About StartNewLife UK
A free directory for Russian-speaking refugees and migrants in the United Kingdom.
Who we are
StartNewLife is a free information resource for Russian-speaking refugees, migrants and displaced people in the United Kingdom. The project is created and maintained by Mendee CIC — a Community Interest Company registered in England and Wales.
Mendee is a dual-structure social enterprise based in London. StartNewLife operates through the CIC structure and is funded exclusively by grants and donations. Commercial services live in separate projects with their own economics — they are listed in the "Ecosystem" section below.
All content is produced by volunteers and staff across 7 languages: Russian, English, Ukrainian, Kazakh, Uzbek, Tajik and Kyrgyz.
What we do
- Free directory — 15,000+ verified contacts from official UK registers: Legal Aid lawyers, GPs, interpreters, housing organisations
- Asylum process guides in 7 languages — from first interview to appeal
- Telegram channel @startnewlifeuk (2K+ subscribers) and a live-moderated chat
- SiBot — free AI assistant, answers questions about asylum, NHS, NI Number in 7 languages 24/7
- Reporting Hub — 12 pages on how to complain about detention conditions, Serco/Buddi, 13 accommodation centres
What we do NOT do
- We do NOT provide immigration advice — we are not accredited immigration advisers under Section 84 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. We help you find a free accredited adviser.
- We do NOT charge fees — all materials, directory and AI assistant are free.
- We do NOT share your data with third parties without your explicit consent.
Who is behind the information
StartNewLife was founded and is edited by Alex Choysen, founder of StartNewLife. StartNewLife is run by Mendee CIC. The team he leads builds free information and technology services for refugees and migrants in the United Kingdom.
We are not immigration lawyers or IAA-accredited advisers. Our role is to collect, verify and keep information from official sources up to date, and to point you to regulated specialists who are allowed to advise on your case.
How we verify information
- Primary sources only. Facts about law, benefits and procedures come straight from gov.uk, UK case law, the Refugee Council, CPAG, UNHCR and the NHS — not second-hand summaries.
- Updated after policy changes. When the Home Office changes the rules or new quarterly statistics are released, we revise the affected pages and stamp the update date.
- Contacts from official registers. Lawyers from the Legal Aid and OISC/IAA registers; interpreters from CIOL / ITI; GPs from NHS data.
- We signpost, we don't advise. Only a regulated specialist can advise on your individual case — we help you find one for free.
- Found an error? Email hello@snluk.org and we'll check and fix it.
The Mendee ecosystem
StartNewLife is part of the broader Mendee ecosystem. Each project is independent with its own economics:
Legal status
| Structure | Community Interest Company |
|---|---|
| Number | 15445605 |
| Registrar | Companies House → |
| Address | Workspace Lock Studios, 7 Corsican Square, London E3 3YD |
| Funding | Grants · donations |
| Languages | RU · EN · UA · KK · UZ · TG · KY |
Contact us
- Email: hello@snluk.org
- Telegram: @startnewlifeuk
- Address (post only): Workspace Lock Studios, 7 Corsican Square, London E3 3YD
We do not accept walk-in visitors without a prior arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
Is StartNewLife an accredited immigration adviser?
No. StartNewLife (Mendee CIC) is a free information resource, not an OISC/IAA-accredited immigration adviser under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Section 84). We provide general information and help you find a free accredited specialist, but we do not advise on your individual case.
Who runs StartNewLife?
StartNewLife was founded and is edited by Alex Choysen. It is run by Mendee CIC — a Community Interest Company, no. 15445605 (registered in England and Wales). Content is produced by a small team and volunteers in 7 languages.
How is StartNewLife funded?
Through grants and donations. StartNewLife is the charitable side of Mendee and does not charge users. Commercial services run as separate projects with their own economics.
Is StartNewLife free?
Yes. All guides, the directory of 15,000+ verified contacts and the SiBot AI assistant are completely free.
Legal disclaimer (IAA)
StartNewLife UK / Mendee CIC is not an accredited immigration adviser under Section 84 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and is not authorised by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). Nothing on this website constitutes immigration advice in the legal sense. We provide general information only and help connect users with free IAA-accredited specialists. For individual advice, consult an accredited lawyer or adviser — find them on our Legal Aid lawyers page.
Illustrations — Evgenii Stashkov