Asylum seekers

Plymouth has always provided jobs and homes to a diverse community. Our vision builds on this, embracing Plymouth as a multi-cultural city where significant social exclusion no longer exists. This is a key part of meeting the challenge to become one of Europe’s most vibrant waterfront cities where an outstanding quality of life is enjoyed by everyone. The Social Inclusion Unit co-ordinate the Council’s work concerning asylum seekers and refugees.

An asylum seeker is someone who has arrived in the UK and is waiting to have his or her application assessed and determined. They have applied to the Home Office to stay here because they fear persecution in their country of origin.

Currently there are approximately 400 asylum seekers resident in Plymouth. Nearly all are supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) however a small number receive assistance from Plymouth City Council (PCC). These people are mostly under the age of eighteen years who were not accompanied by an adult when they made their asylum application in the UK.

The Council has specific duties to assist other asylum seekers but it does not receive financial assistance from the Government for this work. For example, a single adult with care needs or families with an adult dependent who have a care need. In certain circumstances the Council may have a duty to support failed asylum seekers following a Community Care Assessment.