At the Refugee and Migrant Centre (RMC) in Wolverhampton and Walsall, a new initiative has been making a meaningful difference for older people who arrived in the UK seeking safety and belonging. The “Boosting Advice” project, funded by Independent Age, supports refugees and migrants aged 65 and over by helping them maximise their income, live more independently, and access the help they need.
What the project offers includes: regulated, free immigration advice; access to funding and grants; cost-saving guidance (for example on energy, bus passes or NHS concessions); plus support when someone is at risk of destitution. The service operates through the RMC drop-in centres in Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Drop In location and times for Wolverhampton
Visit RMC Wolverhampton Centre at:
1st Floor,
Roma Parva,
9 Waterloo Rd,
Wolverhampton WV1 4NB
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday Between 9:00am and 1:00pm
Drop In location and times for Walsall:
Visit RMC Walsall Centre at:
41-45 Bridge Street,
Walsall, WS1 1JQ
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday Between 9:00am and 1:00pm
Appointments are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis; you are encouraged to arrive early to maximise your chances of being seen on the same day.
For someone like Sara, the difference has been enormous. Without a support network, Sara found herself facing destitution. She was ageing, far from familiar systems, and unsure where to turn. Through RMC’s Boosting Advice project, she received help with her immigration status, emergency destitution support, and benefit eligibility checks. She was able to apply for the benefits she was due, and received cost-saving advice that steadied her finances and gave her choices again.
This outcome brought immense relief to Sara, who had been under severe stress due to her financial situation and the risk of homelessness.
Thanks to this project, Sara has not only secured her rightful financial support but also gained independence, stability, and peace of mind.– Jasmyn Dixon, Impact & Evaluation Manager
One of the strengths of the project is that it offers help in over fifty languages, removing the barrier of language so many older migrants and refugees face. When someone can speak and be heard in their own language, the advice is clearer, and the impact is stronger. The project complements other local services (it is not replacing them) by focusing on places where language, immigration status or lack of tailored advice might otherwise leave someone un-served.
RMC invites organisations in the region to work with them
- display their multilingual leaflets (available from the website in English, Kurdish, Punjabi, Farsi and Ukrainian)
- refer older refugees or migrants to their drop-in sessions (available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 am-1 pm),
- or discuss bespoke options if clients cannot attend the offices themselves.
As Jasmyn Dixon, Impact & Evaluation Manager at RMC puts it: “Our aim is to make sure that no one feels alone or excluded because of language, paperwork or lack of information. Everyone deserves a dignified life in later years.”
Looking ahead, the Boosting Advice project aligns with the Positive Pathway Framework and the Designing Out Homelessness approach championed by the West Midlands Combined Authority Homelessness Taskforce. By ensuring older refugees and migrants are supported to access income, understand their rights, and live with dignity, the project is helping build a region where homelessness and exclusion are less likely.
If you support older refugees or migrants in Walsall or Wolverhampton, or if you are part of an organisation working with this group and would like to partner or refer, you can find full project details at rmcentre.org.uk/projects/boosting-advice.