The Provision of Specialist advice and support for asylum seekers and refugees

Cambridge City Council supports the resettlement of displaced people who have travelled to the UK on various routes. As a Council, we recognise that world events can quickly influence what is required of a service for asylum seekers and refugees. Therefore, it is important that any service is flexible to these needs and has an existing understanding of different customs and cultures, as well as a passion to work in this field.

The people who require advice, information and support in Cambridge are likely to be on one of the visa routes listed below, however this list is not exhaustive and is likely to change overtime:

• Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and Afghan Relocations and Assistant Policy (ARAP) – soon to be replaced by the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP)
• UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS)
• Homes for Ukraine (HfU) and Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE)
• Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) and Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme (VCRS)
• Post-decision refugees – who have been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection and are no longer subject to immigration control
• British National (Overseas) visa holders
• Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC)
• Any family reunification schemes

As a service you must provide specialist advice, information, and support as required to asylum seekers and refugees. This will include the below and full details are provided within the specification:

• Specialist advice, information, and support to asylum seekers and refugees
• Act as a point of contact for community groups, charities, and other agencies for the latest information and issues facing asylum seekers and refugees
• Advocate for the rights of asylum seekers and refugees
• Host and engage with relevant networking opportunities and events
• Organise and promote cultural activities within the city
• Have an office space in Cambridge city that clients can attend in-person
• Provide interpreting services as required for one-to-one work clients as well as any promotional materials
• Offer OISC-accredited immigration advice and support with immigration applications, such as assisting with Home Office applications
• Hold local knowledge on the challenges and opportunities facing residents in Cambridge – working to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.
• Understand and work to tackle institutional discrimination through promoting anti-racist practice
• Awareness of the impacts of crime and how to support victims of crime, such as domestic abuse, hate crime, and modern slavery
• Budgeting and financial advice, including welfare benefits
• Employability rights and volunteering opportunities
• Housing options and advice
• Household support, such as furniture, food, and energy poverty
• Hold an exemplary reputation in the community with the ability to allay any misinformation or community tension, having the ability to bring community groups together safely to resolve disputes and promote cohesion
• Health awareness
• Trauma-informed approach to wellbeing services
• Awareness of ESOL opportunities