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<p>In March the Home Office set up a dedicated engagement channel with the Voluntary
and Community sector on asylum and resettlement matters related to Covid-19. The British
Red Cross were nominated by the sector as the single point of contact, and they were
provided with a dedicated single point of contact within the Home Office. This allowed
the Home Office to better understand the impact of Covid-19 on affected individuals
and local services, and to work collaboratively with the sector to keep people safe.
At the request of the sector, we have returned to a business as usual approach, but
are continuing to speak regularly with relevant organisations.</p><p> </p><p>Asylum
seekers who would otherwise be destitute are provided with free accommodation and
other assistance to cover their essential living needs.</p><p> </p><p>The accommodation
is arranged by private sector providers through contractual arrangements with the
Home Office. There was extensive consultation with the voluntary sector about these
arrangements before the contracts were let. Support to cover essential living needs
is generally proved through a weekly cash allowance, currently set as £39.60 for each
person in the household. The level of the allowance is reviewed annually, and voluntary
groups are invited to submit their views.</p><p> </p><p>Discussion about on-going
matters generally takes place through the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum, which
includes key voluntary groups such as the Refugee Council, Refugee Action and the
British Red Cross.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office engages with non-government organisations
(NGOs) on the needs of asylum seekers primarily through the National Asylum Stakeholder
Forum (NASF). This consists of two Strategic Engagement Groups (SEG), one for asylum
and one for resettlement. Underpinned by NASF Sub-Groups; including groups focused
on asylum decision making, asylum support, integration and mental health. These forums
provide a strategic and constructive space for discussion and consultation on asylum
and resettlement matters, identifying areas where the Home Office and stakeholders
can work jointly to make improvements to the asylum and resettlement systems and their
underpinning policies and processes. SEG and NASF meetings are held quarterly and
are jointly chaired by senior Home Office officials and their NGO counterparts.</p><p>
</p><p>The last Asylum SEG was held on 11 June 2020, the next being 17 September 2020.
Immigration ministers have met with NGOs previously, such as Caroline Noakes, the
then Immigration Minister, in July 2019.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Home Office
regularly engages with the sector through informal routes such as bilateral or small
group meetings.</p>
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