Our Services

Advice

We provide free advice and information to asylum-seekers and refugees on the following subjects: Immigration (Level 1), welfare benefits, education, employment, utilities, health. We can refer clients to solicitors and a wide range of specialist agencies. Our staff speak French and Arabic and we endeavour to find interpreters for other refugee community languages if necessary. To access the advice service, potential clients should attend one of our drop-in sessions. Please note time slots for this service are allocated on the day on a first-come-first-served basis.

Drop-in sessions
Tuesdays, 10am - 1pm
Fridays 10am - 1pm
Siddeley House, 50 Canbury Park Road, Kingston. Drop-in, no appointment necessary

Mondays, 12pm-2pm at the Women's Friendship Group
Holy Trinity Church, Sheen Park, Richmond, TW9 1UP.
Please telephone our Kingston office (020) 85470115 for more information.

Counselling

We are pleased to announce that we have recently launched a new counselling service based in Kingston and dedicated to refugee women. We provide counselling and emotional support, as well as information and advocacy for refugee and asylum seeking women in South West London. Counselling is a non-medical therapeutic practice whereby a problem can be aired though talking and listening with a trained person. We specialise particularly in supporting women who have experienced trauma or sexual violence.

We offer three crisis-intervention counselling sessions, on-going counselling (10 renewable sessions), appropriate referrals, workshops and information about the mental health system. The service is registered with the B.A.C.P.

For more information, contact Teresa, Counselling Project Co-ordinator, on (020) 85462174.

Learning Centre (Monday)

This is a weekly centre open to all refugees and asylum seekers. Services include informal English teaching for all levels, opportunity to learn how to use a computer, creche and activities for children aged 0-5 (plus activities for older children during school holidays), borrow books from our specialist bilingual book library, and an opportunity to meet people.

Monday, 10 am - 12 midday at the Piper Hall, Piper Road, Kingston. Ring (020) 85470115 for more information, or drop in and see us.

Learning Centre (Thursday)

A weekly drop-in for refugees and asylum seekers, especially those living on the Cambridge Road Estate and Cambridge Gardens. Opportunity to learn English, talk to our staff and volunteers, learn computer skills, attend a women-only exercise class, and participate in a range of learning activities. There is also a creche providing a range of activities for children aged 0-4, and activities for older  children in school holidays. RAK provides lunch and an opportunity for socialising here, as well as running one-off courses, such as Citizenship.

Thursday 10am - 2pm at Piper Hall, Piper Road, Kingston (on the Cambridge Road Estate)

Clothing Project

We collect and distribute good quality clothing, toys, kitchen items, baby items, pushchairs, curtains and bed linen. We hold large distribution days for our clients every 3 months, but can give out items at short notice in a crisis situation. Everything is given free of charge. Call our office for more details. If you would like to donate items, telephone us on (020) 85470115 (Please note we do not take electrical items or furniture)

Summer Playscheme and Young People's Project

We run a Playscheme for 30 refugee children aged 5-10 and a project for refugee youg people aged 11-16 in August. Registration begins in June with priority given to children most newly arrived in the UK.

Volunteering and Employment Support

We provide volunteer placements for refugees within R.A.K. Volunteers receive training and support. We give advice and support for refugees looking for employment, training or voluntary work. We also aim to raise awareness amongst employers of refugees' right to work in the UK.

Mentoring and Befriending

Refugees can be matched with a trained volunteer mentor who work alongside them as they look for employment. Refugees and asylum seekers can also meet up with a volunteer befriender. Befrienders help clients with orientation, getting to know the local area and provide an opportunity for social contact for refugees who are isolated.