Immigration Advice Update:
It’s been just over a year since we launched our Immigration Services and Support project and what a year it’s been. In 12 months, our dedicated Immigration Advisor, Sylwia, supported 48 clients with immigration advice over the telephone or via e-mails and 129 clients with face-to-face consultations.
She also attended over 30 follow up appointments and assessed 17 bulky files, in order to be able to complete the advice, for individual cases, due to an extensive history of previous refusals.
Most importantly through, she submitted 78 representations to the Home Office to supplement new, or outstanding, cases and 40 new applications have been made to include fee waiver, change of conditions, leave to remain, asylum claims and asylum support matters.
Sylwia has worked on two projects, helping solely clients who are homeless under one.
She also represented undocumented migrants and asylum seekers who attended our food bank, self-referred for our services or have been referred by the children or adult social services of the London Borough of Newham, as well as from local charities and the NHS.
Many of our clients, in addition to destitution, suffer from mental health problems and are unable to find help in other aspects of their lives independently, so Sylwia has also signposted 40 additional clients to partnering organisations for other services and support.
She has dealt with complex cases of the most vulnerable members of our local community and it brings her (and us) joy and pride to confirm that 22 cases have already had a positive outcome, bearing in mind that one outcome can change a life of the family of four or five.
“I can say with all the certainty that the Renewal Programme has offered hope to so many by expanding its services.” says Sylwia. She believes that 2022 will see many more people receive immigration support; we will unite and integrate our neighbours and strangers with our wraparound services, creating better life chances for individuals and families, strengthening our vibrant community.
“It has been a transformative year for our organisation, our clients and me.”
