Need

As a result of the Home Office’s dispersal policy Wakefield now has a large refugee community.  This community is in fact Wakefield’s second largest BME population, with refugees residing all over the district.  Furthermore, despite the national trend in the reduction of immigrants seeking asylum this is not reflected in the population dispersed to Wakefield - with many of those receiving a positive decision and refugee status remaining within Wakefield.

Currently RASA assists with over 2,500 requests for help from asylum seekers and refugees annually, yet since successfully acquiring our OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) status in September 2010, we have seen an estimated increase of 25 – 30% in requests for assistance. This rise can directly be attributed to the OISC accreditation which allows RASA to provide specialist immigration advice to both refugees and asylum seekers in addition to the local migrant workers, many of whom suffer the same issues as refugees and asylum seekers. RASA is very proud of this accreditation, and in fact, we are the only organisation within the region that provides this assistance and we are regularly signposted to from agencies as far away as Leeds, which demonstrates a clear need for our work. We have also recently undertaken questionnaires and informal interviews amongst the local community and the results of this information gathering have further confirmed what we already know; that RASA’s services are appreciated and the demand for our services are clear. RASA is a small organisation with a staff of just 1.6 but benefits from a regular and committed supply of volunteers who act as bedrock for the organisation.  We would like to thank all our volunteers - of which there are many for their hard work, conscientiousness and commitment.