advice

Support networks for African families newly arrived in the North East

Tobi AdelekeNG

17d ago

I help with resettlement and the biggest gap I see is practical support in those first 3 to 6 months. Things like: who to call when the council letter does not make sense, how to register with a GP when you do not have proof of address, where to find halal or African food locally. Building a resource guide — what would be most useful to include?

3 replies

A
Adeola Fasanya17d ago
Adeola from Sunderland. Thank you for building this guide Tobi. The GP registration issue is massive. Important tip: many people do not know you can register with a GP without proof of address. The surgery legally cannot refuse you on that basis — they may say they're full but that is a separate matter entirely.
K
Kweku Amponsah17d ago
Kweku from Derby. Would add: NHS prescription pre-payment certificates are worth getting if you need regular medication — around £30 a quarter and covers unlimited prescriptions. Many African families overpay because they don't know this exists.
B
Blessing Osei17d ago
Blessing from Liverpool. Would love to contribute to this guide from a healthcare worker perspective — especially the mental health section. Arriving in a new country is traumatic even when it is chosen. We need to name that clearly and have real resources for it.