Information for Refugees and Migrants

The United Kingdom (UK) is made up of England , Scotland and Wales (which together make up the bigger island, often known as Britain ) plus Northern Ireland . You can travel between them without a passport. You may notice differences between these regions for example the way the money looks and the way people talk.

In addition some of the laws are different but they are all part of the same country - the United Kingdom .

The Directgov website has more information regarding the UK and its population  and information regarding National Ceremonies and Symbols

Manchester and the North West

The City of Manchester covers 117 sq km. It is the commercial, financial, academic and cultural capital of North West England and is the UK 's fastest growing region outside London .

Manchester is a vibrant city of around 452,000 inhabitants. Manchester embraces the breadth and diversity of its population and celebrates the values that bring people of different backgrounds together as Mancunians. The ethnic make-up of Manchester continues to become more diverse and currently represents nearly 30% of the population.

The UK System of Government

The Directgov website has a complete section that explains the UK system of Government.

The Manchester City Council website has information about the work and role it has at a local government level including how to contact your Councillor.

Bank Holidays

There are 8 public holidays a year in the UK . These holidays are called Bank Holidays though some businesses and many shops remain open. The Directgov website has more information regarding Bank Holidays.

English Bank Holidays:

• Christmas Day - December 25
• Boxing Day - December 26
• New Years Day - January 1
• Good Friday and Easter Monday (Dates change each year but fall in late March or April)
• May Day the first Monday in May
• Spring Bank Holiday the last Monday in May
• August Bank Holiday the last Monday in August

If the days fall on a weekend, nearby weekdays will become Bank Holidays. Scotland , Northern Ireland and Wales may have different Bank Holidays.

Traditional Festivals in the UK

The biggest festival is Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25 each year. Although Christmas is a religious festival, non-religious people also often celebrate it as well. Many people take time off to enjoy themselves and to visit family and friends. Many people also take great pleasure in decorating their houses and in sending cards and gifts. Celebrations are often combined with New Year, which takes place on December 31and January 1. Many people have parties on New Years Eve and there are often street celebrations and fireworks in big towns and cities.

Over the whole Christmas and New Year period there are large numbers of celebrations and parties, some of which may be free. Town and city centres are usually decorated with lights and the shops make a special effort to decorate their windows for the Christmas period. The Christmas Market which is held in Albert Square and St Anne's Square in Manchester City Centre is worth a visit and has a pleasant atmosphere. Similar markets take place in different areas of Manchester . The Manchester City Council website has more information about these markets.7

Easter is the other major festival in the British Calendar. The celebrations take place over a long weekend in March or April (Good Friday, Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday). Easter is a Christian Festival and some people attend special church services at this time of year. Many other people take advantage of the long weekend to visit family and friends, giving chocolate eggs as gifts.

Other Traditional UK Festivals Include:

• Halloween (October 31). Some people have parties and dress up as witches, ghosts and other scary creatures. In recent years the American tradition of Trick or Treat has become more popular in Britain. Children dress up in costumes and knock on doors asking for a trick or treat. Some people give out sweets and even money to these children but it is not obligatory! 
  
• Bonfire Night (5th November). Bonfire night is celebrated with big fires and firework displays. Like any other city Manchester has several free firework events either on Bonfire night itself or around this time of year. Many people also celebrate in a smaller way with a fire and /or fireworks in their garden.
• Burns Night (25th January). Scottish people celebrate Burns night often with parties, dancing and special food.
• St Patrick's Day (March 17th). Manchester 's Irish community celebrates St Patrick's Day with a festival of music and dance.

The Manchester City Council website has more information about festivals in Manchester.

Cultural and Religious Festivals

Manchester has a multi-cultural population and so many other cultural and religious festivals are held across the city.

Manchester 's Muslim communities observe Ramadan. Celebration of Eid tends to focus particularly around areas such as Rusholme. There are also Hindu, Sikh and Jewish Festivals.

Celebrations for the Chinese New Year take place in and around Chinatown in the City Centre in January or February each year (the date for the Chinese New Year moves), with the spectacular dragon parade at the heart of the event. The Chinatown website  has more information on Chinese New Year.

The Manchester Mela  is a celebration of Asian culture and food, which takes place in Manchester every summer and attracts visitors from across the region.

The Asian community website  has information on Asian Cultural Events. 

The Caribbean Carnival of Manchester  is a well-established cultural event that takes place in the summer in Alexandra Park. 

A number of large outdoor events are organised in Manchester in the summer. People from all backgrounds get together for large picnics and performances. Manchester International Arts   website and Manchester City Council's website have information on festivals and events throughout the year.

Refugee Week

Refugee Week is a UK wide festival that celebrates the great contribution made by refugees to UK life and promotes understanding of why people become refugees. It takes place in June.

Manchester 's Refugee Week programme provides:

• An opportunity to meet people from all Manchester 's diverse communities
• A celebration of Manchester 's proud tradition of offering safety, support and sanctuary to people fleeing persecution
• A chance to understand why refugees come to Manchester

Celebrations are held across Manchester . They usually include:

• theatre
• film
• talks
• cultural activities
• workshops
• music
• dance

Both the Refugee Week website  and the City Council website have information on Refugee Week activities .

Places of Worship

There are many different faith groups and places of worship in Manchester , too many to be able to list them all here. This list below contains the main agencies that can help you find the nearest faith group that's right for you.

The Faith Network for Manchester

Manchester Refugee Support Network 

Refugee Action 

Citizens Advice Bureau

Clock Changes

Every year all the clocks in the UK are put forward by one hour at midnight on the last Saturday in March to make "British Summer Time", and are put back one hour at midnight on the last Saturday in October to make "Greenwich Mean Time".

The British Weather

The British weather is very changeable and is a favourite topic of conversation for a lot of people. You can see the weather forecast at the end of the TV news programme or you can listen to it on local and national radio stations - it may not be always very accurate!

Seasons in the UK

• Spring is roughly the months of March, April and May. The days start to be warmer and longer with an average temperature of about      12 °C (though it can be much colder or much warmer than this!).
• Summer is June, July and August. It is the warmest time of year with the most daylight hours. Temperatures rarely rise above 27 °C and there can still be rainy and windy days.
• Autumn covers September, October and November. The weather gets cooler and daylight hours become gradually shorter. It is usually wet and windy.
• Winter, the coldest season of the year, usually comes in December, January and February. There is often some snow or sleet (mixed rain and snow) and temperatures can be below freezing. It gets dark early and the evenings are long.

Because of the wide range of weather types and temperatures that we experience in the UK you may find that you need a larger range of clothes (including coats waterproofs, umbrellas, boots, shoes and other seasonal clothes) than you would need in your home country.

Manchester has many shops. You will be able to buy food and clothes from stores in and around the city.

Warm second hand clothes and extra winter bedding can sometimes be obtained at a small cost from charity shops, churches and mission groups. For more information please see Section 6 - Money, Debt and Shopping

UK Citizenship 

The Directgov website has information on how to become a UK citizen. The UK Border Agency  has information on Life InThe UK test.