FIRST STAGEEARLY DRAFT

TOOLKIT FOR
VULNERABLE
REFUGEE
WOMEN
[2014]

[Toolkit]
[A practical guide to support refugee and
asylum-seeking women around issues of
violence and trauma from the Evelyn
Oldfield Unit and supported by Comic Relief.
This is designed to support small community
organisations working with women.

Toolkit

This toolkit will be updated regularly. We

welcome any feedback on this and please
get in touch if you wish to feature in this.]

Chapter 1
How to Respond When a
Woman Discloses Domestic
Abuse
19 languages support line: 0808 2000 247
Against Violence & Abuse can support your organisation directly through
training, information and advice : http://www.avaproject.org.uk/

Ascent for women who have experienced any form of gendered violence,
including domestic violence. Please call 0207 610 4678 or
email ascentcounselling@wgn.org.uk to refer.

Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP) support for men and for
women (if your partner is accessing their services); also elderly abuse support.
Tel: 020 7401 7278
www.dvip.org
Solace Womens Aid: offering advice, legal services, advocacy
http://www.solacewomensaid.org/
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Rights of Women
o Free Legal Advice Line for women by women: 020 7251 6577 (telephone)
or 020 7490 2562 (textphone). Check:
http://www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/adviceline.php for opening times
o Free Sexual Violence Legal Advice Line for women by women: 020 7251
8887 (telephone) or 020 7490 2562 (textphone)

Women and Girls Network: offering advocacy, counselling, accredited training:

http://www.wgn.org.uk/
Womens Aid: national charity offering confidential support, survivors forum and
handbook; also has a searchable local directory http://www.womensaid.org.uk/

OTHER
GAIA centre in Lambeth http://refuge.org.uk/what-we-do/our-services/gaiacentre-lambeth/
European database on DV issues- information, resources, toolkits, good
practice: http://eige.europa.eu/content/domestic-violence
Risk identification form for front line workers to identify high risk clients:
http://www.caada.org.uk/marac/RIC_without_guidance.pdf

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Chapter 2: Mental Health

Support for Refugee Women
SELF SUPPORT
MEDITATION / MINDFULNESS
You may wish to consider taking up meditation or practicing mindfulness for self
support.
These places operate on a donation-only fee as opposed to charging fixed prices. All
welcome.

Meditation on Holloway Road: http://www.northlondonbuddhistcentre.com

Meditation in Bethnal Green: http://www.lbc.org.uk
Mindfulness Centre in London: http://www.londonmeditation.co.uk/mindfulness.php
Oxford Mindfulness centre: https://oxfordmindfulness.org

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Gaia Centre (for weekend or week long retreats) in Devon: http://gaiahouse.co.uk

You can also partake in some mindfulness in the comfort of your own home by
accessing these guided exercises:
5 minute meditation (follow the sound of the ringing
bell): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGFog-OuFDM
Jon Kabat Zinn (20 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS5QpPRFdbg
3 minute breathing exercise (Jefferson University Hospital) female voice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gcUSfTEn84

THERAPY
There are many free and low cost therapy options. You first need to
decide what is most appropriate for you. You can discuss this with your
doctor or self-refer.

Every borough has an IAPT - Improving Access to Psychological

Therapies. This is a new NHS structure that will help you to decide
what is most appropriate for you.

Check here for the list:

http://www.iapt.nhs.uk/services/services/london-nhs-iaptservices/

Here are some definitions of the main types of therapy:

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Counselling : is a type of talking therapy that allows a person to talk about their
problems and feelings in a confidential and dependable environment

Cognitive behavioural therapy - (CBT): is a talking therapy that can help

you managing your problems by changing the way you think and behave.

Mindfulness: means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the

present moment, and non-judgmentally to increase awareness, clarity and
acceptance of our present-moment reality.

More to be added

Other therapy types suggested

Art Therapy: help people express difficult thoughts and feelings through creative
activities.

List of free and low cost mental health services:

Your Doctor / GP
Independently large mental health charities like MIND read more
about
the
support
MIND
can
offer
here:
Womens Therapy Centre
The Centre has a particular commitment to offering psychotherapy to women whose
needs might not otherwise be met elsewhere and has a commitment to working with
women who would not usually have access to therapy.
This project enables women from BAMER communities to utilise psychotherapy by
using a community based model to overcome traditional barriers to access. The
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project also focuses on the needs of the staff and volunteers working with women.
http://www.womenstherapycentre.co.uk/

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http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-andservices/community-based-mental-health-and-social-care-inengland/#.U5hBwHJdWSo
Specialised Refugee Therapy Centre, Womens Therapy Centre

Some examples of low cost therapy and services for women in London:
Central London
CAST Womens Project
52-54 Featherstone Street
Islington
London, EC1Y 8RT
Tel: 020 7490 1546
www.castwomen.org.uk

Asian Women Lone Parents Association

Peel Centre
Percy circus
London
WC1x 9EY
Tel: 020 7833 8085
E-mail: info@awlpa.org
East London
Aanchal Womens Aid
The Lounge
Community Centre
Bryant Street
Stratford
London, E15 4RU
Tel: 020 8221 3800
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www.aanchal.org.uk
Newham Asian Womens Project
661 Barking Road
London, E13 9EX
Tel: 010 8472 0528
www.nawp.org

HELIOS
Founded in 1982, Helios is a well established charity offering
holistic therapy for people living with HIV, hepatitis and other chronic
physical and psychological conditions. We provide a range of
treatments, such as massage, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, reflexology,
aromatherapy, osteopathy, shiatsu, healing, counselling, psychotherapy
and nutrition advice.
Our protocols support orthodox treatments by providing a range of
physical interventions and counselling. Our approach to illness is to
treat the whole person holistically. We have an over-riding belief in the
resilience of the human spirit, which with the right support leads people
to find increased confidence, optimum health and feeling 'more in
control of the situation.
We are fortunate in having highly qualified and experienced therapists
from a range of backgrounds. We value each persons uniqueness,
giving our attention and support to differing cultures and opportunities.
We strongly believe that providing necessary support and care to people
from marginalised minority groups is an important part of the
therapeutic and holistic frame.
We are offering a special women discreet clinic where you can receive a
course of holistic healthcare therapy from our team of friendly and
experienced therapists.
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-7pm.Saturday: 10am-3pm

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North London
JAN Trust
8-10 Bedford Road
Wood green
Haringey
London, N22 7AU
Tel: 020 8889 9433
E-mail: info@jantrust.org
Womens Therapy Centre
10 Manor Gardens
London, N7 6JS
Tel: 020 7263 7860
E-mail: enquiries@womenstherapycentre.co.uk
Alvi Cultural Centre & CemEvi
89 Ridley road
Hackney
London, E8 2NH
Tel: 020 7241 6285
E-mail: iamvecemvi@hotmail.com
North West
Henna Asian Womens Group
Abbey Community Centre
222c Belsize road
London, NW6 4DJ
Tel: 020 7372 9860
E-mail: henna.org@btopenworld.com

Hopscotch Asian Womens Centre

42 Phoenix Road
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London, NW1 1TA

Tel: 020 7388 6200
E-mail: info@hopscotchawc.org.uk
Sudan Womens Association (SWA)
Abbey community Centre
222c Belsize road
London, NW6 4DJ
Tel: 020 7372 0944
South West London
Family Support Network
Waterside Centre
26 Avenue road south Norwood
London, SE25 4DX
Tel: 0208 771 3274
E-mail: fsn2006@tiscali.co.uk
Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre
P.O.Box 383 Croydon
London, CR9 2AW
Tel: 0208 683 3311
E-mail: info@rasasc.org
www.rasasc.org.uk
S.T.OR.M Wandsworth
253 Battersea Park Road Boddington and Rollo Estate
Charlotte Despard Avenue
London, SW11 4LF
Tel: 0207 498 0311
http://stomempowerment.com/
South East
Cassel Centre
4 Waldram Park Rd.
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London, SE23 2PN

Tel: 020 8291 3436
E-mail: graham@casselcentre.org
www.casselcentre.org
Faces in Focus
102 Harper Rd.
London, SE
Tel: 020 7403 2444
www.facesinfocus.org.uk
Waterloo Community Counselling
Barley Mow Clinic
Frazier St.
London, SE1 7BD
Tel: 020 7928 3462
E-mail: info@waterloocc.co.uk
www.waterloocc.co.uk

West London
Southall Black Sisters - offer national support, not just in West London
and to any BME woman around gender-related issues: We provide
general and specialist advice on gender-related issues such as domestic
violence, sexual violence, forced marriage, honour killings and their
intersection with the criminal justice, immigration and asylum systems, health,
welfare rights, homelessness and poverty.

21 Avenue Road
Southall
Middlesex, UB1 3BL

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Tel: 0208 571 9595

www.southallblacksisters.co.uk

Women & Girls Network

PO box 13095 Holland Park
London
Tel: E-mail
www.wgn.org.uk
Tallo Information Centre
19 Hanbury Road
Acton
London, W3 8RF
Tel: 0208 993 3187
E-mail: tallo@gotadsl.co.uk

Search yourself here: www.onespace.org.uk

www.mind.org.uk
www.nhs.uk

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Chapter 3
Legal Support for Vulnerable
Women
NB all solicitors are obliged by the SRA (regulatory body) to abide by the Solicitors
Code of Conduct, and required to send client care letters detailing their responsibility to
their clients and vice versa.

Section on funding and eligibility for legal aid to be inserted

To be added

To check if your lawyer is OISC (Office of Immigration Services) registered, check

here:
1. OISC REGISTER
http://oisc.homeoffice.gov.uk/how_to_find_a_regulated_immigration_adviser/
2. LAW CENTRES

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Defend the rights of people who cannot afford a lawyer on many issues
Search here to find yours: http://www.lawcentres.org.uk/about-law-centres/law-centreson-google-maps/alphabetically

3. CAB - CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUS

Citizens Advice Bureaux offer free, confidential, impartial and independent advice from
over 3,500 locations. These include high streets, community centres, doctors
surgeries, courts and prisons.
Their advice helps people resolve their problems with debt, benefits, employment,
housing, discrimination, and many more issues. It is available to everyone.
Information and what they do and where to get help:
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/aboutus/what_we_do_how_we_help.htm

OTHERS- NOT FOR PROFIT

Rights of Women

From 3 June 2013, will be providing free and confidential legal advice to
women on the following advice lines:
Family law advice line
Criminal law advice line
Immigration and asylum law advice line
Ascent advice line for women and advisers in London

They also have a range of training and resources.

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From 3 June 2013 we will be providing free and confidential legal advice
to women on the following advice lines:
Family law advice line
Criminal law advice line
Immigration and asylum law advice line
Ascent advice line for women and advisers in London

4. LAW SOCIETY
The Law Society is a very good place to start and lists solicitors by practice area.
Immigration and human rights and civil liberties will be the best search criteria.
Contact details
http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/

5. ASYLUM AID
An independent, national charity working to secure protection for people seeking refuge
in the UK from persecution and human rights abuses abroad. It provides free legal
advice and representation to the most vulnerable and excluded asylum seekers,
and lobby and campaign for an asylum system based on inviolable human rights
principles.

Contact details
http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/
Club Union House 253-254
Upper Street
London
N1 1RY
England
Tel: 020 7354 9631

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6. BAIL FOR IMMIGRATION DETAINEES

Bail for Immigration Detainees works with asylum seekers and migrants to secure their
release from detention. It works with detainees in all removal centres in the UK and with
many immigration detainees held in prison. It provides free information and telephone
support to detainees to help them make bail applications and prepares and presents
free applications for release on bail or temporary admission for some of the most
vulnerable detainees.
Contact details
http://www.biduk.org/
enquiries@biduk.org
Toynbee Hall
28 Commercial Street
London
E1 6LS
England
020 7247 3590

7. REFUGEE ACTION
Refugee Action provides advice about claiming asylum, the asylum process, asylum
support and assisted voluntary return as well as help for refugee community
organisations.
Contact details
http://www.refugee-action.org.uk/get_help_advice
For general enquiries: info@refugee-action.org.uk
Asylum Advice: via Asylum Help (0808 8000 630)
Choices Assisted Voluntary Return: 0808 800 0007, or visit the Choices website
http://www.choices-avr.org.uk/

8. AIRE CENTRE
The AIRE Centre is to promote awareness of European law rights and assist
marginalised individuals to exercise the rights. It brings cases to the European
Court of Human Rights, provides legal advice to other lawyers and advisers in the
voluntary sector and provides legal advice to individuals directly.
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Contact details
http://www.airecentre.org/index.php
Email: info@airecentre.org
Tel: 020 7831 4276
The AIRE Centre
Third Floor
17 Red Lion Square
London
WC1R 4QH

9. ASAP: ASYLUM SUPPORT APPEALS PROJECT

ASAP works to protect asylum seekers legal rights to food and shelter. It offers free
legal representation and advice to asylum seekers appealing against UKBA decisions
to refuse or withdraw their housing, financial subsistence. It also provides support
advice and training to frontline organisations, advice agencies and legal practitioners
working with asylum seekers. However, it does not give immigration advice and
advice to individual asylum seekers.
Contact details
http://www.asaproject.org/
Advice Line : 020 7729 3042, opens 2pm-4pm Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays

10.
JCWI: JOINT COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF
IMMIGRANTS
JCWI provides direct legal advice and assistance to those affected by the UKs
immigration control. It also gives legal training for practitioners and provides
publications of reference materials.
Contact details
http://www.jcwi.org.uk/
115 Old Street
London EC1V 9RT
Tel: 020 7251 8708
Fax: 020 7251 8707

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11.

GREENROOTS LAW

Greenroots Law is a not for profit agency, and is providing areas of law which are no
longer covered by legal aid. It has recently opened a social enterprise (a community
interest company) which is a community law firm providing immigration, employment
and education law services.
Please note that if people have experienced domestic violence and/or been trafficked,
they may be eligible for legal aid and there is still legal aid for discrimination cases and
Special Educational Needs matters.
www.greenrootslaw.co.uk

OTHER AGENCIES INCLUDING REFUGEE GROUPS

Action for Social Integration
Action for Social Integration
45-51 The Market Square
London
N9 0TZ
England
Tel: 020 8803 6161
info@afsi.org.uk

Afghan Paiwand Association

10th Floor
Hyde House
The Hyde
London
NW9 6LH
England

Asian Women's Resource Centre

108 Craven Park
Harlesden
London
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NW10 8QE
England
020 8961 6549
020 8838 1823
asianwomencentre@aol.com

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Chapter 4
Funding for your Community
Organisation
POTENTIAL FUNDERS FOR WOMENS PROJECTS
Funding organisation

Details

Allen Lane Foundation

http://www.allenlane.org.uk/

Age UK

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/

Big Lottery Fund

http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/

Comic Relief

http://www.comicrelief.com/

Europa Gateway to the

European Union

http://europa.eu/about-eu/fundinggrants/index_en.htm

Foyle Foundation

http://www.foylefoundation.org.uk/

Freemasons Grand
Charity

http://www.grandcharity.org/

Garfield Weston
Foundation

http://www.garfieldweston.org/

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Global Fund For

Women

http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/apply-for-agrant

Heart of England
Community Foundation

http://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/index.php/home/

Henry Smith Charity

http://www.henrysmithcharity.org.uk/

Hilden Charitable Fund

http://www.hildencharitablefund.org.uk/

J Paul Getty Jr
charitable trust

http://www.jpgettytrust.org.uk/

John Moores
Foundation

http://www.jmf.org.uk/

London Community
Foundation

http://www.londoncf.org.uk/grants/availablegrants/overview.aspx

Lottery Good Causes

http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/funding

Peoples Health Trust

http://www.peopleshealthtrust.org.uk/

Reed Foundation

http://thereedfoundation.org/

Staples Foundation

http://www.staplesfoundation.org/

Trust For London

http://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/funding/

Tudor Trust

http://tudortrust.org.uk/

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Volant Charitable Trust

http://www.volanttrust.com/

PRO BONO SUPPORT

SOURCES OF PRO BONO SUPPORT

There are lots of organisations providing expert volunteers to help groups to
build their projects.
The Cranfield Trust
The Cranfield Trust offers free consultancy projects to voluntary
organisations, using a register of volunteers from the commercial sector.
The Trust supports charities whose primary purpose is to address issues of
poverty, disability or social exclusion. - http://cranfieldtrust.org/projectguidelines
IT4C Our main areas of activity are:
Helping charities and community/voluntary groups to find volunteers
to help with their IT needs
http://www.it4communities.org.uk/it4c/home/index.jsp

SEARCH FOR YOURSELF

support and advice. NCVO- Funding Central:
http://www.fundingcentral.org.uk/default.aspx

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