A refugee is defined as someone whose application for asylum has been accepted by the government having been recognised as needing protection under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. These are people fleeing war and persecution.

An asylum seeker is a person whom the government has not yet recognised as a refugee under the 1951 Convention. Asylum seekers are not permitted to work and must instead rely on State support.

The main support we give to asylum seekers and new refugees is through our weekly asylum hub on Tuesdays from 12noon at the Unity Centre. At the hub we have multi lingual workers available, as well as immigration and health advisers. They can access advice and information, as well as a meal, free ESOL and often projects that we have running at the time. There is no need to book – asylum seekers or refugees can just turn up on the day. We also provide multi lingual support workers at Trinity Church asylum drop in at Ellesmere Port on Thursday mornings.

We are also running regular courses to support wellbeing and mental health for asylum seekers and refugees, contact us to find out more.

We offer a wide range of English classes in Chester, Ellesmere Port and Northwich. Even if you are an asylum seeker with no recourse to public funds we can help.

We sometimes have volunteer schemes working with asylum seekers and refugees, to find out more contact us.