Providing free advice, support and practical help to refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers throughout Essex.
Essex Integration provides essential support services to refugees and migrants moving to Essex under the 'Home Office scheme'.
While we work on a contract basis for Essex County Council delivering core requirements of the scheme, we also provide, wider integration support through a range of voluntary and community services.
Essex Integration is a DNA project, providing free advice, support and practical help to refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers throughout Essex.
We offer a friendly face and understand the issues surrounding fitting into a new culture where systems are baffling and bureaucracy is overwhelming.
We run a drop-in advice and advocacy service at their Colchester office for anyone to receive free advice and support on a broad range of subjects from housing, entitlement to benefits, employment to how to make friends and learn English.
Welcome – liaison with local authorities and support paperwork, meeting and transport from airport, initial home welcome and meal, house familiarisation and introduction to volunteer support.
Provision of fully-dedicated translators to provided personal support during statutory integration process.
integration thro learningAccommodation – sourcing suitable housing and arranging leasing, and provision of basic furnishings.
Health – registering with GP, dentists and opticians, with monitoring and referral support in case of the effects of trauma (including loss, injury and mental health)
Benefits – registering for core benefits – JSA/ESA, Child Tax Credits, Child Benefit and, if applicable, PIP/Carer Allowance.
Schooling – arrange with LA on placement and registration, includes introductions and taster days, and accompaniment by translator for initial attendance (see voluntary section below for support on uniforms)
Personal Finance – introduction to bank for account set-up, advice and use of account, support for payment of regular outgoings.
Familiarisation briefings – legal, geographical & cultural Language – ESOL enrolment
Provision of advice and guidance during statutory integration process.
Employment of qualified and motivated people (including translators) with DBS checks, and with confidentiality, safeguarding, boundaries and awareness training.
Suitable premises for work with clients, with group and confidentiality provision .
Secure systems – records storage, internet security protocols, data protection.
Accountability to statutory funders –
Audits, data provision, provision costing.
Staff performance reviews and for statutory requirements.
Statutory updates and requirements for client changes.
DNA provide a complimentary and added-value support as some of the services above cannot be carried out fully within the scope of statutory funding provision. Through donations and volunteer involvement, we also aim to provide.
Integration Through Language – our established sessions with volunteers help with the placement of language in everyday situations, and support the ESOL classes provision.
Additional living essentials – through donations we can support families with such purchase as televisions, mobile phones, school uniforms, extra housing furnishings, TV licenses.
Social events – provision of regular social activities and visits.
Befriending support groups – new families are linked up with specific befrienders to help them make their way into the local community.
Other volunteer groups – working with other groups to provide extra support, an employment programme and counselling for example.
Volunteers – all are background-checked, trained in boundaries and safeguarding.
We would love to hear from you, tell us your stories, ask us your questions.
Thanks to like yourself, DNA has become a thriving community that can support many individuals and families. There are so many people we can serve, help and love with your generosity. Thank-you!
If you would like to support a specific project, please visit the relevant page.
We work with Stewardship to process all of our monthly and one off donations. Registered in England under charity no. 234714 and company no. 90305
