Closure of Female Asylum Seeker Project

From 2008 to 2011, Rochdale Law Centre offered a specialised legal advice and support service for female asylum seekers.  This programme was made possible by a grant from Comic Relief.

In the Female Asylum Programme, two members of the immigration team—an immigration solicitor and an immigration caseworker—provided free legal advice and representation to female migrants in the Greater Manchester area who had fled gender-based abuse such as rape, domestic violence, trafficking, female genital mutilation, and forced marriages.  We provided advice around immigration and asylum matters, and represented clients before the Immigration and Asylum Chamber and higher courts.

In addition to our casework we offered practical support, such as referrals to mental health services, support groups, specialised medical care, domestic violence services, housing, and welfare.  We accompanied clients to appointments and helped them take advantage of the services available. 

As part of this programme we also provided trainings for partner agencies on special topics in immigration and asylum law, such as domestic violence, female genital mutilation, and the UK Border Agency’s Asylum Policy Instructions around gender-based abuse.  In these trainings we raised awareness of the needs of female asylum seekers and assisted organisations in crafting best practices around working with this population.  We led on-site trainings at partner agencies throughout the Greater Manchester area, such as Medical Foundation for Victims of Torture, the British Red Cross, Omega Women’s Centre, and New Step for the African Community. 

In 2009 we organised a training seminar on female genital mutilation and immigration law, and in 2010 we organised a regional conference on domestic violence and immigration law, which was attended by education professionals, UK Border Agency staff, social workers, CAB advisers, NHS staff, law students, community groups, and housing professionals.

This programme came to an end on 31 March 2011.  Rochdale Law Centre continues to offer general advice and representation in immigration and asylum cases.  Clients wishing specialised services for female asylum seekers may wish to consult the South Manchester Law Centre at 0161 255 5111.