Seeking grant funding

Healthcare Navigation Programme

Scaling GP access and healthcare navigation for refugees and asylum seekers with limited English. We help people register with a GP, understand their rights, and get the care they’re entitled to — in their language.

Funding Tiers ← Back to StartNewLife
The Problem

Refugees are entitled to free NHS healthcare. In practice, most can’t access it.

82.7%
Could not register with a GP when they tried
Doctors of the World clinic data
71%
Of GP surgeries unlawfully refuse registration without ID
West Midlands study, 2024
55%
Of GPs are unsure about refugees’ healthcare entitlements
BMA survey
Sources: BMA, Doctors of the World, University of Birmingham, West Midlands GP Access Study 2024.
How It Works

A clear, simple process

1

Contact

Beneficiaries reach us via WhatsApp or Telegram in Russian or Tajik. No forms, no appointments.

2

Assessment

We ask a few questions to understand what help is needed and where the person is located.

3

Action

We identify the nearest GP surgery, assist with registration, and prepare documents in their language.

4

Ongoing support

We provide continued navigation, appointment support, and interpreter accompaniment as needed.

What We’ve Achieved

All of this on a voluntary basis

Before any programme funding, our team delivered real results through community trust and personal dedication.

47
People supported with healthcare navigation
40
Successful GP registrations
5
People receiving ongoing support
2
Interpreter accompaniments to appointments
“I had been in the UK for eight months. I didn’t know I could just walk into a GP surgery and register. Nobody told me. StartNewLife called me, explained everything in Russian, and went with me the next day.”
Beneficiary, Tower Hamlets · Name changed for confidentiality
“I was scared to go to the doctor because I thought they would ask about my visa. StartNewLife explained that this is not how it works in the UK. They came with me and I finally got the care I needed.”
Asylum seeker, East London · Name changed for confidentiality
What We Want to Build

Year 1 targets with funding

100
GP registrations
50
Ongoing support cases
20
Interpreter accompaniments
24/7
SiBot AI on Telegram
For Funders

Choose the level of impact

Every tier builds on the one before it. All funding goes directly to programme delivery.

Sustain
£5K–£10K / 12 months
12 months of core programme delivery. Part-time coordinator, volunteer expenses, printed materials in 3 languages, communications.
Targets
  • 100 GP registrations
  • 50 ongoing support cases
  • 20 interpreter accompaniments
Recommended
Grow
£20K–£45K / 12 months
Everything in Sustain plus: dedicated SiBot AI development, additional language support, sexual health outreach, training programme for volunteer navigators.
Targets
  • 250 GP registrations
  • SiBot live on Telegram 24/7
  • 3 new language versions
Scale
£50K–£150K / multi-year
Full-time team, expanded geographical coverage beyond Tower Hamlets, formal NHS trust partnerships, SiBot web platform, asylum casework programme.
Targets
  • 500+ beneficiaries per year
  • 3 London boroughs
  • Regulated asylum casework
FAQ

Detailed questions

What does “healthcare navigation” mean? ▼
Healthcare navigation means helping people understand and access the NHS system. This includes explaining entitlements, finding a GP surgery, assisting with registration (often refused unlawfully), preparing documents, accompanying to appointments, and providing interpreter support. We bridge the gap between refugees and the healthcare system.
How much does it cost per beneficiary? ▼
At the Sustain tier (£5K–£10K), the cost works out to under £50 per beneficiary for 100 GP registrations, 50 ongoing support cases, and 20 interpreter accompaniments over 12 months. This is extremely cost-effective compared to the downstream NHS costs of delayed healthcare access.
What governance is in place? ▼
StartNewLife is a programme of Mendee CIC (Co. No. 15445605), a registered Community Interest Company. We are ICO registered, DBS checked, professionally insured, and file accounts with Companies House. We have signed volunteer agreements and data processing protocols in place. Two directors with lived migration experience lead the organisation.
How do you measure outcomes? ▼
We track every beneficiary: GP registration confirmed, appointments booked, interpreter trips completed, ongoing support duration. We provide clear reporting against agreed targets and can adapt our reporting to funder requirements. Our digital infrastructure allows us to track engagement across our platforms as well.
Why focus on Russian, Tajik speakers? ▼
Russian and Tajik speakers are largely invisible to mainstream health services. There are very few organisations providing culturally appropriate healthcare navigation for this community. Our team speaks these languages natively and has built deep trust within the community of 2,000+ members since 2022. With additional funding, we plan to expand to other underserved language communities.
Where do you operate? ▼
We are based in Tower Hamlets, East London — one of London’s most deprived boroughs with a significant refugee population. Our digital platforms (startnewlife.uk, svoi.uk) serve users across the entire UK. With Scale-tier funding, we plan to expand physical healthcare navigation to three London boroughs.

Interested in funding or partnering?

We welcome enquiries from grantmakers, local authorities, NHS trusts, and partner organisations working in refugee health and social inclusion.

Contact Us →