Central and Eastern Europeans - Directory of services

This page gives details of support services for homeless Central and Eastern Europeans.

We aim to keep all information up to date, however, this cannot be guaranteed and you should contact services to confirm availiability. If you are aware of any incorrect information on this page please  get in touch and let us know. Please note that there are additional services working with this client group to those listed here. Visit Homeless London for comprehensive listings.

Visit our central and eastern european pages about accommodation, reconnection and employment advice for more specific guidance.

Health

Project London
Information and support to help people register with mainstream health services and a walk-in health clinic to provide short-term health care until this is possible. They now have a drop in session at the Dellow Centre. More information can be found in Project London's information leaflet.

Project London Walk-in Health Clinic
Praxis, Pott Street
London, E2 0EF
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1-5pm

Project London Drop in Session
Providence Row Dellow Centre
80-82 Wentworth Street
London, E1 7SA
Friday 9.30-11.30am

Phone: 0207 5157534 or email.

Alcoholics Anonymous
There are Alcoholics Anonymous meetings held in many languages across London. Go to the AA meetings search and type the relevant language in the search box (e.g. "Polish") to find out whether there is provision near you.

Eastern European Drug and Alcohol Support Group
An Eastern European Drug and Alcohol Support Group is running at Emmanuel's Church, Forest Gate, London E7 8BD. For more information call Svitlana on 020 8257 3068.

General advice and guidance

Housing rights website
The housing rights website run by Charted Institute of Housing aims to provide accurate information to recent arrivals and to advisers about entitlements to housing, based on people's immigration status.

Migrant Gateway
The Migrant Gateway portal aims to provide access to information, advice and guidance for EU and non-EU nationals who already work and live, or would like to come to work and live, in the United Kingdom (UK). It also provides information, advice and guidance to organisations and groups working with migrants. Information is available in Portugese, Czech, Lithuanian, Russian, Polish and English. Visit Migrant Gateway's website  or call the telephone help line on 0871 4231334.

Eastern European Migrant Advice Committee, Derby
E-MAC's aim is to provide help and advice to any ethnic minority migrant group with attention focused on migrant workers from Eastern Europe. They help on issues regarding Employment, Housing, Welfare Rights, Tax Credits Employment Tribunals and many others.

Enfield CAB Eastern European Migration Advice Project
Enfield Citizens' Advice Bureau has established an exciting outreach programme for the Polish and other Eastern European communities in Greater London, as the result of a grant from Citizens Advice Bureau Head Office in 2007. See their Eastern European Migration Advice Project webpage for more details.

East European Advice Centre (EEAC)
Advice for Eastern Europeans settling in the UK from the EEAC.

East European Advice Centre
Room 209-210
Palingswick House
241 King Street
London, W6 9LP
Phone: 0208 741 1288 or email.

Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE)
The AIRE Centre is a London-based charity providing free legal advice to voluntary sector agencies about people's rights under European Law.

Broadway Centre
The homelessness organisation Broadway have a worker who is an Eastern European specialist.

Broadway Centre
13 Market Lane
Off Goldhawk Road
Shepherds Bush
London, W12 8EZ
Phone: 020 8735 5810 or email.

Ealing and Southwark Outreach
Polish-speaking outreach worker based in Ealing and Southwark.

Ealing Contact and Assessment Team
St Mungo's, Atlantic House
1-3 Rockley Road
London W14 0DJ
Phone: 020 8600 3007

Southwark Street Population Outreach Team
St Mungo’s, 35-43 Bondway
Vauxhall, London
SW8 1SJ
Phone: 020 7840 3450

Salvation Army - Rochester Row
Polish-speaking project worker based at The Salvation Army’s Rochester Row Day Centre.

Rochester Row Day Centre
The Salvation Army
97 Rochester Row
London, SW1P 1LJ
Phone: 020 7233 9862

Manna Day Centre
Polish-speaking part-time worker based at the Manna Day Centre.

Manna Day Centre
6 Melior Street
London, SE1 3QP
Phone: 020 7403 1931

Greenhouse Walk-in Centre
The Greenhouse Walk-in centre provides free health care services and housing and welfare advice for homeless people in Hackney.

Polish directory
Polish directory 2007/8 produced by Federation of Poles in Great Britain. They also have a new edition of ‘How to Live and Work in Great Britain’.

Training for clients

CSCS training in Polish and English
Ur4jobs at The Upper Room run CSCS training in different languages. For full information see their website.

Hot Courses
Hot Courses allows you to search for courses and colleges in your local area e.g. CITB - construction skills, English language (ESOL) and much more. Some of the courses listed are available free of charge.

The National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (NARIC)
NARIC can ‘translate’ overseas qualifications by establishing the UK equivalents to clients' qualifications. NARIC is a branch of the DfES and the only official provider on the comparibility of international qualifications. Full information about the services they offer is available on their website.

Crisis Skylight
Czech-speaking Project Worker based at Crisis Skylight.

Crisis Skylight
66 Commercial Street
London, E1
Phone: 020 7426 5650

Communication

Language Line
Language Line is a telephone based interpreting service. They offer special rates for voluntary organisations. Please contact them directly for a quote.

Leisure

Dance Movement Group
Bodyminder is a dance movement group for Polish and Eastern European women. Contact Katazyna on 07886 935716 or by email for further details.

Media

Fusion Magazine
Fusion Magazine is a free magazine for Central and Eastern Europeans in the UK, distributed through tube stations, pubs and shops. Webpage includes classifieds for jobs, accommodation and goods as well as events listings etc.

The Pavement
The Pavement is a free magazine for London's homeless people; has a regular Polish feature.

MyOwnMedia
MyOwnMedia is a unique free-press network designed to reach foreign-born readers in the places they live, work, travel and shop in. Publishes the Polish Observer.

Cooltura
Cooltura is a Polish weekly magazine.