The Children’s Society in Leeds offers a range of support services to refugee, asylum seeking and migrant children, young people and their families who face significant harm, inequality and neglect. It helps children and young people to access their rights and entitlements and promote their integration, through

The HEARTS service [Help Each Asylum seeker and Refugee To Settle], which offers a youth programme, an advocacy service and mentoring.

Youth programme: The youth programme offers a range of skills sessions aimed at supporting refugee, asylum seeking and other migrant young people [aged 14 to 19] to acquire the necessary skills to run an independent and healthy life and a range of social and creative activities

Advocacy service: provides support to children and young people aged 11 to 19 who may be unfairly denied support or experience difficulties as a result of their immigration circumstances. We adopt a keyworker approach and strive to ensure their rights and entitlements are respected. We provide support to children and young people in the following situations:

• Not in education
• No access to local support (e.g. healthcare, emotional support or local authority services)
• Poor emotional and mental health
• Housing issues
• Difficulties in obtaining legal advice or a solicitor

Mentoring: Young people referred to the service are matched with a volunteer mentor who provides one to one support. Mentoring gives young people someone to talk to and to look up to. Mentors play an independent and non-judgemental role. They help young people to increase their English language skills, educational attainment, confidence and self-esteem which benefits their school and personal life.

Connecting Opportunities: Mentoring and befriending for young migrants with a right to work, who are looking to get into employment. Part of the www.connectingopportunities.org.uk programme

We’re currently looking for volunteers: click here to find out more

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