Migrant Action

Empowerment Advocacy Justice

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‘Welcome to England’: English Language and integration support for migrants

10th February 2021 by ficheb

As the UK continues to navigate through Brexit and Covid-19 pandemic, studies and analyses of these complex processes highlight the importance of addressing the root causes of pre-existing problems of poverty, inequality, social injustice, structural racism and more..

For migrants, they face an additional challenge in the form of policies designed to create a ‘hostile environment’ for immigrants in a general sense. These policies largely limit access to healthcare, welfare, employment, housing and other forms of mainstream provision.

During lockdown, the ‘hostile environment’ has even graver consequences as charities and organizations supporting migrants have had to close their in-person services or reduce service provision. These services do more than just advocacy or legal signposting, but also greatly facilitated migrants’ integration into UK society, by connecting them to local communities and offering pathways to improve functional English language skills. For many migrants, these services and pathways are a ‘life-line’ and without their support, migrants risk becoming socially excluded.

Our Response

In response to this challenging context, Migrant Action has launched its new volunteer-led project, ‘Welcome to England’. The new project builds on the success of the ‘No Child Left Behind’ project last summer, whereby migrants and their families received a packages of support including online tutoring and befriending support. Our new project also involves the provision of online ESOL and functional skills to newly arrived migrants in Barnsley in partnership with Migrant Action’s partner- ELSH.

Families new to the community throughout Leeds and West Yorkshire have been paired with volunteer tutors. Volunteers and migrants are matched based on common language skills. It is hoped that this will facilitate shared understandings of migration.

The aim of the project is to enable migrants feel welcome and empowered as they embark on their integration journey, developing functional English language skills. Our volunteer tutoring and befriending model offers a friendly approach to integration by forging positive relationships. This is vital particularly at a time when most people especially newly arrived migrants are likely to feel most isolated, excluded and shy of belonging to their new society.

Below are the profiles of some volunteers who are already involved in the project- however, we are always looking for more! If interested in taking part, please feel free to contact us at info@migrantaction.org.uk or call 01138330991.

Judy is a retired Maths teacher who taught for three years in International schools in northern Italy. This has given her some appreciation of the difficulties people face learning the English language. She now spends her time, when she is not travelling, enjoying her two grandsons and knitting. She also enjoys reading and wishes she had the patience to read Italian novels to improve her language skills.
My name is Emily and I have recently completed my TESOL qualification. I am involved in this project as I believe the ability to communicate with your community is so important for your own confidence, growth and wellbeing. I want to be a helpful and friendly part of that journey!
Abi has been volunteering for Migrant Action in various capacities for 16 months now. Through living in Barcelona whilst growing up, she has an appreciation for the challenges that migrants are faced with when moving to a new country, including the social isolation that a lack of language skills can bring in the first few months. Since then, she has gained proficiency with the Spanish language and looks forward to utilising her skills when interacting with her mentees in the project.

Filed Under: frontpage, Our Activities

Covid-19: We continue to support and Adapt

12th January 2021 by ficheb

Sadly, the pandemic has moved into a more severe phase with staggering rates of infection and deaths. On the one hand, whilst government’s measures to stem the virus offer hope, however, many people in our communities, especially those on the ‘margins of society,’ continue to experience increasing levels of vulnerability, suffering and despair. For migrants, including families and children who have to navigate through this devastating emergency with no recourse to public funds and restricted access to wider mainstream provision, there is no safety net.  Their hopes are pinned on charity, compassion and personal resilience.

Thank you!

We are immensely grateful and humbled by the kindness and generosity of our ‘supporters’ expressed through volunteering, donations etc. Thanks to our clients who continue to trust in our service provision and our amazing partners who work collaboratively to ensure access to services. Finally, huge thanks to our funders for endorsing and sustaining the work we do and their encouragement as we face daunting challenges each day.

Filed Under: frontpage, Our Activities

Volunteer opportunity – ESOL teacher

14th December 2020 by ficheb

For new migrants in the UK, the pathway to meaningful and sustainable integration is through accessing language, education and employability support.  These vital support packages are limited hence many migrants are forced to the edges of society where they are routinely exploitable.

We are seeking volunteers and interns to deliver ESOL and English conversation classes for migrants, face-to-face or online. Our blended approach of ESOL and employability support is integral to effective advocacy and integration.

If you are keen on this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people, please contact us at info@migrantaction.org.uk or call us on 01138330991

Filed Under: frontpage, Get involved

Still here, supporting migrants

25th November 2020 by ficheb

Filed Under: frontpage

Covid-19: Not without food!

24th November 2020 by ficheb

Covid-19 has deepened poverty, deprivation and destitution in disadvantaged communities. Increasingly, Migrant Action is witnessing individuals who are struggling to adequately meet the basic needs of food, education and shelter.

For vulnerable migrants, the need is greater and the consequences of unmet needs are severe. The pandemic has exacerbated vulnerability for those living on the ‘hard edges’ of society, especially migrants who have no recourse to public funds and restricted access to services.

Our Response

Over the autumn half-term, Migrant Action partnered with Complete Woman and URP-Leeds ltd to deliver hot meals, sandwiches and snacks to over 75 children accompanied by their parents and carers. 

The initiative was part of a Migrant Action’s Covid-19 relief in association with the wider community-led national campaign led by the Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford. 

Our partnership worked in collaboration with other community stakeholders including Ethiopian restaurant Melkam and the Christ Temple of Worship church. Both provided access and trusted spaces for children, parents and carers to spend time together in a safe and relaxed environment.

More than Just Food

This initiative strengthened local partnerships, supported local business, enhanced social and cultural integration, reduced loneliness and isolation, built new relationships, identified new needs and increased community resilience. 

These outcomes underpin Migrant Action’s ‘Strengthening Hands’ partnership, which aims to strengthen grassroots collaboration and tackle social justice and system change. These issues are rooted in the lived experience of migration, social and racial injustice.

Migrant Action is committed to alleviating the impact of Covid-19 on the most vulnerable. As the second wave of the pandemic takes hold, we anticipate an even more challenging winter, especially for the most vulnerable and destitute migrants.

 Therefore, through our partnerships, we will continue to offer support to migrants and those with no recourse including food for children and their families.


“This is a real partnership and grassroots engagement with local communities and
supporting local business” ( Kidist- Project coordinator- URP Leeds ltd)


How can you support us?

You can support our Covid-19 relief and the wider work on migrant rights and justice by donating to Migrant Action via this link https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/donation/migrant-action-donations?fbclid=IwAR3koPJeeVSMoUjmnQ5mEmgsA1LQQcravCOkce8CnLGqjk5cdLlFrINoLTc

If you are passionate about migrant rights and social justice and would like to volunteer, email:  info@migrantaction.org.uk


Filed Under: frontpage, Our Activities, Reports and Case Studies Tagged With: covid-19, Migrant Action

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About Migrant Action

Migrant Action was established in 2016 as an Advocacy and Rights based organisation providing information, guidance, advocacy support and direct practical assistance to ‘vulnerable’ migrants. Migrant Action works with migrants who have fallen through the cracks of the immigration system including (but not restricted to) stateless people, those who have been unable to regularise their status and those on temporary visas. We work to ensure equity of rights and justice for migrants, and although the primary focus of our work is not with asylum seekers and refugees, we do signpost them to appropriate … Read more ..

Recent Posts

‘Welcome to England’: English Language and integration support for migrants

Covid-19: We continue to support and Adapt

Covid-19: Not without food!

‘I won’t be defined by my immigration status’

No children left behind this summer: an update on the ‘No Child Left Behind’ initiative

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