Introduction
The Displaced People Service is committed to offering a warm, inclusive welcome to every displaced person living in Somerset – no matter how they arrived or under which scheme. Our approach is simple: to ensure equity of service through a person-centred, trauma-informed approach that respects dignity and fosters resilience and independence.
We support refugees arriving via planned resettlement pathways, Ukrainians under the Homes for Ukraine and Ukraine Permission Extension Schemes and individuals seeking asylum who find themselves in Somerset whilst their claims are processed.
We have a long history of working in partnership with Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise organisations, whose dedication is vital to successful integration and advocacy of individuals.
We would also like to extend a huge thank you to members of the public and local services who have generously offered housing, spare rooms, children’s toys, clothing, and employment opportunities, to name a few. Resettlement and integration happen within communities and your support makes all the difference.
Contact us
For Homes for Ukraine enquiries please email homesforukraine@somerset.gov.uk
For Resettlement enquires please email resettlement@somerset.gov.uk
For Somerset Refugee Housing enquires please email srht@somerset.gov.uk
Definitions
Refugee
A person who has been granted ‘refugee status’ outside of their country of origin, due to fear of persecution, for reasons such as race, religion, nationality, membership of a certain social or political group.
Refugees have the same rights as any other British Citizen, including the right to work and to claim benefits.
Asylum Seeker or person seeking asylum
A person seeking asylum is an individual who has left their country of origin and formally applied for asylum in another country due to reasons such as fear of persecution. They will have an asylum claim in the UK system; this can take many years to be decided. If an asylum claim has been granted, they are known as refugees.
There is currently no legal route to claim asylum. They have the right to claim asylum in any country other than their own – this does not have to be the first, second or third country that they travel to.
Migrant
A migrant is a generic term to describe anyone who has moved from one country to another country for reasons such as to find work.
Positive decision on your asylum claim
Download a digital booklet to support you with your positive decision. We hope this resource will help you.
Support for displaced people
Welcome to All
Somerset Council and Thrive are proud to offer the Welcome to All programme, a two-year project with Voluntary and Community organisations to welcome Displaced People living in Somerset. Further information can be found on the Thrive website
Welcome to All Programme Manager
Jonathan Scanlon
Email: JonathanS@Somersetrcc.org.uk
Welcome Hubs
| Location | Opening times | Key contacts |
|---|---|---|
| LocationSomerset West: CHARIS Refugees, 16/17 Hammet Street, Taunton TA1 1RZ | Opening timesOpen 10am to 3pm Monday to Thursday Second, fourth and fifth Tuesday (if there is one) of the month: Welfare checks First and third Tuesday of the month 10am to 12.30pm: Employment Hub Wednesday 10am to 12pm: Wellbeing Café First Thursday in the month 1pm to 3 pm: Knitting Monday to Thursday: ESOL | Key contactsHub Manager: Luzma Jimenez Email: taunton@charisrefugees.org Phone: 07754 875093 |
| LocationSomerset North: Victoria Park Community Centre, Victoria Park Drive, Bridgwater TA6 7AS Hamp Recreation Community Centre, Rhode Lane, Bridgwater, TA6 6HZ | Opening timesDrop in and welfare checks Monday 9am to 1pm at Victoria Park Thursday 9am to 1pm at Hamp Recreation ESOL Classes Victoria Park Community Centre – Monday 9.15am to 1pm Westfield church – Wednesday 9.30am to 4.30pm, Friday 9am to 1pm | Key contactsHub Manager: Suzanne Todd Email: suzannet@somersetrcc.org.uk |
| LocationSomerset East: Frome Town Council, Frome Town Hall, Christchurch Street West, Frome BA11 1EB | Opening timesTuesdays 10am to 3pm Thursdays 12pm to 2pm: Welfare Checks | Key contactsHub Advice Officers Iryna Ladyzhenska Email: info@frometowncouncil.gov.uk Mobile: 07710 056210 Nikki Cox, Partnership Lead Email: info@frometowncouncil.gov.uk Phone: 01373 475579 |
| LocationSomerset West: Watchet and Minehead The Sanctuary 38 Swain Street, Watchet TA23 0AE Minehead Eye, 1 Mart Road, Minehead TA24 5BT | Opening timesWednesday 3pm to 5pm (Minehead Eye) Thursday 10am to 1pm (The Sanctuary) Welfare checks on both days | Key contactsHub Manager: Kate Kennedy Email: katek@somersetrcc.org.uk Phone: 07964 059296 |
| LocationSomerset East: Wells City Council and Wells Community Network, Portway Annexe, The Portway Building, Portway Avenue, Wells BA5 2QF | Opening timesPortway Annexe, The Portway Building, Portway Avenue, Wells BA5 2QF Monday and Thursday 10 am to 1pm: Drop-ins and welfare checks English lessons throughout the week (contact Hub for details) Street – Quaker Meeting House, 36 High Street, Street BA16 0EB First Friday of the month from July 2024 10am to midday | Key contactsHub Manager: Anna Tumanova Email: refhub@Wells.gov.uk Phone: 07821 811737 Assistant Hub Manager: Inna Prykhodko Email: refassist@wells.gov.uk Wells Community Network contact details: wcnukraine@gmail.com Helpline: 01749 467079 |
| LocationSomerset South: Yeovil Community Church, The Gateway, Addlewell Lane, Yeovil BA20 1QN | Opening timesMonday 2pm to 4pm and Wednesday 10am to 12pm Both sessions include welfare checks | Key contactsHub Manager: Vicki Pritchard
Email: resettlement@yeovil4family.org.uk Phone: 07735 815 266 |
Welcome Packs for Refugees and People Seeking Asylum
Download a digital ‘Welcome to Somerset’ pack. We hope these resources will help you feel welcomed in Somerset.
Health access cards for Refugees and People Seeking Asylum
Download a digital Health Access Card to help you understand and navigate healthcare in Somerset.
Housing for homelessness
If you are a Displaced Person in need of housing advice or at risk of being homeless, please complete a homelessness referral form.
Further information can be found on our Homelessness referral and assessment page.
Housing Emergency
If you have an immediate homelessness situation and you have nowhere safe to sleep tonight, phone us urgently on 0300 123 2224.
If phoning after 5pm, on a weekend or on a bank holiday, phone the out of hours service on 0300 123 2327.
How you can help
Accommodation offers
We are grateful for all offers of accommodation, whether you are a private landlord with self-contained accommodation, or an individual with a spare room who would like to host, we would love to hear from you. Please email srht@somerset.gov.uk
Homes for Refugees and Sanctuary Lodgings
Similar to Homes for Ukraine, where Somerset residents generously open their homes to accommodate people seeking sanctuary from Ukraine, we have launched Homes for Refugees and Sanctuary Lodgings, as we see a growing number of Newly Recognised Refugees face a real risk of being street homeless.
Further information can be found on our Homes for Refugees page and on the Sanctuary website.
We have also produced a guide outlining some considerations when hosting a refugee