Key Organisations
HEALTHlink seeks to create an extensive pool of partners to enable accurate referrals.
Can you help us make our list as comprehensive as possible?
Please get in touch if you know of any organisation we could get in touch with to expand the web of knowledge and action to improve access to free healthcare for all.
Organisations at national level
- African Health for Empowerment and Development - Aims to make a major contribution towards achieving equality of access to health and social care services for Africans, refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.
- Well-Woman Clinic - Clinics & Hospitals in the UK offering Specialist FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) Services
- Amera Uk - Provides legal and psycological services to migrants as well as advancing the education of legal practitioners over matters relating to refugees' rights
- Better Health - A site developed by the Race Equality Foundation to provide frontline staff with evidence to help embed better practice in health services.
- Black and Asian Therapists On-line - Addressing mental health issues in the Black and Asian communities online
- BME Health Forum - Online medical information specifically targetted at BME population
- British Red Cross
- Centre for Armenian Information and Advice
- Citas - Provides interpreting and translation services in over 55 languages to local people accessing health, social services, housing legal and education services
- Diverse Minds - Mind UK - Diverse Minds was set up in 1997 with support from the Department of Health in response to serious concerns raised by people from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities about the circumstances surrounding their experiences of mental healthcare in this country
- Evelyn Oldfield Unit - Provides professional support and training to Refugee Community Organisations
- Equality and Human Rights Commission - Seeks to create a fairer Britain and a society without prejudice, to raise awareness of your rights and implement an effective legislative framework for the future
- Ethiopian Advice & Support Centre
- European Council on Refugees and Exiles - a pan-European network of refugee-assisting non-governmental organisations that promotes a humane and generous European asylum policy.
- Ghanaian Welfare Association - A community based organisation set up to support Ghanaians in the UK particularly those living in North London
- HARP - Health for Asylum Seekers & Refugees Portal - Three websites containing a wealth of information, practical tools, and articles that have been written by health care professionals, NGOs, academics and research bodies with expert knowledge of working with asylum seekers and refugees, both in the UK and other countries
- Helen Bamber Foundation - Helps rebuild lives and inspire a new self-esteem in survivors of gross human rights violations
- Home Office - The Home Office is the government department responsible for the police service and the justice system in England and Wales, national security and immigration.
- International Centre for Migration and Health (ICMH) - Works on research, training and policy advocacy in all areas related to migration and health.
- International Organisation for Migration - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an intergovernmental body which runs the following programmes:Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme; Assisted Voluntary Return of Irregular Migrants; Gateway Protection Programme; Return to Afghanistan
- Iraqi Community Association - Provides support and advice for Iraqi people in the UK
- Irish Refugee Council - Advice, information and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in Ireland
- Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants - Independent national voluntary organisation, campaigning for justice and combating racism in immigration and asylum law and policy.
- Maternity Action - Works to end inequality and promote the health and well-being of all pregnant women, their partners and children from before conception through to the child's early years.
- Medact - Stimulates the exchange of knowledge on migrant and minority health through the development of interactive data bases
- Medical Foundation - The Medical Foundation is a charitable organisation, which offers free medical, psychological, emotional and social assistance to survivors of torture and organised violence and to their families.
- Medical Justice - Medical Justice is a network of volunteers who expose and challenge medical abuse in immigration detention.
- Medsin - Aims to promote health as well as to act upon and educate students about health inequalities in our local and global communities
- Midland Refugee Council
- Mighealth - Information network on good practice in health care for migrants and minorities in Europe
- Migrants' Rights - Works for a rights-based approach to migration, with migrants as full partners in developing the policies and procedures which affect life in the UK.
- The Minster Centre - Provides professional training in counselling and psychotherapy, and a range of community-based therapy services.
- Nafsiyat - Provides high quality, low cost, community based 'intercultural' psychodynamic psychotherapy in North London
- Northern Refugee Centre - Refugee Women’s Development Project
- The Queen's Nursing Institute's HomelessHealth Initiative - Supports nurses working with people lacking a secure home, e.g. people who are on the streets, in B&Bs, hostels, friends/families’ floors – or any temporary housing.
- Refugee Action - Reception, resettlement, development and integration of asylum seekers and refugees
- Refugee Awareness - Promotes positive attitudes towards refugees and asylum seekers by presenting accurate data, challenging myths and exploring what the refugee experience means.
- Refugee Council - Advice, information and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in the UK
- Refugees in Effective & Active Partnership - Empowers refugees and asylum seekers to reach their full potential and rebuild their lives within the UK
- Refugee Survival Trust - Scotland - Fight destitution of asylum seekers in Scotland
- Refugee Voices - North West - General support for refugees and asylum seekers
- Refugee Voices - Wales - Umbrella organisation that represents Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs) in Wales
- ROSE Refugees and Overseas Qualified Health Professional into Employment in Health and Social Care - Helping refugee health professionals
- Scottish Refugee Council - Advice, information and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland
- Terrence Higgins Trust - Mentors offer one-to-one emotional and practical support for adult refugees who are living with HIV in London
- Welsh Refugee Council - Advice, information and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in Wales.
London
- Alone in London - This service helps prevent young people (16-25 year olds) becoming homeless and heps them out of homelessness
- Barnet Refugee Service - Partnership with individuals and agencies to improve the quality of life and promote the physical, social and mental well-being of refugees and asylum seekers - reduce health inequalities
- Brent Refugee Forum - Umbrella agency of refugee community organizations in the London Borough of Brent
- East London NHS Foundation Trust - A mental health trust with university status which provides local services to the City of London and Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham
- Hackney Migrants Centre - Free advice to refugees and asylum seekers
- London Refugee Voice - Voice for refugee communities in London
- Loreca - Empowering refugees and asylum seekers
- Manor Gardens Health Advocacy Project - works with refugees and newly arrived communities from the Horn of Africa, Francophone Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe to improve the health and wellbeing of BME communities through the provision of Interpreting and Bilingual Advocacy in Health Services as well as through Health Education initiatives.
- Migrants Refugee and Communities Forum - An organisation which delivers services and support to organisations and individuals to directly address social exclusion of migrant and refugee migrant residents of London
- Migrants Resource Centre - Works with migrants and refugees and in partnership with other agencies, to effect social justice and change, enabling migrants and refugees to fully participate in this societ
- Open Doors - The Staff of Community Sexual Health Services are committed to improving the sexual and reproductive health of all people in City and Hackney.
- Praxis - Provides support for displaced people
- Refugee Therapy Group - Offers psycotherapy, councelling and support to refugees and asylum seekers
- Refugee Women’s Association - Advice, information and guidance to refugee women
- Sante Refugee Mental Health Access Project - Adult refugees and asylum seekers in Camden and occasionally other London areas
- South London Refugee Association - Runs two drop-in centres and provides advice and information for refugees and asylum-seekers.
- Time together - Matches local people in a one-on-one mentoring relationships with refugees
- Voluntary Action Camden - An independent voluntary organisation that exists to support, encourage, defend and develop voluntary and community action in the London Borough of Camden.
Birmingham
Bristol
Edinburgh
- The Ark Trust Resource Team - Offers help and confidential support with health issues, drug/alcohol use, accommodation, welfare benefits, legal issues and domestic abuse.
- Edinburgh Homeless Practice - Medical practice providing primary medical services to Edinburgh's homeless population and vulnerable adults
- Minority Ethnic Health Inclusion Project - Provides advocacy in accessing primary NHS services
- Refugee Survival Trust - The Refugee Survival Trust provides small grants to asylum seekers and refugees who experience destitution.
- Saheliya - Counselling, befriending, complementary therapies, advocacy and support services provided to build and maintain the mental health and well-being of black and minority ethnic women and girls.
- Scottish Refugee Council - One Stop Service Advice - Edinburgh Refugee Centre - Help new arrivals to Scotland to claim asylum and access support. We also provide one to one assistance on all aspects of the asylum process such as accommodation, immigration, support, special needs (e.g. pregnancy, disability or mental health problems), availability of legal support, racial harassment, domestic violence, employment and education.
- Waverley Care - Solas - Supports the HIV community in Scotland.
Glasgow
- C-Level Hepathitis C Charity - A general hepathitis C charity accessible to anyone
- Communities United - Information advice centre providing confidential and bilingual support information advice@communitiesunited.freeserve.co.uk
- Cranhill Community Project - Provides general services for asylum seekers and refugees as well as a drop in child healthcare clinic
- Eastwood Parish Church - Drop in centre for asylum seekers offering advice and support
- Equality Network Forum - News from the networks on equality around Glasglow
- Framework for Dialogue - This is a community development project that aims to provide a forum for asylum seekers and refugees to influence service provision and social policy at a local level in Glasgow.
- Glasgow the Caring City - Glasgow the Caring City is a voluntary organisation which provides a range of support, advice and recreational services for refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow.
- Glasgow Volunteer Centre - The Volunteer Centre offers opportunities for people (including refugees and asylum seekers) to use and enhance their skills in volunteering, training and personal development.
- GOPIP - Glasgow Overseas Professionals into Practice - Retraining and work experience for people qualified in the healthcare professions, including refugees and asylum seekers.
- Gorbals Initiative - Volunteer opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers, peer advocacy and mentoring project for refugees and asylum seekers and integrated support to help newcomers to the city settle into a new life in Glasgow.
- Govan Community Mental Health Project - Provides social support to people with mental health diffuculties through groupwork activities - Open referrals system
- Healthy Castlemilk - Community health project addressing citizen's needs largely through advice and referral - Provides interpreting services
- Kingsway Court Health & Wellbeing Centre - A community development project focused on health and wellbeing - Services provided for asylum seekers and refugees
- Maryhill Representation Unit - Provision of benefits advice and information, as well as representation at appeals.
- Maryhill Citizens Advice Bureau - Recruits and trains asylum seekers and refugees to become volunteer advice and administration workers. Provides training to raise awareness of asylum seeker and refugee rights.
- Meridian Black and Minority Ethnic Women's Info & Resource Centre - Meridian is a black and ethnic minority women's centre which runs various courses including English.
- Medical Foundation - Ensures that survivors of torture and organised violence living in Scotland have access to the services they need
- Red Road Women’s Centre - The Centre offers access to group work, workshops and social events around various issues, health and education.
- Scottish Detainee Visitors - Scottish Detainee Visitors provides social, emotional and practical support to asylum and immigration detainees in Scotland.
- South Asian Development Association (SADA) - Works with both local and asylum seekers communities with health, mental health, sports, counselling and stress management
Hampshire
- Culture Works - Aims at reduce mental health deterioration
- Groundswell - Christian initiative set up to provide a befriending service to those with HIV and AIDS
- Homeless Healthcare and Asylum Seeker Health Team, Southampton City PCT
Provides a comprehensive health screen to all asylum seekers and refugees arriving in Southampton. Assists with G.P registration locally for those remaining in Southampton, after any secondary care referral has been made. Also provides ongoing healthcare provision to asylum seekers who are awaiting dispersal from the city.
Services include T.B, HIV secondary referral, immunisation boosters, medico-legal reports and haemagloburopathy and liaison with past/future G.Ps.
- The Ribbons Centre - People affected by HIV can access complementary therapies (by prior appointment), an up-to-date library of resources relating to HIV and AIDS, onward referral to specialist agencies, advocacy and peer support and one to one support for medication and treatment issues.
Kent & Sussex
Leicester
Manchester
- African and Caribbean Mental Health Service - Providing support, casework, advocacy, counselling, befriending, drop-in activities to african/caribbean people with mental health problems
- The Black Health Agency - Challenge health inequalities and take positive action in favour of Black and Minority Ethnic, disadvantaged and other marginalised communities.
- MARIM - Multi Agency for Refugee Integration in Manchester
- Manchester Local Involvement Network - The umbrella organisation which brings together other networks, organisations, communities and individuals in Manchester to give them a voice in improving health and social care services
- Manchester Refugee Support Network - The development of refugee organisations, advice and orientation, and advocacy
- RAPAR - Refugees and Asylum Seekers Participatory Action Research
- SEVA - Their work is based on the Delivering Race Equality (DRE) agenda for eliminating discrimination and achieving equality in mental health