Why SiBot Hub exists
In a world where hundreds of people are forced to flee their homes daily due to conflicts, natural disasters, or persecution, supporting and integrating refugees is increasingly vital. Mendee responds to this acute need with SiBot Hub — an innovative solution providing essential information and support for refugees and asylum seekers.
SiBot Hub is a unique platform designed to make life easier for refugees and asylum seekers. This central resource offers access to a wide range of information, from NHS healthcare navigation and GP registration to social services, education, and employment. A crucial feature of SiBot Hub is its multilingual support, allowing users to receive information in their native languages — removing language barriers and easing the integration process.
How it works
SiBot Hub serves a dual purpose: as an informational resource for refugees and as a platform for assisting organisations. Organisations working with refugees can use SiBot Hub to share information about their services, programmes, and events. This enables them to connect directly with those in need, providing relevant and timely support.
The platform is powered by AI technology trained on verified information gathered from reputable charity organisations and trusted sources. This ensures that SiBot Hub delivers accurate, up-to-date information and guidance tailored to the unique needs and challenges faced by refugees in the UK.
Accessibility
SiBot Hub is available 24/7, offering information and support at any time of day — no appointments, no waiting lists.
Multilingual
Support in English, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Russian, Tajik, Uzbek, and Ukrainian — making the platform accessible for Central Asian and Eastern European refugee communities.
NHS Navigation
Step-by-step guidance on GP registration, understanding NHS services, accessing mental health support, and using interpreters at medical appointments.
Labour Market Integration
The "Get a Job" section helps refugees with job searching, CV building, and understanding work rights in the UK — a key element in successful integration.
Educational Resources
Information on educational opportunities, ESOL language courses, professional training, and pathways to further education.
Organisation Directory
Enabling support organisations to present their services and programmes directly to refugees — a bridge between those who need help and those who provide it.
The community behind SiBot
SiBot Hub didn't emerge in isolation. It grew from Start New Life UK — a Russian-speaking online community for refugees from Central Asia and Eastern Europe, launched in December 2022. What began as a small Telegram group has grown into a community of over 2,000 members across Telegram and WhatsApp, built entirely through word-of-mouth and personal recommendation.
The community provides peer support, answers to practical questions, news updates relevant to asylum seekers, and direct access to casework assistance. A team of 8 refugee volunteers was formed during the project to help populate the organisation catalogue and maintain the quality of information on the platform.
Recognition and funding
SiBot was selected as a winner of the Mayor of London's Poverty Prevention Challenge 2023 — a programme run by the Greater London Authority to support innovative solutions tackling poverty in London. The project received £48,000 in total grant funding and was delivered between August 2023 and January 2024.
The project was delivered by Mendee Digital (now supported by Mendee CIC, Co. No. 15445605) and received coverage in London City Hall press releases, Business Matters, Techerati, and Cities Today.
What's next
SiBot is being rebuilt on open-source AI infrastructure — local language models running on dedicated hardware in our London office, with a RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) knowledge base built from the verified content on StartNewLife.uk. This means zero API costs, full data privacy, and complete control over the information the bot provides.
The next phase includes integrating SiBot directly into Telegram and WhatsApp channels, expanding the knowledge base to cover appeals, family reunion, and local authority services, and offering SiBot as a tool for other refugee charities and organisations.
Want to learn more or partner with us?
SiBot is open to partnerships with local councils, refugee charities, grant funders, and technology organisations.
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