Supporting refugees, asylum seekers and those with no recourse to public funds
We can help
Are you an asylum seeker, refugee, or someone with no recourse to public funds?
About us
Voices in Exile works with refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants with no recourse to public funds in East and West Sussex and Surrey. We offer practical and legal support including generalist advice and specialist immigration casework (up to IAA Level 2) for those who would otherwise be unable to access justice.
Services
Voices in Exile Advice Service Update - Monday 7th July 2025 We are currently receiving a high number of referrals to both our immigration and generalist advice and casework services. As you may be aware, there is a nationwide shortage of immigration advisors. We are the only provider of year-round, free, IAA accredited level 2 immigration advice and casework in the region, which puts significant pressures on our service. To meet this demand, we are currently recruiting another level 2 immigration advisor, and as part of our ongoing capacity-building work, we have begun an exciting new partnership with the University of Sussex to train law students in immigration advice. We are therefore temporarily closed to new email referrals for both immigration and generalist advice and casework while we focus on our current large and intensive caseloads. We continue to provide generalist advice at various outreach sessions in the city. Immigration Advice Line - Our immigration advice line is temporarily closed. Generalist Phone Advice Line: 01273 082105, Thursdays, 12.00 – 14.00 Our generalist advice line remains open for one-off advice on Thursdays 12pm-4pm. Advice and signposting services offering support with destitution, housing, community care, welfare benefits, etc. We have access to on-call interpreters. People who call our advice line and require an interpreter can simply say the language they require and we will call them back straightaway with an interpreter. Please check our website in August for further updates. You can find out about the different services we provide via the links below. We apply a holistic and compassionate approach to delivering our services, which are tailored to meet the needs of each client.
Food bank
We run a weekly food bank for service users who are struggling across Brighton and Hove.
The food bank provides short-term support for destitute clients, usually with no recourse to public funds.
For a referral to the food bank, you can download our referral form here. If you are making a referral on behalf of someone else, we will need you to provide the client’s signed consent for you to do so. A request to self-refer to our food bank can also be made by phone or by email via our Generalist team.
ESOL and orientation groups
We run three weekly groups to help people find their way around the city and its services, practice English and improve wellbeing.
Resettlement programmes
We work closely with families resettled in Brighton & Hove under various resettlement schemes including the United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme and the Afghanistan Resettlement Schemes (ARAP and ACRS) on behalf of Brighton & Hove City Council.
Generalist advice and casework
Our generalist advice and casework includes welfare benefits, housing and homelessness, asylum support, children’s and adult community care, and digital inclusion.
Generally, all our services are for vulnerable and/or destitute migrants, asylum seekers and refugees who are not eligible for legal aid and/or do not have the means to pay for private legal advice. As a general rule we cannot currently assist EEA nationals – but will consider particularly vulnerable/complex cases. You can download our referral form here.
Immigration advice and casework
We are accredited to provide specialist immigration advice up to OISC Level 2. We provide advice & casework including initial applications to the Home Office and up to, but not including, appeals to the Tribunal.
We also offer one-off advice via our advice line or email, as well as immigration casework provided by our qualified caseworker.
Generally, all our services are for vulnerable and/or destitute migrants, asylum seekers and refugees who are not eligible for legal aid and/or do not have the means to pay for private legal advice. As a general rule we cannot currently assist EEA nationals – but will consider particularly vulnerable/complex cases. You can download our referral form here.
Resources
Our comprehensive information directory provides information relating to local services and support across many different areas including housing and homelessness, domestic abuse, health and wellbeing, finance, and English language lessons. You can also access our immigration toolkit to help guide you through the immigration application process.
Information directory
We have created an online padlet that combines useful information for migrants in Brighton & Hove, as well as those supporting service users in the city.
The resource includes links to services for immigration advice, wellbeing, signposting, food, support groups, and education.
If you have a service to be added to the padlet, please contact administrator@voicesinexile.org
Open the padlet in a new tab to view and scroll through all the resources.
Myth-busting FAQs
This resource addresses some of the most common myths and misconceptions about refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in the UK.
Immigration toolkit
Voices in Exile has created a bespoke immigration toolkit to assist service users going through various immigration applications.
The toolkit features breakdowns of evidence needs, guides on how to gather evidence, and online forms needed.
Brighton was completely new to me and my family. ViE always supported us in every aspect, these interventions helped us feel more settled and increased integration to society.
Our supporters
