About ASAPWe protect asylum seekers’ legal rights to food and shelter
What we do
We reduce destitution amongst people seeking asylum by protecting their legal rights to food and shelter. ASAP does this in three ways:
- We offer free, high-quality legal advice to people across the UK who are appealing to the Asylum Support Tribunal against the Home Office's decision to refuse or stop their accommodation or financial support.
- We increase access to high quality advice on asylum support across the UK, by supporting organisations to build their asylum support skills through free training, a second-tier advice line and an online network of advisors.
- We tackle the root causes of destitution and increase access to justice through policy work and litigation.
Alongside this, we run a women's project to address the barriers faced by women in accessing safe housing and financial support within the asylum system.
Our vision and values
- We are working towards people having shelter, food and support rather than living in destitution; where the Home Office and Tribunal are held to account to make just, dignified and equitable decisions.
- We believe in human rights, access to justice, independence and empowering people to access their rights and advocate for change.
- We value openness and transparency, partnership work and the expertise of people living on asylum support.
Who we work with
We work with people who have been forced to flee their home countries and seek safety in the UK who then find themselves destitute, and in need of food and shelter. We also work with organisations around the UK working with persons seeking asylum who are in need of support.
If you are an asylum seeker and need advice about your housing or financial support from the Home Office you should go to your nearest advice agency and ask an adviser to contact us. You can find information about organisations who help with housing and financial support from the Home Office here. ASAP only works with people where it relates to asylum support appeals. We cannot help with other asylum support problems.
Please note that ASAP does not give immigration advice
If you need advice about your immigration status please contact a regulated advisor. For information about how to find a regulated immigration adviser please click here.
Our strategic goals 2020-2025
- Increase quality representation and dignity at the Asylum Support Tribunal for all people seeking asylum.
- Ensure people seeking asylum across the UK have access to quality advice and information about their legal rights to food and shelter, by building other organisations' asylum support skills.
- Tackle the root causes of destitution through policy, advocacy and litigation.
- Maintain ASAP's resilience, purpose and expertise for people seeking asylum and the organisations supporting them.
ASAP is independent from government and is not part of the Home Office. All queries are treated in confidence.
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