Uncertainty about their future Trauma It can take a long time for decisions to be People may suffer from trauma (shock) made and the asylum system can be because of frightening things they have seen complicated. It may be hard for people to or experienced. This might include provide evidence of their identity and flashbacks (memories popping into your circumstances if they have had to leave in mind), difficulties concentrating, poor sleep, a hurry. mood swings or up-and-down feelings. It can be harder to cope with changes and everyday tasks. Moving around Language Asylum seekers are not allowed to work. Trying to get support and make an asylum The government gives them housing while claim in a different language can be very their claim is being decided, but this can challenging. Getting English lessons to help mean they get moved from place to place. with this is not always easy either. Refugees This can make it hard to make friends or may also need language support to help know where to access local help and them go to school or get a job. support. Belongings Poor-quality housing Asylum seekers may have had to flee with Asylum seekers may have to live in that only the things they could carry. Getting are overcrowded or in areas with few basic belongings like clothes, shoes, services like shops or parks. The homes bedding and other practical things might be might be of poor quality with problems like very challenging for them. They might also damp or broken heating that can be bad for have had to leave any personal your health. Refugees might have to wait for possessions, like photos, behind. a council house to become available. Poverty Discrimination Asylum seekers cannot claim benefits or Asylum seekers and refugees can feel left get a job while they are waiting for their out, ignored or bullied because of their claim to be processed. They get some background. This is normally caused by fear support from the government but this is not and a lack of understanding, but can be very much and is sometimes only for certain upsetting and even dangerous. This can things from certain shops. This can make it continue even when people are given refugee status and allowed to stay. hard to meet other needs or wants.
Uncertainty about their future It can take a long time for decisions to be made and the asylum system can be complicated. It may be hard for people to provide evidence of their identity and circumstances if they have had to leave in a hurry. Trauma People may suffer from trauma (shock) because of frightening things they have seen or experienced. This might include flashbacks (memories popping into your mind), difficulties concentrating, poor sleep, mood swings or up-and-down feelings. It can be harder to cope with changes and everyday tasks. Moving around Asylum seekers are not allowed to work. The government gives them housing while their claim is being decided, but this can mean they get moved from place to place. This can make it hard to make friends or know where to access local help and support. Language Trying to get support and make an asylum claim in a different language can be very challenging. Getting English lessons to help with this is not always easy either. Refugees may also need language support to help them go to school or get a job. Belongings Asylum seekers may have had to flee with only the things they could carry. Getting basic belongings like clothes, shoes, bedding and other practical things might be very challenging for them. They might also have had to leave any personal possessions, like photos, behind. Poor-quality housing Asylum seekers may have to live in that are overcrowded or in areas with few services like shops or parks. The homes might be of poor quality with problems like damp or broken heating that can be bad for your health. Refugees might have to wait for a council house to become available. Poverty Asylum seekers cannot claim benefits or get a job while they are waiting for their claim to be processed. They get some support from the government but this is not much and is sometimes only for certain things from certain shops. This can make it hard to meet other needs or wants. Discrimination Asylum seekers and refugees can feel left out, ignored or bullied because of their background. This is normally caused by fear and a lack of understanding, but can be very upsetting and even dangerous. This can continue even when people are given refugee status and allowed to stay.
refugee-week-2018-supporting-materials.docx