Increasing immigration legal advice provision in Wales scheme
Subsidy reference no: SC11482 - support for advisor provision, ensuring asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants can access advice.
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Point to note
If you are using this scheme to provide awards of subsidy, you must inform the Subsidy Control Unit – email: scu@gov.wales.
1. Region
All-Wales
2. Title of subsidy scheme
Increasing Immigration Legal Advice Provision in Wales Scheme
3. Legal basis
Section 60(1) of the Government of Wales Act 2006
4. Specific policy objectives of the scheme
Research demonstrates there is a long-term decline in advisor provision in Wales. This is a direct consequence of the collapse in immigration legal aid. Wales is particularly disadvantaged compared to the rest of the UK and there is an unserved need in all areas of Wales. Timely access to high quality immigration advice increases access to basic rights such as housing and reduces the number of people falling into crisis, which is in the common interest of the people of Wales.
Welsh Government intervention can help address the shortage of immigration advice. Given the problems faced by the sector are multi-faceted, the scheme takes a cross-cutting approach to address the long-term decline in advisor provision. The desired outcomes of the subsidy are to increase advisor provision, ensuring asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants can access advice in the short to medium term. This will aid sustainability of services in the long-term.
5. Purpose of the scheme
The scheme welcomes proposals from advice providers and those working in the immigration sector. This includes funding IAA accreditation training and supervision, the Newfields Immigration Academy, the Bevan Foundation DIAS project and other eligible activities. Previous Welsh Government intervention has proven that targeted funding can help address this shortfall. For example, Asylum Justice has previously been funded to recruit a full-time IAA Level 2 (working towards Level 3) caseworker for a of minimum 2 years, supporting an additional 60-80 cases.
6. Public authority(ies) authorised to implement the scheme
Welsh Government
7. Category(ies) of eligible enterprise
Immigration Legal Advisors and those supporting the immigration sector, for example, by undertaking research.
8. Sector(s) to be supported
Administrative and support service activities
9. Duration of the scheme
1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029.
10. Budget for aid under the scheme
£1,050,000
11. Form of support
All subsidy awarded under the scheme will be awarded by way of grants.
12. Eligibility terms and conditions
Organisations must support the immigration legal advice sector in Wales. If applying for support with IAA training and supervision, organisations must provide free-at-source advice; this includes third sector, legal aid and pro bono.
13. Basis for calculating subsidies
Each organisation has provided their aims for the funding period and a full breakdown of costs needed to meet their objectives. These will be monitored on a quarterly basis by officials.
14. Maximum subsidy allowable under the scheme
£150000
15. Contact information
For more information about applying for support under this scheme, please contact the Planned Migration team at: migrationpolicy@gov.wales
For more information about this scheme’s compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022, please contact:
Subsidy Control Unit
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
UK
+ 44 (0)3000 604 400
Email: subsidycontrolunit@gov.wales
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau a gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg / We welcome calls and correspondence in Welsh.
