Written Evidence Submission – Yaran Northwest (AAC0019)

Introduction
Yaran Northwest is a trauma-informed organisation providing culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services to asylum seekers and refugees across Greater Manchester. Our team includes qualified bilingual therapists specialising in trauma recovery. Our professionals provide all our services in Farsi, Dari, Arabic, Urdu, Kurdish and Turkish. We have extensive grassroots experience working with asylum seekers who face significant mental health challenges due to the asylum process and inadequate support systems.

The Delivery of Asylum Accommodation

The current approach to asylum accommodation is failing to meet the needs of vulnerable individuals. Asylum seekers often experience prolonged stays in inappropriate accommodation, leading to severe mental health deterioration. Housing placements frequently lack cultural sensitivity, accessibility for those with disabilities, and proximity to essential services such as healthcare and community support.

Yaran Northwest has observed that accommodation providers such as Serco do not appear to provide trauma-informed training to their staff. This lack of understanding results in poor handling of vulnerable asylum seekers, exacerbating their mental distress. The Home Office should mandate trauma-informed training for all accommodation providers and ensure robust oversight of their performance.

Additionally, there is little coordination between the Home Office and local authorities regarding asylum accommodation placements. Information sharing is inconsistent, leaving local authorities, NGOs, and healthcare providers unable to plan adequate support for incoming asylum seekers. Establishing a structured communication framework between the Home Office, local authorities, and frontline organisations is critical to improving service delivery.

The Impact on Local Services

The current approach places an overwhelming strain on local services, particularly mental health and healthcare. Many asylum seekers experience delays in accessing GPs and specialist mental health services due to poor integration between accommodation providers and local health systems. The lack of mental health support at the accommodation stage means that NHS services bear the long-term financial and clinical burden of preventable severe mental illnesses.

A more common-sense approach to assigning accommodation is essential. For example, we have seen cases where asylum seekers have spent over a year in a Stockport hotel, forming support networks and accessing mental health services, only to be relocated to Liverpool. This sudden move disrupts continuity of care, disconnects individuals from essential support systems, and heightens their vulnerability to serious mental health conditions. The Home Office must prioritise stability in placements and consider the impact of relocation on mental health outcomes.

The Need for Financial Support for Organisations Like Yaran

Grassroots organisations like Yaran Northwest play an essential role in bridging the gaps left by formal services. We provide culturally and linguistically competent therapy, mental health advocacy, and support networks that accommodation providers fail to offer. However, we do this without formal funding or recognition from the Home Office, severely limiting our ability to assist those most in need.

Collaboration between the Home Office and local partners has been sporadic. Many NGOs and community organisations are forced to operate on minimal resources while filling critical service gaps. A structured funding mechanism to support organisations like Yaran Northwest would enhance service provision and prevent long-term costs to the NHS and local authorities.

Recommendations

1. Mandatory trauma-informed training for accommodation providers, particularly for organisations like Serco, to ensure staff can adequately support asylum seekers.
2. Improved communication and data sharing between the Home Office, local authorities, and service providers to ensure smoother transitions for asylum seekers.
3. A more stable and logical approach to housing assignments that prevents unnecessary relocation and maintains continuity of care and support networks.
4. Sustainable funding for grassroots organisations like Yaran Northwest to provide mental health and well-being support that accommodation providers and statutory services cannot offer.

Yaran Northwest is committed to advocating for asylum seekers' mental well-being and believes that these recommendations will lead to more effective, humane, and cost-efficient asylum accommodation solutions.

Conclusion

Yaran Northwest plays a vital role in bridging the gaps left by the current asylum accommodation system, providing trauma-informed, culturally appropriate mental health and wellbeing support to some of the most vulnerable individuals. However, the lack of structured collaboration, funding, and trauma-informed training within Home Office-contracted providers, such as Serco, continues to put asylum seekers at risk. Poorly planned relocations further exacerbate their vulnerability, leading to unnecessary disruptions in care, community support, and mental health services—ultimately placing greater strain on the NHS and local authorities.

For a more effective and humane asylum accommodation system, the Home Office must adopt a trauma-informed approach, ensure meaningful engagement with grassroots organisations like Yaran, and provide financial support to those delivering essential services. Coordinated planning with local authorities, healthcare providers, and NGOs is crucial to prevent harm and improve long-term outcomes for asylum seekers and the wider community.

Jan 2025