The Asylum Support Partnership (ASP) is the largest asylum seeker support organisations in the United Kingdom and claims to be the only one giving asylum support over the whole of Britain. The mission of the Partnership (ASP) is to ensure that 'all those seeking asylum in Britain have their human rights upheld and that those seeking asylum in our community receive the support and opportunities they need to live independently.’ Their core values are to ‘assist all asylum seekers regardless of race, religion, gender, health or sexuality’. The consortium provide legal liaison, mentoring and aims to be a 'One Stop Service' for the needs of asylum seekers. Although part funded by the Home Office,

Welsh Government The Welsh Government ( cy, Llywodraeth Cymru) is the Welsh devolution, devolved government of Wales. The government consists of ministers and Minister (government), deputy ministers, and also of a Counsel General for Wales, counsel general. Minist ...

, and Scottish Government they are independent of the UK Government as a partnership made of non governmental organisations and are not linked to

UK Visas and Immigration UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is a division of the Home Office responsible for the United Kingdom's visa system. It was formed in 2013 from the section of the UK Border Agency that had administered the visa system. History The then Home Secret ...

and are also engaged in lobbying on legislation and campaigning on asylum issues.

Role

The Asylum Support Partnership (ASP) is the mechanism for by which the United Kingdom carries out and delivers its requirements following the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951. By forming a consortium this has enabled the organisations in Britain to carry out joined up Asylum Support since many of the organisations carrying out such services had been started independently in different parts of the country. The partnership exchanges information, referrals and help documents between the partners and also works with other organisations on asylum issues. The Partnership is rolling out a joint database in 2013 and is working on converging its IT systems to improve on cohesion

History

In 2012 after budget cuts of 72% from Home Office funding; the groups making up the partnership which were semi-formally cooperating and putting in joint UK wide funding bids formally agreed to form the Asylum Support Partnership (ASP).

Partnership members

The six charities making up the partnership delivering advice and other services to asylum seekers in each region of Britain funded by the Home Office,

, and Scottish Government are: *

Refugee Council The Refugee Council is a UK based organisation which works with refugees and asylum seekers. The organisation provides support and advice to refugees and asylum seekers, as well as support for other refugee and asylum seeker organisations. The R ...

: London, East of England, Yorkshire and Humberside, West Midlands *

Refugee Action Refugee Action is an independent national charity founded in 1981 that provides advice and support to refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and campaigns for a fairer asylum system. It is governed by a board of trustees chaired by Penny Lawrence. ...

: North West, East Midlands, South Central, South West * North of England Refugee Service: North East *

Scottish Refugee Council The Scottish Refugee Council is a registered charity that provides advice and services to asylum seekers and refugees. The objective of the organisation is ‘building a better future with refugees in Scotland’. The charity was formed in E ...

: Scotland *

Welsh Refugee Council The Welsh Refugee Council is a sister organisation to the Refugee Council and Scottish Refugee Council, and works to help asylum seekers and refugees in Wales. About The Welsh Refugee Council (WRC) is a Wales-based charity committed to pr ...

: Wales * Northern Refugee Centre: Yorkshire and Humberside

References

{{Reflist Refugee aid organisations in the United Kingdom Human rights organisations based in the United Kingdom 1951 establishments in the United Kingdom