Resettlement in the Borough

Have you recently been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection?

The information within these pages have been created to provide useful information on meeting your basic support needs and services to help you resettle more effectively into the community.

The UK Resettlement Team are your first point of contact to discuss your individual needs. We use a practical and trauma informed approach where our support includes but is not limited to:

• access to food/clothing,
• benefit maximisation,
• sign up to GP’s,
• employment opportunities,
• english for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL classes),
• referrals to mental health services and community-based groups to ensure that your support needs are met.

We also help refugee individuals and families that have been assessed and qualify for temporary accommodation or have recently been offered permanent housing, with white goods, utility bill advice, childcare entitlements and community integration.

We are heavily involved with the local community of Windsor and Maidenhead and the surrounding Berkshire areas.

Our service operates Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm, where we can arrange an appointment with you in 
a language of your choice.

Foodbanks, hot meal services and essential items

Foodbanks and hot meal services

The below services serve hot meals that are free of charge if you are in need:

Maidenhead Synagogue
Tuesdays 12.30pm-1pm
Grenfell Lodge, Ray Park Road, Maidenhead, SL6 8QX

Salvation Army
Monday 6pm - 6.30pm and Sunday 12.30pm - 1pm.
East Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1PJ

Foodshare
Wednesdays 5.30pm - 6.30pm and Saturdays 10.30am - 11.30am.
Nicholson Centre, Unit 65 (back entrance) Nicholsons Lane, Maidenhead, SL6 1LB

If you or your family are in need of an emergency food parcel, please let your welfare officer know if you require a voucher and we can advise on where and when to collect from the locations below:

• Foodshare Maidenhead
• Foodshare Windsor
• Food Bank Slough

Clothing and toiletries

The below services are able to assist with essential items such as toiletries, clothing and school uniforms:

The Cowshed
The Cowshed are a charity that supports with basic food, toiletries and winter clothes. Please contact your welfare officer for a referral.

Baby Bank
Baby Bank are based in Windsor, they offer help with baby/children’s clothing, toys and toiletries. Please contact your welfare officer for a referral.

Clean Conscience
Clean Conscience provide toiletries sourced from hotels such as soaps and shampoo. Please contact your welfare officer for a referral.

School uniforms
School Drive are a charity that provides school uniforms and equipment.

Registering with health professionals (doctors and dentists) and travel in the local and surrounding areas

How to register with medical services and local hospitals

If you have not already done so, you will need to register with your nearest GP (Doctor) by visiting the NHS website.

Information about finding a NHS Dentist.

Should you need urgent medical care, your nearest emergency hospitals are:

• Wexham Park Hospital, Wexham Street, Slough, SL2 4HL. Contact: 0300 614 5000
• St Mark’s Hospital, 112 St Mark’s Rd, Maidenhead, SL6 6DU. Contact: 0300 247 3000

Travel

Free bus passes (for over 65’s).

• Maidenhead bus timetable
• Wider Berkshire County bus timetables

Information on Maidenhead train station and timetables.

Local services

Local services providing advice and assistance

For all things employment related, our local Jobcentre Plus can be found around the corner from Maidenhead Town Hall at: 3 Park St, Maidenhead, SL6 1SP. Contact: 0845 604 3719.

Our local Citizens Advice can be found at: 4 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, SL6 7YR. Contact: 0808 278 7914.

Open Arms charity provide information and support for local residents to the area. 

Windsor Homeless Project provide signposting services and advice for those homeless in Windsor and Maidenhead. 

Windsor Muslim Association provide support and advice for the local community. Contact: 01753 861818.

Faith services in Windsor and Maidenhead

• Maidenhead Mosque and Islamic Centre Holmanleaze Road, Maidenhead, SL6 8AW
• Al-Tawheed Islamic Education Centre Cookham Road, Maidenhead, SL6 8AJ
• Medina Islamic Educational & Cultural Centre 29 Shirley Avenue, Windsor, SL4 5LH
• Maidenhead Salvation Army East Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1PJ
• St. Mary’s Church St Mary’s Close, 14 High Street, Maidenhead, SL6 1YY
• All Saints Church Church Close, Maidenhead, SL6 4HE
• Datchet Baptist Church 62 London Road, Datchet, Slough, SL3 9JR
• Dedworth Green Baptist Church Smiths Lane, Windsor, SL4 5P

English classes, Learning and Libraries

English Courses and Education

• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses for adults and children.
• The English Hub for Refugees offer ESOL classes.

Please contact your welfare officer to make a referral to employability programmes, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes or other educational needs.

• Burleigh College in Slough offer free online and in person ESOL courses Monday’s and Thursday’s.

The Refugee Employability Programme run by Palladium, helps refugees find work in and around the local area suited to your skills or your previous employment. Please speak to your welfare officer for a referral.

Libraries

Your local libraries are designated safe spaces and offer useful resources to help you. You can have computer access, borrow books and find information about local community groups and services, events and activities.

There is a Community Learning and Skills Service (CLaSS) advisor is in the Maidenhead Library every Tuesday 10am-4pm and Wednesday 1pm-4pm. If you would like to participate in English and/or other courses, there may be a cost for the sessions.

Other useful information

RBWM Communities Team

If you would like to get involved with volunteering or find information about community groups local to you, please reach out to our Communities Team, visit: https://rbwmtogether.rbwm.gov.uk/volunteering or email: volunteer@rbwm.gov.uk.

Schooling

For a school place application, please visit the school admission webpage  or email: rbwm.admissions@achievingforchildren.org.uk.

Opening a bank account

Information for refugees on how to open a bank account.

The following banks can be applied for by refugees:

• Metro Bank or Monzo Bank

Support services

Support for those going through a crisis or feelings of self-harm or suicide, contact Samaritans on: 116 123 or visit: www.samaritans.org.

Support for those going through a mental health crisis, contact Mind on: 0300 123 3393 or visit: www.mind.org.uk.

For further NHS support call 111.

Barnardo’s have a refugee helpline which offers advice, signposting, emotional support and eight free sessions of therapy provided by qualified Barnardo’s therapists.

Contact 0800 151 2605 Monday – Friday 10am-8pm and Saturday 10am-3pm.

Support for LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence, contact Galop on: 0800 999 5428.

Further information can be found on our leaflet below.