Hong Kong Welcome Programme Events

Hong Kong Welcome Programme was joined by Kirklees Citizen's Advice and Law Centre (KCALC) to discuss the requirements and process for applying for an extension of an existing BN(O) visa. KCALC will go through the legal requirements and the practicalities of how BN(O) visa holders can make applications.

You can find the presentation slides from Extension of BN(O) visa drop-in session in:

Traditional Chinese

English 
 

Follow the link to watch the recordings on YouTube:

Extension of BN(O) visa holders: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

This information session introduced the available support in looking for work across the region and how to access it. It also covered free training opportunities in different parts of the region, and explained eligibility criteria that need to be met in order to access it. The session was joined by organisations and services involved in delivery of employment and training services.

This session was for Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders living in the Yorkshire and Humber region wanting to get better understanding of what the NRPF condition means in practice and learn more about what financial support options are available. 

Find the presentation for financial support options for Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders

Find the recording on our YouTube page: part 1 and part 2 

To celebrate the International Women’s Day, the session focused on maternity rights and services in the UK. We will cover the rights in the workplace during pregnancy and maternity leave, support available when pregnant and having a new born, maternity services and care in the UK, and help available when things go wrong. 

Find the presentation for maternity rights and services in the UK 

In this session we covered leisure activities available to the public – exploring local libraries, swimming activities for the family and individuals, sports facilities and family activities funded through local organisations within Yorkshire and Humber. 

Find the presentation for local leisure activities here 

This session is for Hongkongers, mainly students, who are in process of, or planning to, switch their existing leave (e.g. student) to a BNO visa. We were joined by a legal advisor who will cover:  

• Eligibility requirements for a BNO visa for a young person born after the handover 

• The rights (and potential problems) before the BNO visa is granted 

• Advantages and disadvantages of switching  

• Support available for those wanting to switch  

This was a Q&A drop-in session, and was not recorded, if you have any questions around this topic please contact Kirklees Citizens Advice and Law Centre for free legal advice. 

This session helped you to understand your data and privacy rights in the UK. We were joined by an expert organisation focusing on raising awareness of data protection law and privacy rights for migrants in the UK. They covered:  

• What General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is 

• What data falls under the GDPR  

• What data services and companies can collect and responsibility they have in relation to your personal data  

• The rights you have in relation to your own information  

• What you can do if things go wrong  

Click here to view 'Personal data rights' presentation 

For our first session of 2023, we focused on the role of a local council covering: 

• Types of local councils, including county, district, borough and city 

• Services a local council is responsible for 

• Decision-making processes  

• Local councillors and elections  

Click here to view our presentation on 'The role of a local council' 

We explored different education options available to young people in the UK and were joined by organisations specialising in guiding and supporting young people in choosing the right educational paths and providing career advice. The session included:

• An overview of post-16 education, such as sixth forms, colleges, apprenticeships etc. 

• Navigating different qualifications and career options  

• Finding local learning and training opportunities  

• Understanding an impact of immigration status on options available

Click here to view the 'Post-16 education options '  and 'Prince's Trust: Post-16 education options' presentations 
 

We will be uploading the recording of this session 

This session provided an understanding to the benefit of volunteering in the context of job seeking and beyond. We will be joined by a local volunteer support organisation and Hongkongers who have gained employment after volunteering. The session will cover: 

• How to find appropriate volunteering opportunities  

• Free support and training available to volunteers  

• How to use the skills and experience gained through volunteering on the CV and job applications  

• Social, professional and personal benefits of volunteering  

Click here to view the 'Volunteering as a route to work' presentation 
 

We will be uploading the recording of this session 

We were joined by a speaker from a local Special Education Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS), who spoke about support and resources available to children with SEND in the UK, including:  

• An overview of the SEN support system   

• Understanding how to request an education, health and care (EHC) plan  

• Using a SEN assessment from Hong Kong  

• Impact of the NRPF condition 

We will be uploading the recording of this session 

In this info session we were joined by Kirklees Citizen Advice and Law Centre to discuss an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application, a legal advisor provided an overview of the process covering - when and how to apply, requirements, evidence needed, potential obstacles and what to look out for. 

Download the presentation from this session from the link below: 

Click here to view our 'Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) - 19' October presentation 

We had speakers from local police, and national and local organisations explaining what hate crime is, who to tell when it happens, and why it's important to report it, and support available. 

Download the presentation from this session from the link below: 

Click here to view the 'West Yorkshire Police ' and 'Stop Hate UK' presentation

This session explained what you need to set-up and run a food business, how the registration process works, and other useful information such as food hygiene, and health and safety. We will also be joined by Hongkongers sharing their experience of starting their own food business. 

Download the presentation from this session from the link below: 

Click here to view 'Starting and registering a food business' presentation 

This workshop was part of our Yorkshire Integration Festival 2022 - it provided an overview of initial and full ESOL teaching qualifications, details of entry requirements and institutions offering courses in our region. A fellow Hongkonger shard their experience of doing ESOL teaching qualifications recently.

Click here to view our presentations on CELTA  and NATECLA

This session explained how to research the safety of your neighbourhood and how to interpret the data, explain a role of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and ways individuals can feedback their views and concerns

Download the presentation from this session from the link below: 

Click here to view our Crime and community safety presentation.

In this drop-in session, we covered admission processes in different local authorities in Yorkshire and Humber and have representatives from school admission teams to answer questions. 

This event covered employment rights in the UK, including different types of employment statuses, contracts, holiday pay and sick pay and redundancies. 

Watch the three parts of the presentation below or click the links to watch it directly on Vimeo:

Part 1 

Part 2 

Part 3 

Download the presentation from this session from the link below: 

Rights as an employee - May 2022 

This event provided an overview of help available for Hongkongers settling in Yorkshire and Humber. The session was split in two parts covering national and regional support. 

National support (provided across the UK) 

Watch the presentation below or click this link to see the national support drop-in session directly on Vimeo.  

Well-being support (provided by Hongkongers in Britain and Barnado's) 

Hate crime reporting centre (provided by a consortium of 14 organisations of national and community-based groups, led by Protection Approaches) 

Regional and local support (available in Yorkshire and Humber only) 

Watch the national presentation below or click this link to see the regional and local support drop-in session directly on Vimeo 

General and legal advice (provided by Kirklees Citizens Advice and Law Centre) 

Social activities, peer support, informal English learning opportunities (run by FaithAction, Health for All and Sheffield Chinese Christian Church) 

This session covered information on supplementary schools, overview of school system and culture, communicating with schools and more.  

Watch the presentations below or click this link to see the school culture drop in session directly on Vimeo 

Download the presentation slides from this session from the link below: 

Click here to view the presentation on 'School culture presentation'. 

This event covered driving in the UK with a Hong Kong driving licence and rules on exchanging non-Uk licence to the UK one, learning to drive, driving theory and practice tests, driving laws in the UK and buying and hiring a car. It also explained public transport available in the Yorkshire and Humber region and different tickets and pass options.  

Watch the presentation below or click this link to see the driving and public transport session directly on Vimeo 

Click here to view the presentation on 'Driving and public transport presentation'

This session provided an overview of what volunteering is, explained benefits of volunteering and help available to volunteers in Hull, Leeds and Sheffield.  

Watch the presentation below or click this link to see the volunteering session directly on Vimeo. 

You can download the presentations from this session from the links below: 

Volunteering support from Hull Community and Voluntary Services (CVS) 

Volunteering support Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) 

Volunteering support Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS) Part 1 

Volunteering support Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS) Part 2 

This event explained rights that come with a BN(O) visa, including conditions attached, how to prove rights to access different services, maintaining visa and applying for settlement. It also covered new relationships and children born in the UK. 

Watch the presentation below or click this link to see the BN(O) visa session directly on Vimeo 

Download the presentation from this session from the link below: 

BN(O) visa presentation - January 2022 

This event provided an overview of a Migrant English Support Hub (MESH) website where you can find all English classes run in Yorkshire and Humber area. It explained how to look for free local classes and contact providers to sign up. 

Watch the presentation below or click this link to see the learning English session directly on Vimeo 

This event explained how to access National Health Service (NHS), including registering with a GP, obtaining NHS number, finding dental services and opticians, transferring treatment to the UK, emergencies and more.  

Watch the presentation below or click this link to see the accessing healthcare services session directly on Vimeo 
 
Download the presentation from this session from the link below: 

Accessing healthcare services presentation - December 2021 

A guide to using the NHS in Traditional Chinese by Doctors of the World  

Entitlement to Free NHS treatment 

This event provided an overview of organisations providing free help with finding jobs, creating CVs, practicing interview skills, writing cover letters transferring qualifications to the UK based and understating UK work culture. 

Watch presentations from the event below: 

Building Better Opportunities – This project helps adults aged 25 or older residing in Hull, East Riding, North Lincolnshire or North East Lincolnshire.  

NIYA – Talent Network – This project supports displaced people into digital roles. 

Recruitment in the NHS – Hong Kong Nursing Association covers whole of the UK and works with the NHS recruitment to get Hong Kong nurses into NHS.  

You can download the presentation slides from the links below: 

Building Better Opportunities 

NIYA Talent Network 

Recruitment in the NHS 

This event covered how to find and view the property, applying for the tenancy, explained right to rent checks, deposits, tenancy agreements and other required information to secure privately rented accommodation.  The second part explained rights of private tenant in the UK. The session was presented by National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH).  

Watch the presentations below or click this link to see the private housing drop in session directly on Vimeo 

Download the presentations from this session from the links below: 

What‘s needed to secure a privately rented accommodation as a new arrival to the UK  

Rights of private tenants in the UK