Borough of Sanctuary
As a Borough of Sanctuary, we can take solid public service and community-based actions to better serve the needs of our sanctuary-seeker communities.
Support for asylum seekers
As a diverse and inclusive borough, we welcome everyone seeking sanctuary in Southwark.
Since 2019, there have been over 2000 residents seeking asylum in Southwark, staying in asylum hotels in the borough.
The number of asylum seekers located in our borough can vary at any given time.
Asylum seekers in Southwark are eligible to access many services.
General entitlements
The Home Office provides asylum seekers with:
- accommodation
- 3 meals a day
- a small subsistence allowance of £9.40 per week
- change of bed linen once per week
- clothes washing provisions once per week
- toiletries upon request, like shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, and sanitary products
Entitlements for expectant mothers and babies include:
- a Moses basket/cot
- nappies
- bottles
- sterilisation equipment
- powdered milk (for babies up to 1 year old)
- a baby bath
- baby food
- a highchair (for babies up to 6 months old)
Happy Baby Community offers advice on entitlements for pregnant women and babies.
If there are any concerns about the provision of services offered, contact Migrant Help on 0808 8010 503.
You can be sure that raising any issues flagged to Migrant Help will not affect the services to which asylum seekers are entitled.
Health and well-being entitlements
The main way to access primary health care services in the UK is through a local doctor called a General Practitioner (GP).
Asylum seekers can register with a GP on the NHS website or speak to a hotel manager for assistance.
Registering with a GP is free and does not require proof of address, immigration status, identification, or an NHS number.
If an asylum seeker requires a social worker to assess any care and support needs, a referral should be made to No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).
English language classes
The government provides funding for English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) classes for people seeking asylum.
Find our current list of ESOL providers and courses.
Education for children and young people
All school-age children and young people must apply for a school placement as soon as possible. Find a list of Southwark schools.
Asylum seekers can speak to their hotel managers for assistance in registering their child or children into a school.
Clothing grants
Clothing grants are available for children aged 11 years old who are moving from primary school to secondary school. Asylum seeker children are eligible for this grant. You can apply for a school clothing grant.
Public transport in London
An Oyster card is a contactless payment method used on all London transport. You can purchase and top up an Oyster Card in most convenience stores.
You're entitled to reduced and free travel with a photo Oyster card if you are:
- a young person aged 11 to 17 years old
- aged 60+ and live in London
For help to apply for an Oyster photocard, speak to the hotel manager.
More information about the Oyster photocard and how to apply can be found on the Transport of London (TFL) website where you can find:
Safeguarding
Any suspected trafficking victims are identified and investigated through the national referral mechanism.
If you wish to make a safeguarding referral for an adult with No Recourse to Public Funds (including asylum seekers) refer them to the NRPF Team. If you wish to make a safeguarding referral of an adult who has full recourse to public funds, for example someone with refugee status, contact Adult Social Care.
All safeguarding referrals for children regardless of immigration status, go to Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions on asylum support entitlements can also be found at:
- Asylum support: Overview - GOV.UK
- Asylum services, Migrant Help
- Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP)
- Right to Remain Toolkit
- Indefinite leave to remain (permission to stay as a refugee, humanitarian protection or Discretionary Leave) - GOV.UK
- eVisa transition: vulnerability support confirmed - GOV.UK
Southwark Refugee Communities Forum
Southwark Refugee Communities Forum (SRCF) works with established and newly recognised refugees in the borough. SRCF hosts a weekly housing surgery to support newly recognised refugees leaving Initial Accommodation Centres (IACs) to find accommodation in the community.
The housing surgery aims to provide direct access to the Southwark Council Housing Solutions team and Kineara.
Kineara helps those unable to access social housing to access accommodation in the private rented sector.
The surgery takes place every Wednesday from 10am to 5pm at St Giles Centre, 81 Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8RB. Find more information on the housing surgery.