In the UK, an asylum seeker is someone who has asked the government for protection because they are unsafe in their country of origin.

A refugee is someone who has received a positive decision on their asylum claim, and has been granted refugee status.

Sometimes, people receive humanitarian protection instead of refugee status. This is because they did not meet the definition of a refugee, as found in the UN Refugee Convention, but would still face a real risk of serious harm if they were to return to their country of origin.

Right to Remain's YouTube channel contains a number of useful videos about the asylum process in multiple languages. You can find the playlists linked by language, below.

Asylum seekers in initial accommodation normally receive what is called pre-dispersal Section 95 support, which refers to temporary accommodation--often a hotel--as well as meals and cash payments of £8.86 per week.

Asylum seekers in dispersed accommodation normally receive what is called Section 95 Support, which refers to longer-term support provided to asylum seekers after they have moved out of their temporary accommodation and their claim is still pending with the Home Office. Section 95 Support includes housing and support payments of £49.18 per week.

Migrant Help have a table of up-to-date rates, which can be found here.

Below is a breakdown of how the Home Office determined that the year before last's payment amount, £39.63, covered essential living needs for one week:

• Food and non-alcoholic drinks £26.89

• Toiletries £0.69

• Non-prescription medicines £0.35

• Laundry/toilet paper £0.43

• Clothing and footwear £3.01

• Travel £4.70

• Communications £3.56

• Total £39.63

More information about asylum support can be found here.

Asylum seekers can apply for permission to work after their claim has been pending with the Home Office for more than a year.

If granted, asylum seekers can only work in jobs on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL).

Yes, asylum seekers are permitted to volunteer, as long as the following are adhered to:

• there should be no payment, other than reasonable travel and meals expenditure actually incurred (not an allowance for the same)

• there should be no contractual obligations on the volunteer and they should not enjoy any contractual entitlement to any work or benefits

• the volunteer is helping a registered voluntary or charitable organisation, an organisation that raises funds for either of these, or a public sector organisation

• volunteering is not a substitute for employment, that is fulfilling a role that a salaried worker would normally fulfil 

Information about where to donate various items locally can be found here.