Higher education and asylum seekers network are very important. The asylum seekers network was created by a small group of volunteers of the Steering committee. They oversee finances and planning. They were established in 2004 to help individuals that have fled from their native countries because of war, political, religious persecution, or torture. In 2003 a home was provided for short term housing for refugees by the International rescue committee. They accepted their first asylum seeker in 2004 and have continued to serve since on a volunteer base.

They offer the following services:

• Housing
• Social Support
• Casework

To be eligible you must be doing the following:

Be in the process of getting asylum

• Need housing
• Have legal help
• Agree to volunteer 20 hrs a week.

Some asylum seekers have been banned from getting higher education and entering many universities. The refugee support network in the UK is responsible for helping those seeking asylum to gain access to a higher education.  However those seeking asylum are being charged as an overseas student and being forced to pay higher fees when they are allowed to attend a university. They are also given no access to grants or loans to help with their fees because they are seeking asylum.  A recent project named project article 26 was given 40,000 in funding from the Princess of Wales Memorial fund which is hoping that more students will receive help with support packages.

All young people are encouraged to seek higher education but with the rules being placed against those seeking asylum it is becoming very hard for them to do so. That is why those in the asylum seekers network and the refugee support network are important because they fight for the rights of those seeking asylum.