The Ex-Detainee Project supports some of the most vulnerable people in our society, many of whom are seeking asylum, have fled human rights abuses, or whose removal from the UK would violate their human rights.
The four aims of Samphire’s Ex-Detainee Project are to-
Advise – ex-detainees can call our freephone helpline, open 5 days a week between 10AM and 1PM. We respond to the needs they express and work to provide solutions in the order of most pressing. Over time, having developed relationships, we work through on-going casework to address the obstacles to social inclusion – from street homelessness through to volunteering and educational opportunities.
Enable – we link people to existing services in local communities to enable them to participate in their local communities, through referrals and signposting to support groups, counselling, GP’s, volunteering and befriending organisations. We ensure that as well as the information about these invaluable services, ex-detainees have the means to access them.
Empower – we encourage ex-detainees to overcome isolation and regain their confidence and self-esteem through involvement in volunteering, befriending and educational projects within their local communities as well as through their active involvement in the running of the Ex-Detainee Project. We support them in telling their stories to media and the public and ensure that their voices are heard through facilitating the annual ex-detainee conference.
Influence – we work closely with our partner organisations to influence policy and promote best practice in respect of ex-detainees from before they are released, to the grant of status in the UK, or removal to their home country.
Please contact the Ex-Detainee Project helpline if you are in need of support on:
Mon/Tues/Weds/Thurs/Fri between 10.00am and 1.00pm.
Tel: 01304 201535
Text: 07714 490981