Voluntary, community and faith group information for asylum seekers

Action Together

80 Union Street
Oldham
OL1 1DJ

Our aim is to develop and promote voluntary action throughout the borough of Oldham in order to meet the needs of our diverse communities.

Open Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm, (answer machine available out of office hours).

Refugees and people seeking asylum can access our service if they are part of any organisation that is registered with us.

Boaz Trust

Kath Locke Centre,
Manchester, M15 5DD

This is a specific service for asylum seekers and refugees

  • Boaz has 8 houses, and a network of local host families accommodating asylum seekers and refugees in Greater Manchester.
  • Winter night shelter for men which rotates around local churches.
  • Boaz provides weekly food parcels along with toiletries and other essentials. It helps residents to access healthcare and to keep in touch with solicitors. Boaz volunteers also help to find fresh evidence so they can move on with their asylum claim.
  • Provides a programme of Meaningful Activities to prevent days from becoming empty, and to help clients to integrate into the community. These include English and sewing classes, arts and crafts, gardening, volunteering and training opportunities, and occasional day trips.
  • Awareness-raising and Campaigning for changes in the asylum system. It partners with others in national campaigns, and takes a roadshow to churches and other groups. It seeks to get true representations of asylum-seekers in the press.

British Red Cross

The British Red Cross helps refugees and asylum seekers access essential services and adapt to life in a new country.

Other services include: emergency response, first aid, short term support for independent living, mobility aids, and international family tracing

Refugee Support Hub every Wednesday 10am – 3pm
Oldham Baptist Church
Chaucer Street, OL1 1BA

Drop-ins welcome

Chadderton Community Church

Garforth Street,
Oldham, OL9 6RW

  • Phone: 07842 207498
  • Email: david@adsaville.me.uk
  • Food bank is Tuesdays 11am to 1pm
  • Welcome Café is open alternate Thursdays 10.30am – 1pm

Chadderton Community Church - website

Support any individuals struggling through financial need

No Recourse To Public Funds Network

NRPF Network
Islington Council,
London, N1 2UD

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), refers to people who are subject to immigration control and have no entitlement to welfare benefits, UK Border Agency support, or public housing. 

Oldham Unity

Oldham Baptist Church
Chaucer Street
Oldham, OL1 1BA

Oldham Unity has been supporting destitute asylum seekers in Oldham since 2001. The project is run by a group of unpaid local volunteers, refugees, and asylum seekers. Sessions are held every Thursday from 12 noon -2.00pm at Oldham Baptist Church on Chaucer Street. We provide a warm welcome, refreshments, toiletries, a small amount of clothing - and financial support to those who are destitute. Destitute asylum seekers receive no state support, no money, vouchers or accommodation from the government. Oldham Unity give a small cash amount to those who are eligible, this is funded entirely by donations from our partners and supporters. We work in partnership with the Red Cross, who help with the initial assessment of people wanting to access the project. They can also give case advice and provide some element of financial support for the first 12 weeks from registration. Oldham Unity also have volunteers offering advice, form filling, signposting and access to a legal fund, to try and address some of people’s other pressing needs. If you would like to contact us please email unityoldham@gmail.com

Refugee Action

179 Royce Road,
Manchester, M15 5TJ

Support to asylum seekers going through the asylum process, including people thinking about making further representations.
Tuesday mornings, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 0161 831 5448.

UK Education and Faith Foundation

72 Yorkshire Street
Oldham, OL1 1SR

UKEFF provide food parcels, advice and signposting service. We are also able to provide household items and furniture.

Asylum seekers and refugees are supported during applications and when refugee status has been granted, and assistance is required with housing, and household items and whilst benefit applications are pending.

The Salvation Army

  • Phone: 0300 3038151 (24 hour helpline)

Anyone considered through the National Referral Mechanism, to be a potential victim of human trafficking, is entitled to support for a minimum recovery and reflection period of 45 days, during which any action to remove them from the UK is halted. 

Support and Action for Women’s Network

Stockfield Mill,
Oldham, OL9 9ES

SAWN are based in Oldham, but work throughout Greater Manchester.

We run projects on FGM, Prison and detention support and support to settle in the new communities.

What we do includes:

  • Train, educate and provide opportunities of participation.
  • Forging links with hard to reach communities in Oldham and Greater Manchester.
  • Work with statutory organisations to advocate and meet needs of BME Communities.