Monday, 8 November 2010
Who can work in the United Kingdom?
Immigration Advice
Family Reunion for Asylum seekers
Immigration Advice
Friday, 5 November 2010
Posted on July 19, 2010 by Action for Social Integration
Adults often tend to think of learning as an activity reserved strictly to youngsters. However, especially in the present economic environment, it is more essential than ever that one commits to upgrading, expanding and diversifying their professional skills in order to gain competitive advantage in the labour market and secure employment.
Address: Sentinel House, 1 Ashley Road, Tottenham Hale, London N17 9LP
This article has been published in Issue 4 of Action for Social Integration’s Community Advice E-Newsletter, July 19th 2010
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Health Advice
There are many areas in the lives of disabled people in which they may need additional support and assistance: housing, work, education, money, leisure, personal relationships, etc.
Income Tax Allowance: on expenses including travel, subscriptions to magazines, heating and lighting the workplace in your home. If you have a disability and usually work 16 hours or more a week, you may be able to get extra tax credits. The disability must be one that makes it hard for you to get a job and you must be receiving, or have recently received, a qualifying sickness or disability-related benefit. To find out how to get extra tax credits, visit the HM Revenue and Customs website.
The Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG): the government`s guaranteed lending scheme intended to help smaller viable businesses who may be struggling to secure finance, by facilitating bank loans of between £1,000 and £1 million. To find out additional information please following this link.
Business Start-up Allowance from some Learning and Skills Councils (LSC) in England and The National Council for Education and Training for Wales or Local Enterprise Councils (LECs) in Scotland is part of a package which includes training in setting up a business and business planning.
Take a look at the following booklet “Setting up in Business: A Resource Guide for Disabled People and their Advisers”. It contains practical information about tax, Access to Work Scheme, business planning, grants, finance and working from home.
You can find more information on the application procedure by visiting the organisation`s website.
Benefits Enquiry Line
for advice about all benefits and how to claim them.
Phone free: 0800 882200 (Mon-Fri 8.30-18.30, Sat 9.00-13.00);
For help filling in claim forms, phone free: 0800 441144.
Disability Benefits Helpline
Tel: 0845 7123456, for advice on Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance.
Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABs)
Provides advice on a wide range of money, housing, legal and other problems. See your phone book for local numbers.
DIAL (Disability Information Advice Line)
Run mostly by disabled people. See phone book for your local DIAL or call DIAL-UK.
Tel/textphone: (01302) 310123.
Disability Rights Commission.
Helpline: 0845 7622633 (Mon-Fri 8.00-20.00);
Disabled Living Centres (DLCs)
Local centres where you can see, try out and get information and advice on equipment. See ‘Equipment and aids for daily living’ under ‘Help with everyday needs’ for a list of centres or call the Disabled Living Centres Council. Tel: (0161) 834 1044;
RADAR (The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation)
Has a wide selection of helpful publications.
Tel: (020) 7250 3222
This article has been published in Issue 5 of Action for Social Integration’s Community Advice E-Newsletter, August 29th 2010
Newsletter October 2010
If you or somebody you know has been granted ‘limited leave to remain’ as you are a refugee or migrant that has been granted humanitarian protection, then you will be aware that you are granted this for a period of five years.. Continue reading →
Family Reunion for Asylum seekers
If you have claimed Asylum here in the United Kingdom or you are under Humanitarian protection, you are more than likely to want to be reunited with your family members… Continue reading →
If you are a British National Citizen or a Citizen from the EU then you are automatically eligible to work without a work permit. For Citizens of all other countries, you must have a work permit... Continue reading →
Domestic Violence
Do you know about the new Equality Act 2010?
Posted on November 2, 2010 by Action for Social Integration
Continue reading →
Are you entitled to Working Tax Credits and who can apply?
Are you employed or self employed and work more than 16 hours per week? If you are, you may be eligible for Working tax Credits if you are on a low income...
Continue reading →
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Dealing with School Exclusion
! Remember, if you decide to apply to a new school, your child cannot be refused a place because of previous exclusions, unless s/he has had two previous exclusions in the last 2 years.
(In order to acquire a sample letter for requesting a meeting with the school governors, please contact the newsletter editor on editor@agsi.org.uk)
! Remember, it is very important that your child stays at home during school hours in the first 5 days of exclusion. If s/he is found in public space without a good reason, you might be fined with £50.
Our Free GCSE Tutoring Service (Enfield, Barnet and Haringey)
To receive up-to-date information on our services and free advice on education in the UK please register to our Equal Education Advice Newsletter by emailing your contacts to editor@afsi.org.uk
Advice for young mums under 16
Dealing with Domestic Violence
Don't let your immigration status prevent you from reporting domestic violence!
Women from immigrant and refugee backgrounds are particularly vulnerable in cases of domestic violence: they are less likely than other women to seek protection and support due to concerns with their immigration status, emotional and financial reliance on the abusive partner or fear of deportation (especially when their immigration status has not been confirmed).
!Remember that whatever your immigration status is you are ALWAYS entitled to protection just like any other woman in the UK.
Email the national domestic violence charity Women`s Aid: helpline@womensaid.org.uk
If you no longer feel safe at your home environment, ask these organisations to refer you to a “refuge”. Refuge is a safe house (with a confidential address and no access for men) for women and children escaping domestic violence: http://refuge.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/refuges/. Discuss your situation with an adviser from the Refuge organisation by calling 7700 020 7395 or emailing info@refuge.org.uk
Find your local Citizens Advice Bureau
For more practical guidelines prepared specifically for victims of domestic violence with insecure immigration status, check Women`s Aid “Domestic Violence Survivors Handbook”
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Education Advice
! Remember, if you decide to apply to a new school, your child cannot be refused a place because of previous exclusions, unless s/he has had two previous exclusions in the last 2 years.
(In order to acquire a sample letter for requesting a meeting with the school governors, please contact the newsletter editor on editor@agsi.org.uk)
! Remember, it is very important that your child stays at home during school hours in the first 5 days of exclusion. If s/he is found in public space without a good reason, you might be fined with £50.
Useful Links
- NHS Winter health
- National Energy Action
- How to save energy and reduce your bills
- Fuel Poverty Action Guide
- Fuel Poverty: A Practical Advice Guide
- Warm Homes for Older People
- Q&A: How to cope with the cold in frozen U
- Helpline numbers
- Home Heat Helpline: 0800 33 66 99
- Energy Saving Trust England
- Winter wrapped up: A guide to keeping well and staying warm in winter
- Keep warm, keep well
- Keep Warm, Keep Well: A guide for families
Our Vision and Services
Our vision is of a society where no one should experience discrimination on the grounds of their mental health.
Mental health problems are extremely common across society, with one in four of us experiencing them in any year. Despite being so common, people from all communities will still experience discriminatory attitudes and behaviours that can prevent people from speaking out, seeking support and playing full and active roles in our communities. The impact of mental health stigma and discrimination will vary between communities as mental health has a cultural context that affects the way communities talk about the subject and engage with people who have mental health problems. In some cultures depression, for example, doesn't exist and in others an experience of a mental health problem can be attached to a sense of shame.
For the African and Caribbean communities a key issue is the overrepresentation of young African and Caribbean men in mental health services. Misconceptions and stereotypes have led to a perception that this group is more likely to pose a risk of violent behaviour and, as a result, they are more likely to be treated as inpatients and sectioned when compared to other groups. It is well documented that this has led to a fear of talking about mental health issues more openly and a fear of using mental health services. Research by the Race Equality Foundation (2011) also highlighted fears that discrimination against Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) communities and migrant service users will increase in the austerity climate and whilst commissioning arrangements change.
Our Services
· Provide information, advice, advocacy
· Represent diversity communities in Health Care services, policies and strategies
· Organise training in health and social care in collaboration with local colleges
· Provide human resources ( including interpreters) who are suitable to the diversity communities especially to break language and cultural barriers
· Provides domiciliary care and support
· Provide services such specialised support for people with mental health needs, including people who suffer from short-term memory problems, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
· Provide visits to elderly people and help them with outings and home services
· Participate in local authority and NHS consultations , research events and programmes to voice the needs of diversity communities.
· Increase access to services and rights for disadvantaged people and the most vulnerable of our society
· Help and support unemployed people to look for work, including training and job preparation
· Provide legal advice in a range of issues from on Immigration and Asylum , welfare benefits, housing, health, education, community care, and training, employment, etc.
· Provide advice and guidance, information and practical help so that our service users can access opportunities they are entitled to
· Organise training and other community learning opportunities that provide new skills, increase confidence and motivation
· Support our service users to overcome barriers to learning, employment and training
· Provide support for young people with their education, training, confidence building, employment and social needs.
Objectives of our Diversity Living Programme:
· To promote the inclusion and participation of diversity communities* in integrated care.
· To inform policy, locally and nationally, and assisting in the formulation of effective policies, strategies and good practices in integrated care in order to contribute to improved health outcomes for the people from the diversity communities (e.g. Black and minority ethnic communities) and to ensure health services are able to meet their specific needs.
· To improve the quality of life for diversity people with disability, mental health problems and their families and carers through integrated care by providing inclusive advocacy and information.
· To provide service that enable diversity groups and individuals with disability /elderly and their carers to make the right choice for themselves and have an influence on decisions made about their future.
· To promote the rights of diversity people with disability, their families and carers and make sure their rights are safe and protected.
· To promoting access to information regarding healthcare issues and to raise awareness of the needs of diversity disabled children, young people, older people and their families.
· To promote the rights of older and disabled diversity people, helping them overcome and enable them to participate in decisions about their future
· To provide support and information to those suffering the isolation and loneliness that can be associated with disability and old age
· To fight against mental health stigma in refugee, black and minority ethnic communities and ensure no one should experience discrimination on the grounds of their mental health or disability.
*Diversity communities are older people, disabled people, Black, Asian, refugees, migrants, asylum seekers and other ethnic minorities.