How to join the library

1. Find a library near you by googling it with your postcode, for example “public library M1 6NG”
2. Go to the library. Sometimes you need a letter showing your address, so bring one if you can.
3. Go to the desk and ask to join the library. You can join any library - you don’t need to live locally.
4. Once you have your card and PIN, ask to use the computers.
5. It is always completely free to join and use the public library, but there might be time limits on the free internet.

Tips

1. If you need more than one hour internet time, ask at the desk for the time you need before you start. It’s usually fine unless they are very busy.
2. If the library is a “Library of Sanctuary”, you won’t need any ID or proof of address.
3. You need to bring your own headphones to the library. If you don’t have any, CYF has free headphones you can get from class.
4. You’ve got to be quiet in the library, but you are really welcome to use it. Everybody wants you to use the library!

Your GP should be your first stop for most health concerns. They may treat you, or refer you to a specialist.

Anyone who lives in the UK is entitled to register with an NHS GP for free, and does not need to prove their address or immigration status.

You should make sure to register with a GP local to you.

Suicide prevention support. Free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. For men only.

f you are a refugee (or right to remain in the UK)

To get a UK bank account you will need:

- A form of ID (passport, biometric residence permit);

- A proof of address (this could be a recent bill or a letter from the Home Office).

All documents need to be very recent and originals, not photocopies. If you have more than one, it is better to bring everything. If they don’t accept one document, they might accept another.

Before you get your refugee status and when you’re an asylum seeker you are likely to find it difficult to open a current account. You can try one of the following options:

- Option 1: Traditional bank account

- Option 2: Traditional bank basic account

- Option 3: Non-traditional banks - These usually have fees, so are more expensive, but the advantage is that they are very easy to open for anyone. Examples: Pockit or Monese

The purpose of the Statement of Comparability service is to allow people with qualifications completed outside of the UK to evidence the comparable level of these in the UK education frameworks.

The Statement of Comparability helps to explain and to give context to your qualifications when you are applying for a job or for study.

You do not need to pay for this document to apply for CYF. Do not do this. This signpost is for CYF grads applying for jobs with required qualifications.

If you are a refugee who has lost their documents, email pastoral@codeyourfuture.io about this. There is a specialist refugee team at ENIC to help with this situation.

Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. Some providers call them ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ broadband.

They’re delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price. You can stay on this tariff even if you have to stop studying with us.

Help paying for your childcare

Government help with childcare costs for parents. Whether you have toddlers or teens, you could get support. You can get this help if you are in work or unemployed.

If you are detained under immigration powers in a prison or removal centre, you can call this advice line for free legal advice.

It is open Monday - Thursday between 10 am and 12 midday and outside of those times you can email casework@biduk.org.

The number is 020 7456 9750.

In particular:

Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card

50% discount on selected rail tickets.

Freedom Pass (London)

Free travel for some disabled people.

National Entitlement Card (Scotland)

Concessions per council

Young Persons Railcards

33% off up to age 30!

Disabled Persons Railcard

33% off all rail tickets.

If you need help with a letter of support, Code Your Future can provide this. The letter can be for

• the Home Office
• the Department for Work and Pensions
• a potential employer
• confirmation of study
• an application for support with Homelessness

To request a letter, please contact pastoral@codeyourfuture.io detailing your request.

The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time.

Access to Work can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability.

The support you get will depend on your needs. Through Access to Work, you can apply for:

• a grant to help pay for practical support with your work
• support with managing your mental health at work
• money to pay for communication support at job interviews

You are not eligible for Access to Work support as a trainee or volunteer at Code Your Future. However, you can apply for Access to Work up to 6 weeks before you start work if you have a job offer.

CYF is a community grassroots organisation and we do not have our own premises, so we cannot guarantee that we can meet every possible need. We prioritise the actual needs of our trainees so please share your access need by completing this form.

We will use this data in the ways described in our Personal Circumstances Data Policy

After completing this form, a staff member may contact you to understand more about how we can support you to learn and thrive at CYF.

Learn more about specific benefits and other types of support you can get.

This directory of services is published each year. This directory is intended for refugees, asylum seekers, migrant communities, health and social care practitioners and agencies working with them to identify services that offer advice and support to assist refugees and asylum seekers and migrants to settle and rebuild their lives in the UK. Charity organisations and services alter regularly; some may close or reduce the services they provide, or new ones set up.

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. Get in touch anytime for independent, free, and confidential advice. This is mainly aimed at people who were victims of crime but you can contact them even if nothing has been reported to the police. Victim Support are independent of the police, support is free and confidential.

If you’re worried about yourself or someone else, this link will tell you how you can seek non-judgmental support. The Samaritans will listen to you and help you work through what is on your mind, no matter how big or small.

Use this guide to find out what you and your supporters can do to help strengthen your legal case. Look out for the ACTION SECTION boxes throughout the guide!

This toolkit also explains the difference between legal advice, which no one at CYF may give by law, and legal support, which we can help with. (Mainly writing letters of support.)

Check if you’re eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, how to apply and how to pay your childcare provider.

It can be hard to find weekend childminders who are Ofsted-registered, but CYF can only reimburse Ofsted registered providers. This website sorts providers by postcode and shows a calendar of availability, so you can see who is open at the weekend and call them.

You can also make your own profile explaining your requirements and providers may apply to you.

Here are some tips for safe posture during pregnancy. The aim is to prevent musculoskeletal problems when sat at a laptop.

CodeYourFuture can help trainees who need financial help to attend events. Support is available for class days, community events, workshops etc.

CodeYourFuture can help you in accessing the internet if you are a CYF trainee.

We can reimburse for your costs or in some circumstances provide a data sim.

CodeYourFuture can loan you a laptop if you do not have one to use for our course. This is available for the CYF trainees. You will enrol as a trainee at the end of the first module of Introduction to Programming

This is a loan only; you should return the laptop when you get a job in tech after completing the course. If you leave the course, you need to return the laptop to CYF.

The laptop is free of charge.

After you have completed the form, you will get an email with a loan agreement to sign. Once signed, a CYF member in your region will be in touch with the next steps.

CodeYourFuture can help trainees who have support needs.

Funding towards childcare is one of the ways we can help. Our trainee expenses policy gives more details.

Early education and childcare for children is funded by the UK Government for children in England. The child’s age will determine which scheme applies and whether childcare is universally available or only available to eligible children.  

Government funded early education and childcare is not classed as a public fund for immigration purposes, so can be accessed by a child regardless of their immigration status. However, some schemes have eligibility requirements relating to the immigration status of the parent(s) and so may not be available to all families.

Use this calculator to find out how much you could get towards approved childcare, including:

• free childcare for children aged between 2 and 4
• help with childcare costs if your child is under 16 (or under 17 and disabled)

Good quality, free, independent legal advice. You do not have to be a British Citizen to access Citizen’s Advice.

if you’ve made a homeless application and the council:

• refuse to give you emergency housing
• ask for more information to show you’re in priority need

And you need a supporting letter, please email pastoral@codeyourfuture.io and ask them to complete and send a Homelessness Support Letter, which is in the Team Drive.

A GP can refer you, or you can refer yourself directly without a referral.

NHS talking therapies services offer:

• talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies, and guided self-help

• help for common mental health problems, like anxiety and depression

  The NHS is free if you are ordinarily resident in the UK.

This resource has been designed and developed by autistic people, for autistic people who are looking to find employment.

This course will take you through each step of the job finding journey. Starting with exploring your strengths, and gradually moving through to suggesting strategies to make your first week at work a success. This resource is designed for people currently not in work or looking to change careers. If you already in work, you may still find some topics in the module useful to access.

To join the Code Your Future Software Development Course you need a B2 level of English. 

If your English level is not high enough yet, don’t give up. We will welcome you when you are ready. There are free videos and courses to help you learn more English.

Get started with English Speaking and Listening.

Racial abuse is a crime in the UK. Call the police.

If you’re feeling like you want to die, it’s important to tell someone.

Help and support is available right now if you need it. You do not have to struggle with difficult feelings alone.

Qwell is an anonymous site which helps people to feel safe and confident in exploring their concerns and seeking professional support.

All counsellors are BACP, UKCP or NCS registered or accredited.

Work It Out is a free service for women aged 18-30, here to help you make the first step towards feeling more confident and ready for work.

You can choose to sign up for coaching, or help with your CV and job applications, or both. There’s nothing to pay, it’s totally free. You can have up to 6 free coaching sessions over the phone, WhatsApp or email at a time that works for  you. A translation service is available for coaching calls.

Trans women and non-binary people are welcomed.

The Freedom Programme examines the roles played by attitudes and beliefs on the actions of abusive men and the responses of victims and survivors. The aim is to make sense of and understand what has happened, instead of the whole experience just feeling like a horrible mess.

It is available online and in person in all UK cities. Search for one near you.

This service accepts self referrals.

To be eligible for this service, you must:

1. Be in permanent or temporary employment.
2. Have a mental health condition (diagnosed or undiagnosed) that has resulted in workplace absence or is causing difficulties to remain in work.

Acas gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. It also offers training and help to resolve disputes.

People who have refugee status and a good standard of English can refer themselves for accommodation.  We also offer the self-referral process for those arriving through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. 

They will need to provide details of two people who can vouch for them. These need to be people who we have known the prospective guest while they have been in the UK and who know the guest well enough to be able to answer questions about who they are and what their plans are. Hosts may ask to speak to them.

(CYF will vouch for CYF trainees and grads. Email us about this.)

This service is for:

1. People who have been granted refugee status and get a 28 day move on order.
2. Asylum seekers waiting for NASS housing.
3. Refused and destitute asylum seekers.

Contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline

Phone, live chat, and BSL interpreter. Accessing refuge and other services

The Helpline can help you find a refuge vacancy for you and your children; call us for more information.

The helpline can also support you to find other specialist services in your community, which can provide support whether or not you have left your partner.

We’re here to support men experiencing domestic abuse. If you want to talk to someone, you can speak to our friendly and professional advisors on the phone, by email or on webchat. No pressure, no judgement, just help.

It’s okay to talk

Telephone support: 0808 8010327Email support : info@mensadviceline.org.uk

Mon-Fri 10am-5pm

Homelessness services in Birmingham are available 24/7 over the telephone.

Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm: 0121 303 7410. Select option 3

All other times: 0121 303 2296

StreetLink is a website, mobile app and phone service for England and Wales, which enables people to send an alert when they see someone sleeping rough to connect that person to local support services that can help to end their homelessness. 

StreetLink itself is not an outreach service or an accommodation provider, nor is it an emergency service. It is the link between someone sleeping rough and the independent local services available. Self referrals are accepted.

StreetLink is not an emergency service. If you think someone needs urgent medical attention, please call 999.

Freedom From Torture provide therapy and support for survivors of torture in the UK. They accept referrals and self-referrals. Referral form.

From their site:

We offer trauma-focused therapy to help with the effects of torture. This can include symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder such as nightmares and flashbacks. We can also help with complex trauma, depression and other mental health needs.

We offer further services to help our clients recover from their experiences and rebuild their lives. These can include creative group activities like music and gardening, social groups and physical therapy.

For our clients who are seeking asylum, we also offer practical advice. For example, information about accessing housing and healthcare.

NHS urgent mental health helplines are for people of all ages in England.

You can call for:

• 24-hour advice and support for you, your child, your parent or someone you care for
• help speaking to a mental health professional
• an assessment to find the right care for you

Information:

You may need urgent help for many reasons.

The important thing to know is you will not be wasting anyone’s time.