This guidance is for everyone, including children. It advises on social distancing measures we should all be taking to reduce social interaction between people in order to reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). It is intended for use in situations where people are living in their own homes, with or without additional support from friends, family and carers.

Please click the links below to read the UK Government’s guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK, including children, and protecting older people and vulnerable people.

For English click here

For Arabic click here

For French click here

For Polish click here

For Chinese-Mandarin click here

Please click the links below to read the UK Government’s stay at home: guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

For English click here

For Arabic click here

For French click here

For Polish click here

For Chinese-Mandarin click here

In the light of government advice on reducing the spread of Coronavirus, Asylum Welcome will be reducing its services substantially, with immediate effect.

We are taking these steps because we are very mindful of the need to ensure the safety of our volunteer community, as many are of an age that they need to take care not to catch the virus. We feel a responsibility to protect those most at risk, and a responsibility not to put undue pressure on the remaining diminished workforce.

We have a carefully developed plan to see Asylum Welcome through the next month or two, and we will review this and issue updates as needed. At the heart of this plan are commitments to maintaining firstly the most essential services for the most vulnerable clients and secondly robust channels of communication with clients, volunteers and other service providers.

Updates will appear on our website. We want to give clear messages about service changes. We want volunteers to keep talking to and supporting each other and to us. We want clients to understand that they are not abandoned. This situation is temporary and our sincere wish is that the Asylum Welcome community emerges stronger than ever.

Services available for the next few months

For asylum seekers and refugees

Among the many hundreds of people accessing our services every year, we assess that there are currently approximately 35-40 individuals who would suffer severe detriment if we closed temporarily and who cannot easily be supported elsewhere.

A much-reduced core team of staff and volunteers will ensure that advice appointments and hardship payments will continue for this group on Tuesdays and Fridays and food parcels will be available to them between 11 and 1 on Tuesdays.

Advice and assistance will be concentrated on the following topics: addressing homelessness and destitution, making Asylum Support applications, responding to urgent health needs, and brokering urgent communication with the Home Office.

We know that new people with urgent needs will continue to arrive in Oxford. If you are aware of new arrivals who are unsupported then get in touch with us.

The reception desk will be closed but you can leave an ansaphone message on 01865 722082.

Staff remain available by email and work mobiles throughout the week and you can also reach our services through the general advice@asylum-welcome.org email.

NB you will no longer be able to just ask clients to turn up at our centre.

For EU citizens

Face-to-face appointments to help EU citizens to apply for Settled Status are postponed. Advice is still available by email europawelcome@asylum-welcome.org

and mobile phone: 07719 128054

There are approximately 100 people who we have helped to start the process of applying but have not yet received status, we will be contacting the Home Office about these cases.

Some EU citizens have given us passports and important documents to forward to the Home Office. Rest assured that our priority is to ensure that these are safe.

The following services will close temporarily

The Welcome Centre/drop-in advice and support

Venda youth club

Shared Talents - Education and Employment advice and ESOL lessons (although teachers may keep in touch with students by phone)

Huntercombe visiting

Recycled bicycles

Non-urgent advice appointments for adults, families and young people

Use of the Welcome Centre out-of-hours by refugee community organisations

Meetings and events are cancelled.

Bike, food and financial donations

We will not accept bike donations in the next few months.

Food donations we will now accept only on Fridays. We have sufficient food-stocks to cope with a short-term reduction in donations and will keep you informed of needs as they change.

Supporters can continue to make financial donations online or by bank transfer.

These are the main points of our plan for the next month or two.

The Lord Mayor of Oxford, Cllr Craig Simmons, & Lady Mayoress, Elise Benjamin, cordially invite you to their fundraiser for the Lord Mayor's good causes: Asylum Welcome and Low Carbon Hub

SUNDAY 15 MARCH 2020

The Tree Hotel, 63 Church Way, Iffley, OX4 4EY

4.30pm - Live Music: Optional afternoon warm-up for the young at heart featuring live music from The Mighty Redox inc. special guest appearance from the Lord Mayor himself! "A force of nature, consummate professional rockers and the ultimate party band."

7.00pm - Fundraising Banquet: Sumptuous five-course Indian banquet at the award-winning Aziz Restaurant @ The Tree Hotel. "Fantastic venue, wonderful staff and stunning food." (Tripadvisor Review, January 2020)

Tickets & Further Details

Tickets for the fundraising banquet are £35 each.

The gig is free to attend but a donation of £5 is suggested.

To order tickets, visit https://www.wegottickets.com/event/497751

Dress code: Smart casual.

All proceeds from the event will go to Asylum Welcome & The Lord Mayor's Climate Change Fund. If you are unable to attend but wish to make a donation you can do so via BACS (Account Number 61173455, Sort Code 08-90-38).

If you require further details please call 01865 252414 or email civicoffice@oxford.gov.uk

A. Nakanishi Majora Canamus (world premiere)

Sunday 23 February 2020, 5:00pm

The Sheldonian Theatre

Free entrance with requested £10 donation in aid of Asylum Welcome

Free performance of Handel's Messiah with visiting Japanese choir of 100+ singers with the Verdandi Chamber orchestra and professional soloists from UK & Japan. Seats must be reserved in advance (cannot guarantee availability on the day).

Info and Tickets: info@timeconcerts.co.uk or at 01749672522