NERS Services in Sunderland

One Stop Service
NERS has delivered a high quality service to asylum seekers through the One Stop Service. This service is a partnership with the Refugee Council and NERS, which has continued to provide and develop its system to the high quality and standards demanded by the terms of the contract. NERS has also continued to provide appropriate statistics and financial information to The Refugee Council and NASS (National Asylum Support Service) as appropriate.

NERS will continue to develop its services supported by a strong partnership with The Refugee Council.

Complementing Local Authority support
NERS is currently re-evaluating its structure and services in the North East sub regions. It
is essential to look at the long-term support network of the local communities and the opportunity to participate in local government initiatives.

NERS is looking at a structure that will allow greater autonomy and independence to its sub-regional teams and will facilitate work with the relevant Local Authorities.

NERS will continue to work with the local authorities to complement their support and services to asylum seekers. Work with the Newcastle Asylum Team is continuing and an improved system of consultation and co-ordination of information is in place.

Responding to changes in government policy
NERS has responded appropriately to the dispersal policy and, most recently, the introduction of the 2002 Immigration and Asylum Act and Section 55, by continuing to act in the best interests of asylum seekers and refugees. NERS was prepared for the consequences of dispersal, developing its structure to utilise its resources to ensure proper delivery of services to the influx of asylum seekers dispersed to the North East.

The number of dispersals arriving to the North East may begin to level off but, as usual, strategies will continue to be put in place to respond to any new initiatives or ideas by the Central or Local Government.

Our prime interest is to act in the best interests of asylum seekers and refugees.