Third country migrants in the Czech Republic are at risk of social exclusion, discrimination and day-to-day problems in their interactions with Czech institutions. In particular, third country migrants may encounter difficulties with their residence status, knowledge of laws, access to medical care, education and labour issues. The project aims to address these problems by providing legal, social and psychosocial counselling services free of charge to third country migrants, and thereby facilitate their integration in Czech society.

Third country migrants residing in the Czech Republic.

The project provides advice and assistance in a wide range of areas, including residency status, labour issues, social insurance, education and access to health care. The project provides services mainly at its office at the Association for Integration and Migration, with occasional project deployments at places with a high frequency of visits by third country migrants, like shops with extended opening hours, shops with national products, orthodox churches etc. Staff members also accompany clients occasionally on visits to authorities.

In the area of legal consultations, the project's clients receive guidance with immigration law, especially with preparation of residence permits, prolonging residency status, family reunification, questions regarding administrative removal and travel documents. Clients also receive guidance with labour and civil law. The project's lawyers assist clients in their communications with state authorities and courts.

In the area of social counselling, staff members help clients resolve employment related issues, including explaining the job search process (work permit, registration at the labour offices, etc.), assistance in writing CVs and cover letters and assistance in finding jobs on the internet. Social counselling staff assist with queries related to social benefits, education (e.g. Czech language courses, validation and searching for nurseries and basic schools) and health care, including information about health insurance and help finding doctors.

In psychosocial support, additional attention is given to members of vulnerable groups—pregnant women, victims of sexually motivated crimes or other crimes (e.g. human trafficking), minors, elderly and handicapped.

From 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2012, the project assisted 1,438 foreign nationals. For the year 2011, staff members provided 802 clients with 1,447 legal and 1,182 social consultations in total.

The project is a continuation of the Helping Hand and Helping Hand 2 projects, which together lasted throughout the entire year of 2010. These two projects served 700 clients and provided 916 legal and 930 social consultations.

Effectiveness of the project can be evaluated through feedback from clients. The reach and impact of the project can be seen through the number of people assisted, number of consultations, etc. Quality of services provided is ensured by the experience of the employees and their continuing education.

Support for the project came from the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals and the Municipality of the Capital City of Prague—Social Grant for Specialist Social and Legal Counselling for Migrants.