Migrant Action

Empowerment Advocacy Justice

“The Right Thing To Do”; In light of the global pandemic, have the Conservatives finally learnt the true value of migrants to the UK?

by

Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of migrant key workers, who make up 20% of the NHS workforce. The NHS surcharge is paid by migrants from outside the EEA, or anyone applying for a visa lasting for more than 6 months, which demands a yearly sum of £400 per person to use the health service. Boris Johnson initially rejected appeals to exclude migrant Covid-19 NHS workers from paying. However, on the 26th April, it was announced the surcharge was  ‘under review’ and since, it has been agreed that those covered by the one-year free visa extension will be exempt from the charge. Furthermore, Health Secretary Priti Patel announced a Coronavirus (COVID-19) bereavement scheme to support the dependants of workers who have lost their lives due to the virus- controversially excluding many lower-paid NHS roles. Following backlash, the UK government has since made a U-turn by extending the provision of the scheme to cover all families of migrant social care workers, including hospital cleaners and porters. For some, the extension comes  too late, with NHS staff fearful of losing their jobs as a result of visa complications.

Summary of U-Turns: 

March 2020: Home Office announces an automatic renewal of visas for NHS overseas workers (limited to doctors, paramedics and nurses).

April 2020: Home Secretary Priti Patel confirms families and dependants of all NHS workers who have tragically lost their lives to the virus will be granted indefinite leave to remain.

  • Extends scheme to midwives, radiographers, and some social care workers
  • Those covered by the visa extension will now be exempt from the NHS surcharge
  • Applies to all visas expiring between 31 March – October 2020

The broader significance of this:

Despite these changes being a positive step by the government, they have highlighted the hostility inherent within the government’s immigration policies on the one hand and the  importance of public scrutiny of these policies on the other. It also exposes the political economy of the government’s charging regimes whereby revenue extraction override compassion and humanity. It took immense pressure from the public, the Labour party and even Conservative MP’s for the government to lift the immigration health surcharge. 

The fact it has taken a global pandemic and public outrage to shift government policy is indicative of the potency of public advocacy, however it is important that these are not reactive measures and short term gains but should translate into lasting policy changes. This also highlights the hypocrisy of the new skills-based migration system, which will further reduce low-wage and low-skilled EU migrants access to the UK. However, recognising the  human value of migrants should not be dependent on their utility in a time of crisis.

‘Strengthening hands’: Responding to the Covid-19 Emergency

by

The pandemic is a major test: not just to Migrant Action’s capacity to respond in complex ‘emergencies’- but Covid-19 also profoundly challenges our organisational ‘thinking’ and strategic direction. So, how does our organisation effectively meet the current crisis needs whilst building a resilient infrastructure for sustainably responding to emergencies and futures of vulnerable migrants? 

Building partnerships and collaboration is central to the organisation’s ethos, development and service delivery. Working with a cross section of agencies has been essential in providing crisis assistance to vulnerable migrants who have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19 with most people encountering joblessness, destitution, loneliness & isolation especially for new arrivals, mental instability, insecure immigration status, poverty exacerbated due to having no recourse to public funds etc.

Meeting this complex and wide ranging emergency and long term needs in a continually changing immigration landscape requires a more systemic approach to our collaboration. As a grassroots organisation that is rooted in community mobilising and resilience, Migrant Action is adopting and developing its ‘Strengthening hands’ partnership model. 

We are developing partnerships with small community based organisations often ‘invisible’ and led by people with lived experience of migration supporting migrants in the community. Through sharing our limited resources (financial, knowledge, expertise, access etc) we empower and enable these organisations to provide crisis assistance to vulnerable migrants that are outside the reach of Migrant Action. Through our Strengthening-hands partners in Leeds and Barnsley, we have enhanced crisis assistance provision for vulnerable migrants.

‘Strengthening Hands’ is not only an effective Covid-19 response; it represents a significant strategic shift for Migrant Action in terms of our collaboration, capacity and resilience and leadership. Whilst providing immediate and short crisis assistance, the organisation recognises the urgency for systemic and sustainable responses to the complex migration challenges.

We are committed to ‘Strengthening-hands’ and envision the model partnerships becoming a lived experience-led and grassroots network that will empower leadership in small organisations, enhance service delivery and resilience, enable access to development and growth oriented opportunities, ensure effective emergency crisis response and long term support for vulnerable migrants.

Migrant Action articulates its purpose better through working together and building a strong platform for actualising migrant rights, justice and transformative social change.

Hope not despair! Responding to Coronavirus

by

Coronavirus poses significant challenges and serious risks to every fabric of our society.

However, for the most vulnerable living on the hard edges of society, including; the elderly, people who are isolated, the homeless, destitute migrants with no recourse to public funds, people with insecure immigration status,  immigration detainees, migrants in insecure, precarious and low-paid work- coronavirus poses an even greater threat to their lives and livelihoods.  

Though necessary, the current lockdown ‘remedies’ will disproportionately affect vulnerable migrants who risk further marginalisation and exclusion from reduced service provision. In this current crisis environment of limited provision and increased competition for fewer opportunities, the most vulnerable become even more exploitable.  In the broader context, coronavirus poses a serious risks to existing fragile health, social and economic systems and the impact will disproportionately impact on those at the margins of our society often ‘hidden,  ‘ignored’, or ‘crushed’.

In responding effectively to the crisis, Migrant Action applies its core values of humanity, solidarity, collaboration, adaptability, migrant justice, flexibility and resilience to ensure that we continue to serve our purpose in supporting migrants in these difficult times especially the most vulnerable.

So we want to let you know the nature of our service provision during this lockdown period and how the organisation as a whole is responding to the crisis.

What is Migrant Action providing and how?

Our Advice & Support Service

  • Our drop-ins in Leeds and Barnsley are closed during this lockdown period.
  • However, our Information, Advice, Advocacy and Access to justice provision continues. We respond to support enquiries by telephone and will provide information, advice and guidance including signposting and referrals.  Contact us by telephone on 01133731763 or email us at info@migrantaction.org.uk
  • EU Settlement Scheme:  We are not able to provide face-face appointments to complete applications, however we continue to provide information and guidance by telephone to help EU nationals apply for Settled Status
  • Destitution Support–   We recognise that these are extremely tough times. If you are destitute especially families with no recourse to public funds, we may assist you with food parcel or food voucher.  Contact us on 01133731763

Our Volunteers

During this challenging time our volunteers remain integral to the services we provide. The current situation demands of our volunteer service to be agile, to adapt and flex to respond effectively to our service needs.

  • Whilst community engagement and fundraising activities are on hold, our volunteers continue to raise awareness about Migrant Action’s work using social media platforms.
  • We would like to thank all our volunteers for their support and contribution
  • Recruitment for new volunteers is currently on hold until May

Our commitment and overall goal

In this pandemic crisis despite our reduced service provision, Migrant Action remains committed to its core purpose and values. Our overall goal is to protect the rights, dignity, humanity and justice of vulnerable migrants particularly in this time of crisis.   This will be ensured by our capacity to flex, adapt, collaborate and be resourceful working together in solidarity. 

We pay huge tributes to the NHS and all migrants working in the NHS

Hope will triumph over despair!

Fidelis Chebe

Migrant Action

Thank you!

by

A huge thanks to all who attended the University of Leeds’ Migrant Action Society pub quiz. It was a wonderful night, and overall the total funds raised has amounted to £167. This is a fabulous amount which is going to be donated to the Migrant Action Destitution Fund, which offers a ‘lifeline’ for destitute migrants in the form of one-off small amounts of ‘hardship’ payment to help meet basic/crisis needs. The fund also helps vulnerable/destitute migrants to access pathways towards regularising their immigration status. Thanks again to the members of the Migrant Action Society for their contributions in organising the night, and thanks to all who donated so generously!

Finally, please watch this space for future events, as Migrant Action Society is in the process of organising more fundraising events in the spring.

Migrant Action Pub Quiz

by

Next Friday, the 31st of January, Leeds University’s Migrant Action Society will be hosting a pub quiz and raffle to raise funds for Migrant Action’s destitution fund. The Migrant Action Charity destitution fund offers a ‘lifeline’ for destitute migrants in the form of one-off small amounts of ‘hardship’ payment to help meet basic/crisis needs. The fund also helps vulnerable/destitute migrants to access pathways towards regularising their immigration status.

The quiz will start from 7.30pm at LS6 Cafe, 14-16A Headingley Lane, LS6 2AS in the upstairs room. See you there!