Directory of help for the Russian-speaking community in the UK. 10,432+ verified contacts, free.
Immigration lawyers, GP practices, translators, housing, jobs, support organisations and the refugee travel document — all from official UK registers. No registration, no ads, no middlemen.
Every entry is tied to a public UK register. Schema.org Dataset
We don't "collect" the directory from forums — every quarter we pull the official data exports and check that each licence is still active. Below are the 5 main sources.
Refugee Travel Document / Certificate of Travel, visa rules for 215+ countries
From official register to a directory entry — 4 steps
Pull from the source
Every quarter — a fresh snapshot from SRA, BSB, IAA, CQC, Charity Commission and GOV.UK. Automatic, no manual picking.
Enrichment
Addresses are normalised to a postcode, phone numbers to UK format, and links to Google/Trustpilot/ReviewSolicitors are gathered for transparency.
Status check
Every 2 weeks we check that the licence is still active and the entry hasn't been removed from the register. Invalid entries are removed straight away.
"Featured" badge
Separately — editorial curation: firms in our database with public evidence of a Legal Aid practice in asylum/appeals (at the time of checking). Not a recommendation — a reference marker; you choose your own lawyer.
Where do you need to go?
A quick jump into a section. This isn't a "choose your route" page — most users land directly in the section they need from search. This page is for people who want to understand how the directory works.
What to know before you use the database Schema.org FAQPage
Is the directory completely free?
Yes. 10,432+ entries are available with no registration, no payment, no ads. We don't accept money from lawyers, doctors or organisations for a listing in the database or a position in the results.
The project is funded by grants (Refugee Action, Lottery Fund, Innovate UK) and StartNewLife CIC's own resources.
Where do the contacts come from?
How often is it updated?
A full re-seed from primary sources happens once a quarter. Critical fields (licence number, address, "active" status) are checked every 2 weeks. Last updated 22 April 2026.
What does the "Featured" badge mean?
An editorial flag: the firm publicly confirms a Legal Aid contract for asylum/appeals cases and has an active practice of 2+ years, a rating of ≥4.5 on public platforms, and positive mentions in at least 3 independent community stories (as of the last check).
This is a reference marker, not a recommendation and not advertising. Lawyers do not pay for the badge. Deciding who to contact is up to you — check the SRA/IAA register and current Legal Aid status at find-legal-advice.justice.gov.uk before you get in touch.
Is this immigration advice? Can I rely on the information?
No — this is signposting, not advice. StartNewLife is not regulated by the IAA (Immigration Advice Authority) and does not give immigration advice within the meaning of Section 84 of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999.
We show you where to look for licensed professionals and explain the process at a general level. For your specific case you need advice from an SRA/BSB/IAA-regulated lawyer.
How do I report an error or add an organisation?
Message us on Telegram or email hello@startnewlife.uk. We check within 48 hours.
Do you store my personal data?
No. Search and filters run in your browser; queries are not saved. GA4 collects only aggregated visit statistics with no identifiers. There are no accounts on the site.
StartNewLife CIC — a social enterprise, no shareholders, no dividends
Community Interest Company · England and Wales
StartNewLife CIC is a registered social enterprise (Community Interest Company). Profit is reinvested in the mission: legal literacy for the Russian-speaking diaspora in the UK.
StartNewLife is our flagship project. Alongside it: svoi.uk (community), centralasiatranslations.co.uk (translation), mendee.digital (donor portal).
Found an error in the database? Want to add an organisation?
We review messages within 48 hours. If an entry is out of date, we'll remove it in the next update. If an organisation is missing, we'll add it once we confirm its registration.