Below are details of some organisations in Brighton and the UK that provide services, information and support to migrants and refugees. Some organisations are only open part-time, so it is a good idea to check the website before visiting or telephoning.
English classes in Brighton
Below are some providers of English lessons and adult education. There are fees for most classes, but it may be worth asking if there are reductions for refugees or migrants.
BHASVIC
Website: http://www.bhasvic.ac.uk
Telephone: 01273 552200
Email: info@bhasvic.ac.uk
City College
Website: http://www.ccb.ac.uk
Telephone: 01273 667788 (main switchboard), 01273 667759 (course information)
Email: info@ccb.ac.uk
EC Brighton
Website: http://www.ecenglish.com/school-locations/learn-english-in-brighton
Telephone: 01273 694 618
Friends Centre
Website: http://www.friendscentre.org
Telephone: 01273 810210
Email: info@friendscentre.org
Intensive School of English (ISE) Brighton
Website: http://www.isebrighton.com/en
Telephone: 01273 384800
Email: info@ise.uk.com
Intensive School of English (ISE) Hove
Website: http://www.isebrighton.com/en
Telephone: 01273 749244
Email: hovereception@ise.uk.com
Portslade Adult Learning
Website: http://www.portslade.org
Telephone: 01273 422632
Email: comed@paca.uk.com
Varndean College
Website: http://www.varndean.ac.uk
Telephone: 01273 508011 (general inquiries), 01273 546602 (adult education)
Email: office@varndean.ac.uk
Other organisations
24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline
Website: http://www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 2000 247
The Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge, is a national service for women experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends, colleagues and others calling on their behalf. The service has interpreters available.
AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe)
Website: http://www.airecentre.org
Telephone: 0207 831 4276
Email: info@airecentre.org
The AIRE Centre promotes awareness of European law rights and assist marginalised individuals and those in vulnerable circumstances to assert those rights.
Asylum Aid
Website: http://www.asylumaid.org.uk
Telephone: 0207 354 9631 /0207 354 9264 (advice line)
Email: info@asylumaid.org.uk
Asylum Aid provides expert legal representation for people who need refugee protection.
AVID (Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees)
Website: http://www.aviddetention.org.uk
Telephone: 0207 281 0533
AVID seeks to ensure detainees rights are protected and to promote access to volunteer visitors.
Brighton Housing Trust (BHT)
Address: 144 London Road, Brighton BN1 4PH
Website: http://www.bht.org.uk
Telephone: 01273 645400
BHT has developed a comprehensive range of services, working in partnership with other organisations, to meet the needs of homeless, insecurely housed and vulnerable men and women. Services include advice and legal representation, homelessness services, immigration advice (see below), mental health services and sexual health services.
BHT Immigration Legal Service (telephone: 01273 234755 between 10am and 12.30pm Tuesday and Friday) — the Immigration Legal Service provides advice and representation in all areas of immigration, asylum and related human rights law. Advice is provided by specialist solicitors and caseworkers.
The Immigration Legal Service provides advice and representation in all areas of immigration, asylum and related human rights law. Advice is provided by specialist solicitors and caseworkers.
Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID)
Website: http://www.biduk.org
Telephone: 0207 247 3590
Email: enquiries@biduk.org
BID is an independent charity that exists to challenge immigration detention in the UK. BID works with asylum seekers and migrants, in removal centres and prisons, to secure their release from detention.
Brighton and Hove Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Address: 1 Tisbury Road, Hove, BN3 4AH
Website: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/brightonhovecab.htm
Telephone: 01273 223951
Brighton and Hove Citizens Advice Bureau provides a generalist advice service and a specialist debt and welfare benefits service.
Brighton & Hove Refugee and Migrant Forum
Website: http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/community-and-life-events/asylum-seekers-and-refugees-brighton-hove/refugees-asylum-seekers
Brighton & Hove Refugee and Migrant Forum is a partnership of statutory and voluntary organisations who support refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants.
Brighton & Hove City Council
Website: http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk
The website has information about all Brighton & Hove City Council services.
Brighton and Hove City of Sanctuary
Website: http://www.cityofsanctuary.org/brighton-and-hove
The Brighton and Hove branch of City of Sanctuary, also known as Sanctuary on Sea, aims to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the city.
Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project
Website: http://www.bucfp.org
The Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project provides practical support, education and recreation for those in poor housing, claimants, unwaged people and those on low incomes.
Brighton Voices in Exile
Website: http://www.brightonvoicesinexile.org
Telephone: 01273 328598
Email: bvie@hotmail.co.uk">
Brighton Voices in Exile is an organization enabling, advocating, accompanying and supporting those seeking asylum, refugees and those with no recourse to public funds.
Brighton Women’s Centre (BWC)
Website: http://www.womenscentre.org.uk
Telephone: 01273 698 036
Email: info@womenscentre.org.uk
BWC provides information and support, counselling and complimentary therapies by appointment.
British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR)
Website: http://www.bihr.org.uk
BIHR does not advise individuals but its website has information about human rights and how to use them in everyday situations to empower people and challenge poor treatment or service provision.
Broken Rainbow LGBT Helpline
Website: http://www.brokenrainbow.org.uk
Telephone: 0845 2604 460
Email: help@brokenrainbow.org.uk
Broken Rainbow provides confidential support to all members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) communities, their family and friends, and agencies supporting them.
Childline
Website: http://www.childline.org.uk
Telephone: 0800 1111
ChildLine is a private and confidential service for children and young people up to the age of nineteen.
Cornerstone Community Centre
Website: http://www.cornerstone-hove.org.uk
Telephone: 01273 327757
Email: cornerstonecommunitycentre@hotmail.com">
The cornerstone community centre provides a safe, welcoming and inclusive community space, working in close partnership with the neighbourhood to fulfil the social and educational aspirations and needs of community groups and individuals, in particular those people who are marginalised, and to cultivate a trained team of volunteers.
The Cowley Club
Address: 12 London Road, Brighton
BN1 4EJ
Website: http://www.cowleyclub.org.uk
Telephone: 01273 696104
Welfare rights advice is available at the Cowley Club on Mondays from 5-6.15pm.
Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS)
Website: http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com
Telephone: 0808 800 0082 (advice line)
The EASS provides Provide information, advice and support on discrimination and human rights issues to individuals. EASS can help people find local sources of support. It does not provide legal advice or representation.
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
Website: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com
The EHRC is the independent statutory body established to help eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, and protect human rights. The EHRC does not give provide advice to individuals but its website has information about equality and human rights law, including guidance on 'Your rights as a volunteer':
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/service-users-guidance/voluntary-and-community-sector-organisations-including-charities-and-religion-and-belief-organisations/your-rights-as-a-volunteer
Friends, Families and Travellers
Website: http://www.gypsy-traveller.org
Telephone: 01273 234 777
Email: fft@gypsy-traveller.org
Friends, Families and Travellers works on behalf of all Gypsies and Travellers regardless of ethnicity, culture or background.
Gatwick Detainee Welfare Group (GDWG)
Website: http://www.gdwg.org.uk/index.php
Telephone: 01293 657070, detainee freephone number: 0800 389 4367
Email: info@gdwg.org.uk
The Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group is a registered charity that provides emotional and practical support, through its volunteer vistors, to asylum seekers and immigration detainees held in centres near Gatwick Airport.
Law Centres Network
Website: http://www.lawcentres.org.uk
Law Centres defend the legal rights of people who cannot afford a lawyer. They offer legal advice, casework and representation to individuals and groups. You can find a local law centre on the website.
Money Advice and Community Support (MACS)
Website: http://www.macss.org.uk
Telephone: 01273 664000
Email: info@macss.org.uk
MACS helps and supports people in Sussex experiencing difficulty managing their money or financial affairs.
Migrant Help
Website: http://www.migranthelp.org
Telephone: 01304 203977
Migrant Help is a non-campaigning organisation committed to providing support and guidance to migrants in distress and victims of modern day slavery known as Human Trafficking.
MOSAIC
Website: http://www.mosaicequalities.org.uk
Telephone: 01273 234017
Email: info@mosaicbrighton.org.uk
MOSAIC exists to empower Black and Mixed-Parentage families to combat racism and to support the development of positive cultural and racial identity.
National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC
)
Website: http://www.ncadc.org.uk
Telephone: 0207 749 7616
NCADC campaigns for migration justice.
NHS Direct
Website: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Telephone: 111
NHS Direct provides 24-hour medical information and advice.
No Borders Brighton
Website: http://nobordersbrighton.blogspot.co.uk
Email: brightonnoborders@riseup.net
No Borders is a transnational network of groups struggling against capitalism and the state, and for freedom of movement for all.
NSPCC
Website: http://www.nspcc.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 800 5000
The NSPCC helpline has trained counsellors to provide around the clock help, advice and support to anyone who is worried about a child.
Police and emergency services
Telephone: 999 (emergency) or 101 (if it is not an emergency)
Poppy Project
Website: http://www.eavesforwomen.org.uk/about-eaves/our-projects/the-poppy-project
Telephone: 020 7735 2062
The Poppy Project was set up to provide high-quality support, advocacy and accommodation to trafficked women.
Refugee Council
Website: http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
The Refugee Council is one of the leading charities in the UK working directly with refugees, and supporting them to rebuild their lives. The Refugee Council is now running a free Own Language Telephone Advice Service or OLTAS for short. Details at:
http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/what_we_do/multilingual_advice_for_asylum_seekers/oltas
Refugee Radio
Website: http://www.refugeeradio.org.uk
Refugee Radio has a weekly
Refugee Radio is live on Sundays at 8pm on Brighton 's Radio Reverb97.2FM or daily 7pm on Homely Planet.
Rise
Website: http://www.riseuk.org.uk
Telephone: 01273 622 822
Rise is a domestic abuse charity working in Brighton, Hove and West Sussex. It is the Rape Crisis service for Brighton and Hove.
Rwandan Youth Information Community Organisation (rYico)
Website: http://ryico.org
Telephone: 01273 234836
Email: info@ryico.org
rYico is a UK registered charity that works to support and empower vulnerable young people in Rwanda.
Still Human Still Here
Website: http://www.stillhuman.org.uk
Still Human Still Here is a coalition of over 50 organisations that are campaigning to end the destitution of thousands of refused asylum seekers in the UK.
Sussex Interpreting Services
Website: http://www.sussexinterpreting.org.uk
Telephone: 01273 702005
Email: info@sussexinterpreting.org.uk