Migrant Action

Empowerment Advocacy Justice

New Frontiers, New Partners: Migrant Action in South Yorkshire

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Dmitry Fedotov ( Enterprise & Communities Manager- Youth Association)
Florentine Bootha-King ( Manager- ELSH)
Fidelis Chebe ( Director-Migrant Action)
(Left to right)

Non asylum seeking migrants in Barnsley and Doncaster (South Yorkshire) encounter similar challenges as those in Leeds, however these challenges are made worse due to the significant lack of appropriate support. As such, vulnerability is even more entrenched amongst migrants leading to poor migration and integration outcomes.  

Through building partnerships and working collaboratively with local community based organisations, Migrant Action effectively pursues its ambition of resolving their immediate concerns while empowering migrants negotiate pathways to integration.  Through our partnership with ELSH (Education Learning Support Hub- Barnsley), Migrant Action will become an integral part of an increasingly vibrant hub in the heart of the community thereby rendering our services more accessible to people who need our support. Our partnership with ELSH would increase access to other vital services within the hub and widely.

Equally, our partnership with The Youth Association, opens new pathways for engagement with the Roma communities in Barnsley and Doncaster to support young new arrivals and their families. Migrant Action’s engagement with the ROMA community has particular significance as there is growing anxiety amongst EU citizens regarding their right to stay in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.  

Identifying key stakeholders, building partnerships and working collaboratively to deliver support is central to Migrant Action’s strategy for consolidation, growth and social change.  We look forward to working with our partners in South Yorkshire.

Our research team

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Migrant Action is committed to its partnership with the local community expressed in variety of ways. By offering volunteering and student placement opportunities we grow our local partnership and empower individuals to make positive contribution to our work and the wider society. As an organisation, we recognise the value of research in evidencing our stance and interventions. We are delighted that these 3 ‘young researchers’ from the University of Leeds have taken a keen interest in these areas of Migrant Action’s work and wish to investigate with the view to increasing our collective understanding and capacity to respond so as to make a positive difference to the experiences of migrants.  Many thanks to Maddie, Rohde and Paddy! 

( Fidelis Chebe- Project Director Migrant Action)

‘In the shadows’: The problem of isolation among International Students

My name is Rohdé and I’m a Dutch student studying at the University of Leeds. My role within Migrant Action in the Research team focuses on international students in Leeds and the isolation problems they face moving to the UK. Research has proven that international students run into social, academic and psychological isolation when they move to a new country and I want to find out what problems international students in Leeds experience. 

By doing that, I hope I can find out how the universities in Leeds can improve their policies and support arrangements for international students and how Migrant Action as a local organisation working with migrants can respond proactively to these challenges and help contribute to a more positive experience for international students. 

De-skilling of Migrants- Madeleine Tarrant

Maddie is a third-year Philosophy student at the University of Leeds and volunteer for Migrant Action and is part of the research team. This research activity and volunteering is part of Maddie’s final year project at university and she hopes that the research would help influence and inform future Migrant Action initiatives. The project is based around the problem of deskilling amongst migrants, with a particular focus on the occurrence of deskilling in Leeds itself. 

Maddie states; ‘This is a phenomenon that is scarcely discussed in mainstream media and conversation but I hope that my research will help to change this. I am exploring the systematic nature of deskilling amongst explanations of why it occurs, and so far my research has highlighted the existence of underlying, institutionalised racism and prejudices which inform employment policies and make it increasingly difficult for skilled migrants to obtain qualification matched work. 

Through a series of interviews I hope to uncover the grievous human cost this has on individuals, families and societies. My final aim is to use my research to help Migrant Action to tackle the problem of deskilling, and provide migrants with the support and assistance needed to find appropriate, skill-matched employment’. 

Paddy Smith- Migration Briefings

Paddy is a second-year Geography student at Leeds University and is examining global migration and implications of these movements for migrants and host societies. As a volunteer and part of the Migrant Action research team, Paddy would produce a series of migration briefings to;

Unpack migration discourses and policies and their manifestations within the local community of Leeds.  The briefings would investigate and propose an alternative humane narrative to the dominant divisive discourse underpinned by anti-migration sentiments. The briefings also set out to;

Engage people from all walks of life to support Migrant Action from ranging from students to policy makers. Raise Awareness of migration issues, Challenge the overuse of vulnerability in the migration discourse – briefings would highlight the use of language as a tool of subjugation and disempowerment of migrants therefore articulate the need for a shift, Challenge hostile environment policy – take a critical focus on the actions of the government and Community engagement – consider migration issues within the local community of Leeds

Helping EU Migrants navigate uncertainty in the wake of Brexit

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Migrant Action is seeing first-hand the increased vulnerability faced by EU migrants who have settled in the UK. Many have lived here for years and to some the UK is ‘home’ but many EU citizens are anxious due to the uncertainty surrounding their status and rights to stay in the UK after BREXIT. This uncertainty is causing emotional distress and in some cases exacerbating poor physical health. Many more are victims of bad legal advice and financial exploitation in their pursuit of securing their legal status in the country. 

Migrant Action is assisting EU migrants to navigate the uncertainty and exploitation by offering advocacy support, information, advice and guidance as well as referrals to specialist advice. As part of our work we are forming partnerships with other organisations such as the 3Million-Yorkshire and InLimbo-Our Brexit Testimoniesto reach out to Eastern European citizens in need of support.  Through our services and working collaboratively with other agencies, we aim to provide practical support to all EU migrants to ensure that they engage with the EU Settlement Scheme. 

If you would like Migrant Action to help you with information and guidance please email us at info@migrantaction.org.uk

Caption: Katrine from Migrant Action meeting Vie ClercLusandu from the3MillionYorkshie and InLimbo-Our Brexit Testimonies. 

Migrant Action volunteers: Making a real difference

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Migrant Action volunteers: Making a real difference

At Migrant Action, we recognise the right, agency and desire that people have to participate in the life of their communities through volunteering. Volunteering is an instrument of solidarity and shared humanity. Migrant Action highly values immensely the diverse contribution volunteers make in every aspect of the organisation.

Migrant Action is committed in supporting, enabling, celebrating and increasing opportunities for volunteering. Volunteers are welcomed to apply their creative and diverse skills, knowledge and experiences to enhance the organisation’s work. Volunteers constitute a vital strategic partnership between Migrant Action and local community playing a central role in service delivery, fundraising, networking, communications and overall success.

Following a review of Migrant Action’s communication strategy, our volunteers are helping to set out and implement a new proactive communications and fundraising strategy for the organisation.

Migrant Action volunteers; Bailey, Megan, Lina, Celeste in strategy session with Julia (MA Trustee) & Fidelis.

Also, Harriet joined a team of volunteers in helping vulnerable migrants in the refugee/migrant camp in Calais.  Harriet and the team spent 2 days in Calais working with Help Refugees to provide basic humanitarian assistance to the refugees and vulnerable migrants. Through volunteering within the organisation, in the community or abroad, our volunteers put in action the values, goals and vision of Migrant Action. We appreciate and celebrate the fantastic work of all our volunteers.

Harriet and her team in the refugee/migrant camp in Calais. Listen to her inspirational podcast on our Facebook page linked below and support Migrant Action’s work.

 

Migrant Action in Barnsley: Advocating and supporting migrants

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Migrant Action is an advocacy and rights based organisation. Our mission is to empower migrants and reduce vulnerability. Through our work we aim to advocate for vulnerable migrants and increase access to justice. We work to overcome the effects of government policies that create vulnerability amongst migrants. Migrant Action is committed to Migrant justice and integration.

Since 2016, Migrant Action has been supporting new and vulnerable migrants (non-asylum seekers or refugees) including migrants with insecure and irregular immigration status in Leeds area. Visit our Facebook and website www.migrantaction.org for more information about our work. In April 2018, Migrant Action was made aware of the lack of appropriate service provision in Barnsley for other migrants who are not asylum seekers and refugees but who needed advice, guidance, advocacy and other forms of practical support.

Migrant Action’s consultation with local partner agencies in Barnsley confirmed the gap in specialist service provision for other migrants who are not asylum seekers or refugees. Consequently, from May 2018, Migrant Action operates drop-in service in Barnsley every fortnight from 1-4pm at The CORE, County Way in Barnsley. We are excited about the prospects of this new service development.

What help do we offer?

To Migrants;

* Information, impartial/non-directive advice and guidance

* Advocacy support

* Monthly community Pop-up information & advice sessions

* Access to justice (legal advice & advocacy)

* A safe space to explore options

* Integration support

How can our work benefit local community?

* Volunteer opportunities

* Engagement and greater access to ‘hard to reach’ group

* Increase awareness and improve understanding and change attitudes.

* Improve community relations and social cohesion

Our new service in Barnsley is an exciting service development opportunity working closely with other organisations and local community.

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