Coronavirus Asylum Handbook seeks to ensure refugees and asylum seekers get the support they need
Refugee Action has published a useful new handbook with information and advice on how charities working with asylum seekers and refugees are addressing challenges around Covid-19.
The Coronavirus Asylum Handbook is a collaborative effort and contributions are encouraged. Refugee Action and a team of librarians will be monitoring the handbook to ensure editorial consistency and avoid duplication.
The handbook can be accessed on Google Docs at www.coronavirusasylumhandbook.com.
Refugee Action explains: "This handbook focuses on drawing together frontline organisations' current and longer-term approaches and strategies to adapting their services and delivering support. It is not designed to be a service directory or map operational updates. It will signpost to but not duplicate the excellent advice, resources and policy updates that have been produced and are already in the public domain."
The handbook provides information on how organisations are responding to Covid-19 in a wide range of areas, including essentials such as food and accommodation, as well as asylum support and benefits, and asylum and immigration legal advice.
Refugee Action's Rachel Ward-Newton said on Twitter: "As the sector finds incredible ways to respond to Coronavirus, this collaborative, ever-growing handbook of resources & advice seeks to ensure refugees get the support they need."
The Chief Executive of Refugee Action, Stephen Hale, said last month that his organisation was moving rapidly to respond to the potentially enormous challenges of the pandemic.
Hale said: "The wellbeing of refugees, people seeking asylum, our staff and volunteers is our number one consideration. We have been preparing for the practicalities of social distancing and restricted travel for weeks.
"We are using translators and interpreters to make sure the families we support understand the latest government advice and information as it develops. We are moving as much of our support as possible onto telephone and video calls. All of our staff have the equipment they need to offer the same level of support, albeit remotely."