Information for Refugees and Migrants

The information contained within this section provides a guide to information and services if you are older or if you are disabled.

This section contains information on: -

• Money and Welfare Advice 
• Employment Support 
• Getting Around Manchester  
• Your Home and Neighbourhood 
• Healthy Ageing and Social Care 
• Disabled People

Access to the services in this section are dependent on a number of factors including your legal status, the state benefits you receive and the level or type of disability. Please contact each organisation to see if you can qualify for their support

Money and Welfare Advice - See also the information in Section 4 - Getting Advice 

The organisations listed below can help you manage money and offer free expert advice.

Manchester Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) offers confidential and independent advice to help people resolve legal, financial and other problems. Home visits can be arranged. Please call 0845 122 1112.

Manchester Advice offers guidance and information on benefits and tax credits, debt, housing, consumer rights, council services and basic immigration issues (only through link workers). You can make an appointment to see an adviser locally; they can visit you at home or offer advice by telephone or by email. Please call 0161 234 5600.

The Linkworker Service  provides bilingual advice, information and assistance for refugees asylum seekers and migrant workers. The link workers speak a range of different languages. They can help with pension and benefit entitlements, housing, education, social services and any other council service. They also give basic advice information on health immigration and other legal matters. Please call the following telephone numbers to speak to the linkworkers:

African: 0161 272 7825

African Caribbean : 0161 272 7853

Arabic: 0161 272 7826

Bangla / Sylheti: 0161 272 7823

Bosnian: 0161 740 9468

Chinese: 0161 272 7822

Gujarati and Kutchi: 0161 720 7574

Somali: 0161 272 7824

Urdu and Punjabi: 0161 234 5601 / 0161 272 7827

Vietnamese: 0161 720 8463

Older People

Age Concern offers a free impartial advice service for older people living in Manchester . Its Advice Workers are available to assist with issues relating to welfare benefits, debt, housing, community care and much more. Advice can be given by telephone, by appointment at their offices or home visits for the housebound. Please call free on 0800 027 5787.

Help the Aged produces free leaflets on financial matters. It has a free telephone advice line called Senior Line that answers questions about benefits and welfare rights. To request a leaflet or speak to an adviser, please call free on 0808 800 6565.

Employment Support

If you have a legal right to work in the UK , the following organisations can help you seek work or change your career.

Active Advice can offer one-to-one guidance on employment, education and training if you are disabled, have long-term health needs or are an ex-offender. Please call 0161 234 1946.

Work Solutions helps unemployed Manchester residents apply for jobs, access training and learn work related skills. The advisers are trained in issues that affect older workers. Please call 0161 245 4853.

Jobcentre Plus helps people find work and supports people of working age who cannot work. It will help you to apply for jobs, and gain skills through training and voluntary work. Please call 0845 606 2626.

Stepping Stones advisers offer financial advice and practical help to people unemployed due to illness or disability. Please call free on 0800 783 1080.

Third Age and Employment Network (TAEN) offers support to job seekers please call 0207 843 1590.

Visions for the Future give careers advice and guidance to visually impaired people. Please call 0161 234 1989.

Getting Around

The Blue Badge Parking Scheme.This badge exempts severely disabled drivers or passengers from some parking restrictions allowing them to park near to their destination. There are many restrictions on who can access this service so please phone 0161 819 1993 to find out if you are eligible for this scheme.

Forum of Mobility Centres provides disabled and older motorists with practical information on driving and car adaptations that make driving easier. They offer advice on scooters and wheelchairs, driving tuition for novice drivers or those changing their method of driving, plus practical assessments for motorists and passengers who have difficulty getting in and out of a vehicle. Please phone 01257 256409.

Local Link - If you live in an area where a Local Link service operates, you can book a door-to-door journey on one of their easy-access minibuses. Anyone living in the area can use the service - there are no age or disability restrictions. Please phone 0870 608 2608.

Metroshuttle

This free frequent bus service operates across the city centre. It picks up passengers at NCP car parks, railway stations, bus stops and tramstops. Please phone 0870 608 2608.

Ring and Ride - If you find it very difficult to use ordinary public transport you may be eligible for this door-to-door minibus service. Please phone 0161 223 6575.

Shopmobility Manchester- Disabled people can hire an easy-to-use scooter or wheelchair from Shopmobility to get around the shops and facilities in the city centre and Wythenshawe. This service also provides escorts for wheelchair users and people with visual impairments. Please phone 0161 839 4060.

Your Home and Neighbourhood

You will find the following information

• Finding a Home 
• Housing Advice and Support 
• Heating your Home 
• Staying Independent in your Home 
• Staying Safe

Finding a Home

Housing for Older People - The Council has produced a free guide to sheltered housing in Manchester for people who want to live independently in a home of their own, but with support staff on stand-by for help if needed. Please call 0161 953 2525.

Manchester Homefinder provides details of ready-to-rent, affordable housing in Manchester . Homefinder is operated by the Council in partnership with other social landlords. The weekly Homefinder list is available at Council offices, advice centres, or by calling 0161 230 2534.

Housing Advice and Support

Housing Support for Black Minority and Ethnic People  (BME) provides housing-related support for BME people and refugees. The service helps people to apply for benefits, find employment, link with other agencies and set up home. It can also help with Racial Harassment problems. Please call 0161 276 2984/2988.

Private Renting Tenants

If you are renting a house or flat from a private landlord, you can get advice from Manchester Advice about tenant's rights, rent, Housing Benefit, Council Tax entitlement, deposits, gas appliance checks, the right of bed and breakfast, residents and problems with landlords. Please call 0161 234 4750.

Social Tenant

If your landlord is a social landlord, the Council or a charity you need to contact the landlord directly.

Manchester Emergency Harassment Service

If you suffer harassment by your landlord or are threatened with unlawful evictions please call 0161 234 4815.

Heating your Home

Warm Front.If you own your own home or rent from a private landlord and receive certain benefits, you may be eligible for a Warm Front grant to help pay for insulation and heating. Please call 0800 316 6011.

Winter Fuel Payments  If you are aged 60 and over, you may be eligible for an annual payment towards the cost of keeping warm in winter. Please call 08459 15 15 15.

Staying Independent in your Home

Equipment and Adaptations Service. This council team provides equipment and home adaptations to help older and disabled people live independently. Many services are dependant on your status. However, there may be minor alterations such as grab rails or loan equipment. To discuss your eligibility and to arrange for an assessment of your home, please call the Contact Centre on 0161 234 5001.

Housing Support for Older People. This Council service helps vulnerable people to live independently with things like home safety, paying bills, claiming benefits and keeping to your tenancy agreement. It also keeps an eye on your health and apply for other services for you if necessary. To find out if you are eligible for support, call 0161 455 3020.

Staying Safe

There are lots of ways to deter criminals and make you feel safer.

Community Alarm Serviceprovides alarm buttons that are worn around your neck or wrist and give instant access to help. To see if you are eligible for an alarm, call Manchester City Council on 0161 234 5001.

Doorstep Crime

To help prevent 'bogus callers'- (men, women or children who trick or confuse you so that they can gain entry to your home), keep your door on a chain, always ask for identification cards and phone the organisation they say that they work for to check that they are genuine.

You do not have to let them in if you do not want to. If you have any suspicions about a caller, phone the police on 101. In an emergency or if the person is still in the area, call 999.

Nominated Neighbour Scheme

You choose a 'nominated neighbour' whom you trust to help you deal with people who knock on your door. To find out how to use this scheme call your local police station on 101 and ask for the Crime Reduction Unit.

Home Watch

You and your neighbours agree to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and be vigilant about strangers in your local area. To find out about how to set up a Home Watch scheme call 101.

Fire Safety

For a free home check and advice on fire safety, call Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 555 815.

Crime Stoppers

Call this number if you have information about a crime. It is free and completely anonymous. Call 0800 555 111.

Malicious Phone Calls

For BT's advice service on dealing with malicious phone calls (abusive or threatening phone calls from someone you do not know) call 0800 666 700 for recorded advice. For further advice call 0800 661 441.

Your Neighbourhood       

Neighbourhood Wardens - East and North Manchester . Neighbourhood Wardens tackle problems like graffiti, dog mess, litter, faulty streetlights and broken pavements. They are not the police but work with the police to cut crime. They take action against vandalism, anti social behaviour, unruly youths and bogus callers. To check if this service is available in your area please call 0161 205 9049.

Mediation Service If you are having disputes with your neighbours about noise, parking or children's behaviour, the Manchester City Council Mediation services may be able to help. Please phone 0161 908 8373.

Health and Social Care

Manchester Contact Service for Social Care

If you need to access Manchester City Council's Social Care services please phone 0161 234 5001. An advisor will talk to you about your situation and help identify which services you will be eligible for. They can pass your details on to the teams that can help or give you details of organisations that may be able to help.

Mind in Manchester

This information service will direct you to mental health providers in Manchester , such as counselling and day centres for older people. Please phone 0161 272 8205.

Black Health Agency supports people from Africa, the Caribbean, South Asia, South East Asia and East Europe to access services and projects in Manchester . Please phone 0845 450 4247.

Ethni-city

This website provides information of organisations that provide services for BME people.

Disabled People

The Manchester City Council website has information on services and organisations that support disabled people.

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