residents who would like to move to social housing in other parts of the country.

• For those wanting to make a fresh start, Homefinder UK will assist in identifying a home that meets each household’s needs. 

  You can visit Homefinder UK website at www.homefinderuk.org, call 020 7619 9705, or email enquiries@homefinderuk.org

We have created this helpful video that sets out you options.

How to rent in the private rented sector - in English
How to rent in the private rented sector - in Ukrainian

The Welcome Newham Team, in partnership with Praxis are piloting an immigration advice clinic in conjunction with the One stop shop offer. Representatives from Praxis will provide face-to-face immigration advice to Newham residents. This service is targeted to people at risk of destitution or other support needs.

Immigration advice at Stratford Library is by appointment only, please use the link below.  Drop in Immigration advice is available without an appointment at The Well community Centre on a first come first serve basis.

Register your interest in attending the Newham immigration drop-in clinic

For further information, please email: welcome.newham@newham.gov.uk

Please note: These drop in services are available only to residents of the London borough of Newham

Also, the immigration advice is not available for people still going through the Asylum Process.

The immigration advice clinic schedule until 31st March 2025 is as follows: 

A number of local organisations are receiving in kind donations:

Sawmill Café

• 51-53 West Ham, E15 4PH
• Open Mon-Sun, 07:30 to 19:00
• Main contact is Svitlana, 07984 987428
• Accepting medical donations and humanitarian aid from priority list – no clothes.

Unit 6 Café

• 6 The East Mall, Stratford, E15 1XA
• Open Mon-Sun, 07:30 to 19:00
• Main contact is Svitlana, 07984 987428
• Accepting medical donations and humanitarian aid from priority list – no clothes.

Restaurant XIX

• F5 369 Hight Street, Stratford, E15 4QZ
• Open Mon-Sun, 09:00 to 22:00
• Main contacts are Maria and Nataliya, 07561 32202 and 07383559648
• Accepting military and medical donations. No humanitarian aid.