ASHA - Asylum Support Housing Advice (Manchester, UK)

welcome to

ASHA

Asylum Support Housing Advice

Zion Resource Centre, 339 Stretford Road, Manchester M15 4ZY

Tel: 0161 227 8555 Fax: 0161 227 8585 Email: tonyopenshaw(at)verybusy.co.uk
Charity Registration No: 1129311

Big Life Group's "Charity Of The Year"

introduction - aims & objectives - highlights - publication - asha on film - donate - contact

Introduction

Asylum Support Housing Advice (ASHA) is a non-profit voluntary organisation, based in Manchester, that helps asylum seekers whose applications have been refused and fully determined, and whose status renders them homeless and destitute.

The word ‘ASHA’ is from the Urdu language, and means HOPE. ASHA expects respect for all differences, including: race, gender, disability, age, belief and sexuality.

We set up in October 2004 and have seen more than 2,500 clients from 58 different countries of origin. As a result of our work we have made 1,217 successful applications for support under Section 4 of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999 and obtained over 2,500 HC2 certificates for full help with primary care health costs.

During 2008 we maintained our regular services (2 drop-in advice sessions per week) and appointments seeing 2,897 clients. We saw 569 new clients, and made 350 successful applications for support under Section 4. We also submitted 69 appeals against refusal or discontinuance of Section 4 support and won 45 cases. During 2008 ninety of our clients have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain following a successful fresh claim for asylum.

Two volunteer teachers run ASHA's 'English Class' - Bruce and Carole. Since refused asylum seekers, not on Section 4, have no access to mainstream English classes, this seemed a perfect opportunity to provide drop in classes. These classes are for everyone regardless of their level of English. However the clients' circumstances mean that we do not have a core group of students. We rarely see the same students more than once! Our long term hope is that by running regular classes which provide a welcoming and relaxed environment we will eventually build up a core group. In spite of the difficulties we have found the classes to be a thoroughly positive experience and have enjoyed meeting people from many countries and sharing cultural experiences.

Aims and objectives

The aims of ASHA are to relieve the needs of refused asylum seekers and refugees in particular but not exclusively by the promotion of human rights and the provision of information, advice and support.

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Highlights

Big Life Group have chosen ASHA as "Charity of the Year" and will be fundraising throughout 2009.
The BME Community Drugs & Alcohol Awareness Initiative gave an award to ASHA on 27 March 2009 for working towards strengthening local communities against dangers of drugs and alcohol. We were involved in the "Reaching Out" project.
ASHA was featured on BBC 2 News Night on 10 July 2008, in a film by Salam Pax - the Baghdad Blogger (Studio 9 Films) on the issue of Iraqis in the UK who are destitute.
LINK - view the video here. (11 mins total)
In March 2008, Lets Go Global's Global Youth video projects created a short film in their Bursary section called "Asylum", based on interviews with ASHA staff.
LINK - view the video here. (13 mins total)
We contributed to an article in the Guardian on 20 March 2008.
LINK - Guardian article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/20/iraq.immigration
In September 2007, we produced a new publication “Health issues for people from abroad” - download this here.
We undertook a project to develop work with destitute asylum seekers living with HIV, and reviewed and continued our regular advice drop-ins.
During 2007 Kimmo Ohtonen produced a film called "Narrow Lands", about ASHA and about refugees in the UK who are trying to re-establish their lives.
LINK - view the video here. (17 mins total)
In October 2007 we were involved in the Independent Asylum Commission hearing on asylum destitution issues.
In June 2007 we started English classes and had a favourable article printed in the Big Issue.
LINK - Big issue article:

http://www.hazelhealy.info/index.php?/immigration/every-second-counts/
In February 2007 we moved to the Zion Resource Centre and held a successful launch.
LINK - Launch of ASHA:
http://chrispaul-labouroflove.blogspot.com/2007/03/brim-full-of-asha-hope-springs-eternal.html
In November 2006 a Gloves Off production, on which we contributed, “Asylum Seekers in Britain” was broadcast on Channel M and Sky TV. Includes discussion with Mansoor Hassan, Tony Openshaw and Mark Krantz.
LINK - view the video here. (25 mins total)

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Publication

Health issues for people from abroad

A training and information pack produced by

Asylum Support Housing Advice (ASHA)

A5 booklet (8 pages) advising on health entitlements. The information is correct as at September 2007 and focuses on the law in England and Wales.

Download this document here.

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ASHA on film

As a leading charitable voluntary organisation in Manchester that works with refugees and recognised for its dedication and commitment against the odds, ASHA has been featured in a number of video productions which discuss issues around refuge, asylum and immigration. A number of these are available to view on YouTube - please visit our YouTube page at http://uk.youtube.com/user/tonyopenshaw .

These films are also listed in the "Highlights" section above, and one of the films is shown below for you to view right now:

"Narrow Lands" (part 1) by Kimmo Ohtonen (2007)