Advice and Information
Our Staff can give you advice and information on a wide range of social issues. This includes immigration, employment, health, education, housing, and welfare rights. We can help you understand the system and work out where to go. We aim to give the best information appropriate to your needs. The Centre for Filipinos is duly accredited by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) and the Community Legal Services (CLS).
Support & Onward Referral to Other Agencies
CF has well-established links with other specialist services. We will help you define your requirements and provide support in contacting other organisations and arranging appointments. If you want, a CF staff or volunteer can accompany you to appointments.
We have free legal surgeries each month. Ring us for schedules!
We also have an Older People's Outreach Project that addresses the needs of older Filipinos.
Youth Work
Youth work includes the promotion of Philippine history and culture. We run after-school activities for children.
We organise an annual Youth Summer Camp and have contributed to other social and educational events for young people through our youth outreach work. We assist in the development of Filipino youth groups and facilitate their participation in community and mainstream youth activities.
Health Promotion
A service that aims to raise awareness and promote health.
We provide information and help you register with a General Practitioner (GP). We organise health open days and workshops on complimentary approaches to health.
Development Education and Training
Development Education and Training places high priority on the building of skills and capacity of an individual. The training provides a number of skills-enhancing courses foremost of which is the Sunday School offering computer training (CLAIT) under OCR and English (ESOL) under City & Guilds. In addition, we have CV writing and job interview workshops, and various talks and forums that look at the needs of Filipinos in the U.K.
Come and use our internet facility!
We offer career guidance and will help you find an appropriate course for further training, or plan steps you need to take to fulfill your ambition.
Counselling
Counselling is an opportunity to talk to someone about your feelings and concerns in a safe and confiential setting. CF can refer you to a trained Filipino counsellor, or if you just need a sympathetc ear, we're here to listen.
Community Development
In addition to the services already described, CF aims to strengthen the Filipino Community through:
- assistance in setting up and strengthening of community groups
- training & professional support to Filipino organisations
- provision of space for meetings and forums
- making books and materials on the Philippines and other relevant information available
- research & needs assessment
- participatory action research
- documentation & dissemination of findings
- contributing to social policy
- highlighting the needs of Filipinos to local & national policy makers
- contributing to statutory consultation forums
CF has also assisted in the setting up of other service-oriented Filipino organisations ie: Bahay Kubo Housing Association, Philippine Resource Centre, WalingWaling and Kalayaan - the campaigning organisation for the rights of domestic workers. The campaign succeeded in obtaining from the Home Office the "Regularisation Rights" for domestic workers. All of these groups are independent and flourishing.
CF was also part of the organising committee of the first Filipino conference in the UK which for the first time, brought together representatives from several Filipino communities throughout the UK. The Conference brought about the establishment of the first network of Filipino organisations - Philippine National Council of Representatives in UK & Ireland (PNCR). CF continues to work with the PNCR.
CF is currently working with nurses, Filipino groups, trade unions, and other agencies to address the issues faced by nurses recruited from the Philippines.