Purpose

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit is a
specialist provider of legal advice for asylum and immigration
issues, and this funding will increase the capacity to provide this
support, as part of a wider agreement with Greater Manchester
Combined Authority and the other nine Greater
Manchester districts. Oldham Council is currently having problems
accessing this specialist support either from GMIAU or commercial
providers with the relevant legal aid contract.
The service will help to enable vulnerable individuals to: leave
abusive and dangerous situations which can escalate into serious
mental health or physical crises in their homes or communities, and
to avoid further periods of emotional trauma, vulnerability to
danger, exploitation, and injury in relation to domestic abuse,
gender-based violence, forced marriage, immigration abuse, Female
Genital Mutilation, honour-based violence and modern slavery.

Content

RESOLVED - That: the Council purchase a
specialist service for a three year period from Greater Manchester
Immigration Aid Unit to support individuals experiencing domestic
abuse who have no recourse to
public funds (NRPF) to access specialist legal advice and support
to protect them from destitution or from returning into an abusive
situation.