Migrant Help is a United Kingdom-based national charity that has been supporting migrants since 1963.
The charity operates from 10 offices across the United Kingdom, providing advice, guidance and support to people seeking asylum, refugees and victims of modern-day slavery and human trafficking. Asylum support services include face-to-face advice both in initial accommodation centers and on an outreach basis, along with a nationwide telephone service. Most people seeking asylum have fled war or persecution and many arrive with limited understanding of life in the UK. Migrant Help provides them with advice, information and support to negotiate the asylum system, access services and overcome the challenges of integration.
Migrant Help works on Syrian Resettlement programs with local authorities in South East England, welcoming new families to the UK and supporting and orienting them to their new communities over an extended period. The charity supports access to local healthcare and education services, English lessons, specialist counselling, managing budgets and becoming work ready.
Migrant Help also supports victims of modern-day slavery and human trafficking in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The charity works with a number of organisations around the UK including local authorities, strategic partners and volunteer groups on community-based schemes.
Clear Voice
Clear Voice is a trading subsidiary of Migrant Help that delivers professional interpreting and translation services. Clear Voice interpreters work extensively with refugees and people seeking asylum.
Clear Voice was established by Migrant Help in 2008 to provide high quality, cost-effective language services. Clear Voice specialises in the provision of telephone interpreting, face-to-face interpreting and translation services across the UK.
All of Clear Voice’s profits are returned to Migrant Help, supporting the parent charity’s work. In 2022, Clear Voice delivered over 9.3 million minutes of telephone interpreting. This resulted in a donation of £1.7 million to Migrant Help.
History
Kent Committee for the Welfare of Migrants
The charity now known as Migrant Help was set up in 1963 by Helen Ellis MBE, a leading figure in the provision of welfare support to migrants travelling through the Port of Dover.
The 'European Migrant Advice' service was established in response to an increased need for support for EU migrants. This service was later extended in 2010 to meet support needs in Suffolk and Norfolk.
In 2008, the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Center approached the charity to provide support for victims of labour exploitation. The Victims of Slavery Support Service team was established. In 2019, it secured a £100 million contract to run the Home Office system called “Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE)” services, and act as the official point of contact for refugees to get advice on their asylum claims. In 2021, the value of this Home Office contract rose to £235 million.
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| 2005‍–‍2016 || European Migrant Advice Service || Supporting the integration of vulnerable and isolated EU migrants into local communities and services across Kent and Suffolk.
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| 2006‍–‍2009 || Training and Employment Project with Big Lottery Fund || Supporting refugees in Kent to access training and secure employment
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| 2015‍–‍2016 || Gurkha Information, Advice and Guidance Service || Support services helping retired Gurkha families successfully settle into like in the UK.
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| 2015‍–‍2018 || Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Kent|| To provide support to refugees from Syria resettling in Kent.
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| 2016‍–‍2017|| Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Essex|| To provide support to refugees from Syria resettling in Essex.
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Employment
Migrant Help employs 454 people from 40 different countries of origin. Approximately 47% of staff are non-UK born and many have personal experiences of the refugee journey.
Migrant Help holds the "Investors in People" accreditation, is authorised by the Office of Immigration Services Commissioner, holds an Advice Quality Standard mark and is a National Living Wage employer.