REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

LOCATION: Northern Ireland & Republic of Ireland

Extern’s Refugee Support Service is a dedicated service for individuals and families who have been granted refugee status and who have been given leave to remain in the UK.

The team work intensively with refugees during the 28-day notice period given to move out of NASS accommodation and provide medium to long term specialist and practical support and advice to resettle in the community.

This ongoing intensive, comprehensive one-to-one support includes but is not limited to: housing, benefits/financial and budgetary management, health, education, legal status, training and employment, family reunification and community integration. The service aims to prevent homelessness and to maintain tenancies by directly supporting individuals who have housing issues and practical problems settling in the local community.

Extern’s Refugee Support Service works across the community and has existing networks with a range of other refugee support organisations. The team active participates in the Migrant Forum, Refugee and Asylum Forum and the Northern Ireland Asylum Stakeholder’s Forum.

Extern Eagles take part in the World United football tournament

NI Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme

In 2015, Extern was approached to provide support as a Delivery Partner to Syrian refugees as part of Northern Ireland’s participation in the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, based on the organisation’s history and expertise in delivering a high standard of specialist professional assessment and support to refugees and more broadly, to those who are vulnerable, across a wide range of ages and complexity of need.

The Extern Syrian VPR Resettlement Support Service provides key workers to support individuals and families arriving under the NI Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme.

Staff work intensively with individuals and families from point of arrival, providing holistic assessment of needs, practical support and link-up with statutory services to help families resettle in NI. This service is provided in partnership with Barnardo’s NI, Bryson Intercultural and the Red Cross.

To date, over 1,200 people have been resettled across Northern Ireland under the programme.

RoI Refugee Resettlement Programme

In 2017, Extern began providing resettlement support for UNHCR programme refugees arriving in Ireland under this Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP)-administered programme in the Republic of Ireland. Currently this programme operates in Co Meath.

This project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2014-2020 and is supported by the Department of Justice and Equality.

Extern’s model of support is needs-led and rights based, focusing on empowering individuals, families and host communities to integrate positively, live independently and fulfil their unique potential.

All our staff are professionally qualified with experience of supporting vulnerable individuals and families, and are supported by a management team who have expertise in refugee resettlement.

Extern are the lead agency supporting the resettlement of programme refugees in Meath. The resettlement is steered and monitored by a local interagency working group that includes representatives from statutory agencies and other stakeholders, of which Extern is a member.

The objective is to ensure that refugees are welcomed into the community, that they receive their rights and entitlements in an appropriate manner and that they learn to live independently in Irish society.

Our team put in place a range of tailored supports, aimed at building capacity in both the refugee population and in the local authority service providers through education, representation, advocacy, professional support and practical experience.

Staff work with host communities to link families into existing networks and establish community-based befriending groups to facilitate the longer-term integration and support of refugees.

Currently Extern are providing support to 76 individuals in County Meath.

SUPPORTING: Communities

HOW DO I ACCESS THIS SERVICE? Referrals to this service are made via the UK and Irish governments, who decide which families are to be resettled

CONTACT:

Northern Ireland:
Extern
118-122 Royal Avenue
Belfast
BT1 1DL
Tel: 028 9027 8424
Email: [email protected]

Republic of Ireland:
89 Church Street,
Cavan,
Co Cavan
Tel: 00 353 (8) 6383 1898
Email: [email protected]

Read Mohammed's Story

Read Amanda's Story

Latest

Home is somewhere I feel safe and now that's Belfast

For one Belfast team, soccer is supposedly more about getting together than playing competitively. Except that some members – all Syrian refugees – still harbour dreams of being the next Cristiano Ronaldo
Extern Dambusters: Join us in the race to end homelessness

This summer, YOU can join Extern in the race to end homelessness and together we can change lives.
Hundreds of runners turn out for Run for Roscor

The weather may not have been great, but the rain certainly failed to dampen the spirits of the hundreds of runners who turned out to take part in the 10k and 5k runs and walks in aid of Roscor Youth Village
Extern Homes celebrate important milestone

Since 2016, Extern Homes has helped provide a safe place for those facing homelessness in Belfast. Find out how it has helped to change lives and unlocked a door to a brighter future.

REFUGEE FLOATING SUPPORT

Refugee Floating Support offers advice and assistance with finding accommodation, accessing housing benefit, health, education, legal status and training and employment to individuals and families who have been granted refugee status and who have been given leave to remain in the UK.
HOMELESS TRAVELLER PROJECT

The Homeless Traveller Project provides intensive support to members of the Travelling Community in relation to housing and homelessness issues in the Greater Belfast Area
TRAVELLER PRIMARY HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE PROJECT

The Traveller Primary Health Care programme is aimed at improving the health outcomes of members of the Travelling Community in County Cavan.

Royal welcome for Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Roscor Youth Village

Duke and Duchess are guests of honour during special visit to our stunning site close to shores of Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh
Birthday celebrations mark first anniversary for cross-border youth project

Hundreds of young people across Northern Ireland and the border counties are celebrating a very special milestone this week with the first birthday of innovative cross-border youth project Third Space.
Northern Ireland manager and Belfast Lord Mayor on the ball for launch of Extern’s Fun Cup 2019

Northern Ireland senior men’s international football manager Michael O’Neill and outgoing Belfast Lord Mayor Deirdre Hargey have ‘pitched in’ together to launch the Extern Fun Cup, one of the biggest and brightest youth footballing tournaments to hit the city this summer.
Extern's leading role recognised at prestigious CO3 Leadership Awards

Extern has been recognised for the quality of its leadership at the prestigious CO3 Leadership Awards 2019.
Extern Dambusters: Join us in the race to end homelessness

This summer, YOU can join Extern in the race to end homelessness and together we can change lives.
What we do

For more than 40 years we have been standing shoulder to shoulder with people as support them to transform their lives, creating safer communities for us all.
I want to help change lives so I'm fundraising for Extern

When a child, family or individual in distress receives a glimmer of hope, it can often be life-changing. That’s why in Extern we are determined to create that glimmer of hope for the people we support, each and every single day. This year we will support over 19,500 people to change their lives.
Who we are

We transform lives as the leading social justice charity across the island of Ireland. Operating since 1978, we believe another chance can change a life.
Roscor: Please make our birthday wish come true

When things go wrong at home, or in care, it can be children who feel the brunt. That’s where Extern's Roscor Youth Village comes in. And it's also where you can help us make a difference. For 21 years, Roscor, has been a haven of hope & escape for over 40,000 children & young people from across the island of Ireland who face challenges in their daily lives. Please help us make Roscor fit-for-purpose for another 21 years, ensuring children can continue to receive its life-changing support
Where we work

As the leading social justice charity across the island of Ireland, Extern has more than 80 individual projects, operating from over 40 locations in 22 counties.

Extern Homes Appeal

Extern Homes is an innovative project which is helping people move from homelessness to homes. Extern purchases properties, refurbishes them and provides two year supported tenancies to people who have experienced homelessness in order to enable them to move on with their lives and reclaim their rightful place in society. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Roscor: Please make our birthday wish come true

When things go wrong at home, or in care, it can be children who feel the brunt. That’s where Extern's Roscor Youth Village comes in. And it's also where you can help us make a difference. For 21 years, Roscor, has been a haven of hope & escape for over 40,000 children & young people from across the island of Ireland who face challenges in their daily lives. Please help us make Roscor fit-for-purpose for another 21 years, ensuring children can continue to receive its life-changing support Read more

Donate Fundraise