eVisa Support Sessions:

As part of our continuing support for residents during the Home Office’s transition to a digital border. The Our Liverpool Team, Migrant Help, Citizens Advice Liverpool and Refugee Women connect will be running more eVisa drop-in support sessions for those affected. They will take place in Liverpool Central Library on:

Thursday, 3rd April, 10 – 2pm in Liverpool Central Library, (Business Area, First Floor), near the reception desk.

Thursday 17^th April 10am – 2pm in Liverpool Central Library (Meeting room 2, top floor). This session will take place during the school holidays, so we encourage families to attend with their children if they need eVisas.

Both sessions are first come, first serve – No appointment needed. Bring identification documents for all who need support.

Easter HAF programme

The Easter HAF programme starts on the 7^th April and there are lots of great activities happening over the school holidays. 

Children and young people, from reception to age 16, who are eligible for benefits related free school meals, will be able to access hundreds of activities throughout the Easter holidays including specific provision available for children with SEND or additional needs, at no cost. There’s a great range of activities across the city including Easter Egg Hunts, decorating Easter eggs, an Easter themed obstacle course, trips out, dance, mindfulness, yoga, football, acting and shooting film, studio engineering, bass and drum classes, cycling, gymnastics, nature walks and basketball to name but a few!  A meal is included for every child attending.

There is a central booking system to make it easier for you to find and book the activities.

You can find out where your nearest scheme is by clicking on this link https://eequ.org/liverpoolhaf which will take you to the Liverpool HAF page and the easy to fill in booking system.  You can search by age, provider or date.  There is a handy booking help video here - How to make a booking 

• If you are struggling with the cost of living then please click: https://www.liverpool.gov.uk/cost-of-living/
• If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. Click on the link to find out how to register https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

Liverpool City Council is working with Mersey Play Action Council, the local schools, voluntary and community organisations, and childcare providers to deliver the Winter HAF programme.  This programme is funded by the Department for Education.

The Family Information and SEND Directory also provides a wealth of useful information and support for families - FISD.

Refugee Week Network activity

During our last Network meeting we spoke about doing some network wide events during Refugee Week (16^th – 22^nd June 2025). We had some initial ideas presented during the meeting, which we as a team think would be great to take forward. Our two main ideas are:

1. Network Coffee Mornings hosted in School – As the theme for the week is Community as a Superpower, this could be a great time to open your school gates to host a coffee morning for your parents. It would be a great way to raise awareness and some money for an organisation.  The Our Liverpool Team is also here to support with this, we can drop off flyers or attend some sessions. This could also be a great time to invite different organisations into your schools to raise awareness.
2. Toiletries Collection / Fundraising for a organisation that supports individuals seeking sanctuary – Many schools have done this in the past and it has proven successful. This could be a way to get your students to come up with fundraising ideas, helping them become ethical changemakers in their local communities.

It isn’t one or the other, schools could get involved doing both. This would be a great way to put Liverpool on the Schools of Sanctuary Map, showing the country how community is truly our superpower. Please fill in this form if you’re interested in getting involved so we can have an idea of numbers.