This document summarizes the training provided by Leeds Asylum Seekers' Support Network (LASSN) to volunteers. The training aims to help volunteers understand key concepts like the differences between refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants. It also provides an overview of the complex UK asylum system and process. The training covers topics such as where refugees come from, their journeys, the asylum application and appeals process, types of support provided, and risks of detention and destitution. Interactive exercises are used to help volunteers gain perspective on the difficult experiences and decisions faced by asylum seekers.

1. LASSN volunteer
training – The
Asylum Journey
APRIL 2016
Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network

2. Introductions
◦ Your name
◦ What you are volunteering for
◦ How did you hear about LASSN?
Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network

3. Outcomes
By the end of this session we hope you will
◦Understand the differences between a refugee,
an asylum seeker, and other migrants
◦Understand why people seek asylum
◦Have an overview of the UK asylum system
◦Have had chance to ask questions and broaden
your understanding
Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network

4. Housekeeping &
Groundrules
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5. Where does LASSN fit with
other agencies in Leeds?
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6. What do the media say
about asylum seekers &
refugees?
◦ Talk to your neighbour for 2 minutes about the
way asylum seekers and refugees are talked
about in the UK media
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7. What does LASSN say about
asylum seekers & refugees?
◦ Many people are misinformed about issues
around asylum and refuge
◦ When people know more about the reality of
seeking refuge or asylum they are often
◦ Generous
◦ Supportive
◦ Sympathetic
Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network

8. What do the tabloids say about
asylum seekers & refugees?
◦ Talk to your neighbour for 2 minutes about the
popular perception of asylum in the UK
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9. Who is a refugee?
A refugee is a person who has fled their country due to a
well founded fear of persecution for reasons of
◦Race
◦Religion
◦Nationality
◦Membership of a particular social group
◦Or political opinion
and cannot rely on the protection of that Country
Article 1 The 1951 Convention Relating to the status of Refugees
Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network

10. Who is an asylum seeker?
◦ Someone who has fled their own country,
arrived in another, and has asked for the
protection of that Country, due to a well
founded fear of persecution.
◦ “Asylum Seeker” is the legal term for someone who
is asking for protection, but whose right to
protection has not yet been established.
◦ “Claiming Asylum” describes the legal process of
asking for protection.
Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network

11. Turn to your booklet page 1
◦ Please just look at the first page, and don’t
turn over… (yet)
◦ Have a think about the kinds of experiences
your person may have experienced that has
forced them to flee
◦ Write down your thoughts
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12. Where do refugees come
from?
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13. Exercise: preparing to go
You have decided you need to flee your country.
Which items do you take with you?
You can only choose 5.
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14. Exercise: taking a journey
The Syrian Journey: choose your own escape
route
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15. Where do refugees go?
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16. Turn to your booklet page 2
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17. Migration into the UK (2015)
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18. Asylum applications to the
UK
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19. Definitions
Asylum Seeker – fleeing persecution and has arrived in
another country to claim asylum.
Refused asylum seeker – asylum claim refused (many
variations).
Refugee – asylum claim successful, given the right to
remain in the country, work etc.
Economic Migrant – has ‘chosen’ to travel to another
country to take up or seek employment.
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20. What are the chances of
success?
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21. And what if you appeal?
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22. The Asylum Process
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1. Application for Asylum
2. Basic Screening interview
3. Home Office Case owner assigned
4. Moved to Initial Accommodation
5. Substantive interview at Home office
or
7. Decision on claim (target = 30 days)
8a. Claim accepted,
5 years Leave to Remain
8b. Claim refused, 28
days to lodge an appeal
6a. Dispersed 6b. Detained
Eligible for legal aid
funded advice
(but solicitor not
funded to attend
interview)
Eligible for Section 95 support –
housing, utilities and weekly
cash. Must sign at Home Office
regularly.

23. Asylum Support
Home Office ‘Section 95’ support
oaccommodation (bills included)
oweekly cash support - £36.95 for each person in the
household (reduced August 2015)
Home Office ‘Section 4’ support
ofor refused asylum seekers (“vulnerable” or unable to
return)
o£35.39 per person on a payment card
Local authority supports ‘unaccompanied minors’
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24. Turn to your booklet page 3
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25. Detention
All asylum seeking adults and families are “Liable
to be detained”
No statutory limit to length of immigration detention.
The decision to detain is made by an immigration officer or
a Home Office case owner, it is not automatically subject to
independent review at any stage.
The coalition government committed to ending the
detention of children.
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26. Appeals process
Application is refused
Appeal (within 10 days)
Appeal refused
Judicial review
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Limbo
Deportation/
Voluntary Return
Refugee Status/
leave to remain

27. Turn to your booklet page 4
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28. Further information
o Section 4 – for those at the end of the legal process or
Judicial Review or Fresh Claim submitted. Illness, pregnancy
or young children. Housing plus limited financial support.
o Destitution – Can happen at any stage, but most likely at
end of legal process. Support from friends, family, charities.
o Healthcare – Asylum seekers get free primary health care
(GP, Family planning), hospital and secondary services are
chargeable. Refugees same as UK residents.
o Legal advice – solicitors (paid and Legal Aid), charities,
advisors.
Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network

29. Section 4 Support
Housing, utilities and (less) weekly cash on an ‘Azure card’
1.Taking all reasonable steps to leave the UK
2.Unable to leave the UK - medical reason
3.Unable to leave the UK - is no viable route of return
4.Have made an application for judicial review.
5.Require support in order to avoid a breach of a person’s
rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, e.g.
submitted a fresh claim
Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network

30. Destitution
When does this happen?
◦Refugees if bad transition between systems
◦Refused asylum seekers
◦Stateless people – no country will accept them
UK Government policy seems to encourage destitution –
creating “an extremely hostile environment”
Can take the form of:
◦Street homelessness
◦‘Sofa surfing’
◦Charity housing
Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network

31. Access to healthcare
Refugee - all health care, same as any other resident.
Asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers appealing/on section 4, trafficked
people
◦ Free GP primary care (inc. mental health), free hospital treatment
◦ Free prescriptions
Refused Asylum Seeker
◦ treatment already underway is completed free of charge
◦ free prescriptions
Free services to all
◦ A&E, Family planning, treatment for certain communicable diseases, (TB,
Measles), Treatment for STIs; HIV/AIDS treatment; compulsory mental
health treatment
Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network

32. Legal Advice
Asylum seekers are entitled to FREE legal representation
from:
◦A solicitor, or
◦An adviser who is Office of the Immigration Services
Commissioner (OISC) registered (usually through a charity).
BUT Legal Aid is now very limited.
Do NOT give legal advice if you are not OISC registered, it’s
illegal.
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33. Any Questions?
See also the lassn.org.uk/qa
Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network

34. Useful sources of
information
unhcr.org - Global
refugeecouncil.org.uk - National
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk – National/Regional
www.migrationyorkshire.org.uk - Regional/Local
lassn.org.uk
Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network