NERS is a registered charity and is constituted
as a company limited by guarantee. It is therefore governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The charity’s objects and its principal activities
are to facilitate smooth settlement and integration in to
the mainstream of British society and to provide immediate
and on-going support to refugees, asylum seekers and refugee
communities throughout their settlement process.
NERS continues to seek additional financial support to provide
its services to refugees, refugee communities and new asylum
seekers.
NERS is managed by a voluntary Board of Directors and provides
its services in its offices throughout the North East. |
The Early Days - The origins of the North of England Refugee
Service (NERS) date back to the arrival of the 'boat people'
in 1981.
They
were assisted in their settlement by the local Citizens'
Advice Bureau. In 1985, the bureau appointed a Refugee Co-ordinator
to oversee the needs of the 'boat people' and the other refugees
who had arrived in the area. However, the area's co-ordinator
position was only funded for one year.
The CAB, along with other funders, applied to the Home
Office for longer term financial support to sustain the work already
done in the region. Subsequently, in 1989 NERS was
established with an office in Newcastle. In 1993, NERS expanded and opened
an office in Middlesbrough with a staff of two, including
an advice worker.
Since the mid-nineties the organisation has continued to
grow. In 1999, the organisation – now named the North
of England Refugee Service Limited - was awarded the One
Stop Service contract by the Home Office for the North East
to manage the new dispersal programme.
The organisation now has four regional offices in
Newcastle, Sunderland, North Tyneside and Tees Valley. Our head office
is also in Newcastle and the organisation now employs close
to 50 full time members of staff.
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