The refugee community in Dudley is benefiting from a range of support to help them to thrive in their new home, thanks to a partnership between the Refugee Migrant Council, Brushstrokes and Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
The project supports the holistic needs of the refugee and migrant community by providing a mixture of practical help, such as support with immigration and legal status, alongside providing access to wellbeing support for their physical and mental wellbeing.
The project launched in Dudley in May to extend provision to the borough and is funded by Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
The Refugee Migrant Council and Sandwell’s Brushstrokes have the expertise to help this vulnerable and marginalised section of the community. With funding from Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the organisations are working together to fulfil a clear need for immigration support in Dudley.
As part of the project, the Refugee and Migrant Hub launched in Dudley town centre in July and provides advice on immigration, welfare, employment support, English classes and other integration services.
By providing a range of support, the project helps service users to feel supported and less alone, which helps to decrease the risk of mental health distress. Ultimately the project aims to help people to settle and build lives in the area, to help build happier and healthier communities.
As a result, there has been a decrease in the number of people in the migrant and refugee community needing a consultation about stress-related issues, as the root causes of their stress are being supported effectively.
Dr Harvey Rigby from Limestone Surgery in Dudley said: “I think having a service to refer into helps in many ways. It gives service users a very helpful resource that helps them to access services in a timely fashion and helps them to explore options.
“Importantly, it helps them to feel supported and less overwhelmed which then prevents them from experiencing levels of stress and the need to be seen in primary care.”
The project has seen 124 individuals from May to July alone, coming from 34 different countries.
Laura Brookes, Head of Mental Health Transformation and Integration at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am so pleased to have been a small part of supporting this scheme. RMC & Brushstrokes are providing a really valuable service to some of our most vulnerable citizens and the outcomes in such a short period of time have been really positive.”
The Refugee and Migrant Hub is based at Provision House on Dudley High Street and is open Monday to Thursdays from 9am to 1pm for drop-ins. Pre-booked appointments for immigration casework take place on Tuesday mornings.