META
META Hotline 0871 423 1334
(Tues and Wed 8am - 12noon and 2pm - 6pm)
Launch of the META Hotline
On Tuesday 1st May the META Hotline (Mobile Europeans Taking Action) will be open to calls for the first time. Launched by META@Keystone, and delivered in partnership with Advice for Life the META Hotline will provide information, support and guidance to migrant workers in the Eastern region. The hotline will act as a ‘first contact’, signpost to relevant services as well as enabling migrants find out useful information in their own language.
Migrants speaking Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Lithuanian or Czech will all be able to call the hotline and when they identify the language of their choice they will be connected with a support worker who speaks their language and is trained in migration issues.
Guidance will be available on where to get help and advice in the UK, as well as information about rights to live and work in the UK, welfare benefits, housing, public services, driving in the UK and signposting to Consulates, Job Centre Plus, Adult Education and other local service providers.
The META Hotline is a pilot project, funded by the East of England Development Agency to operate 16 hours a week from 8 am – 12noon and 2pm- 6pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The META hotline is a natural extension of the services currently delivered face to face by META@Keystone, a project that was created and is entirely staffed by migrant workers to help mobile communities settle down quickly and effectively. In addition to providing assistance with form filling, applying for driving licenses and help to understand pay slips, tax and National Insurance contributions META also runs pre-ESOL courses for new migrants and training courses relevant to local, industry such as fork lift truck driving.
Working closely with the Portuguese and Polish Consulates, the local Police, Trade Unions and the Department of Work & Pensions (who hold regular workshops for migrant workers) META has been widely recognised for its achievements and future potential. META@Keystone is featured in both Audit Commission and IDeA best practise case studies aimed at local authorities.
For more information and to receive future publicity about the META Hotline, which will also be offering Internet and Web Chat services in the near future please contact Elisa Pinto on 01842 754 639 or e-mail elisa.pinto@keystonetrust.org.uk.
META Hotline 0871 423 1334. (Tues and Wed 8am- 12noon and 2pm-6pm)
