Bryson Care makes a positive impact on the lives of black and minority people and their families by helping them adjust to, and cope with their new lives in Northern Ireland.
For asylum seekers from across the world, Bryson Care provides support once they have been accepted into the asylum process in Northern Ireland.
Since 28th September 2020, those arriving in Northern Ireland wishing to claim asylum in the UK must present themselves for initial screening to the Home Office, which is based at: Drumkeen House, Upper Galwally BT8 6TB.
Bryson Care is the lead coordinating partner of the Northern Ireland Refugee Resettlement Consortium and has supported over 1800 refugees from Syrian resettle and integrate into their new lives across Northern Ireland.
Since May 2007, Bryson Care’s service has provided support for newly-arrived asylum seekers. We specialise in independent advice and advocacy provision on claiming asylum and accessing support. We are sub-contracted by Migrant Help to provide the asylum advice service and our Asylum Advisors are OISC trained.
Our advice work covers a range of specialist topics, including access to National Asylum Support Service (NASS) support, understanding the asylum application process, liaison with the Home Office, applying for Section 95 and Section 4 support, administration advocacy, and referral to external support agencies. We also advise and signpost service users facing problems such as racial harassment, domestic violence, health concerns, destitution, and those who have experienced trafficking.
Bryson Care is also the lead partner of the Northern Ireland Refugee Resettlement Consortium in NI. In 2015 the Prime Minister announced a significant expansion of the Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) Scheme to resettle up to 20,000 refugees from Syria in the UK over a period of 5 years. The NI Executive signalled to the UK Government their willingness to welcome some of the most vulnerable refugees to NI under the VPR Scheme. Northern Ireland’s response is led by the Department for Communities which works with a number of organisations to put in place the arrangements to resettle the refugees, including housing, healthcare and education. The Department appointed a Consortium of community and voluntary sector organisations with relevant experience in working with refugees and new entrants to operationally assist with the resettlement programme in NI.
Bryson Care is the lead partner of the Consortium, which leads on co-ordination and delivery of the arrival, orientation and formative integration of each group of VPR refugees and co-ordination, which includes regional engagement with the statutory, community and charity sectors on integration opportunities. The principle aim of this scheme is to support refugees from Syria relocated to Northern Ireland through the VPR Scheme, ensure their well-being and dignity after arrival and assist their integration into society.