Our Activities

How to Lead, Manage and Support Others

25th April 2021 by ficheb

A development programme for community leaders and emerging managers.

To develop leadership capacity, value lived experience and influence system change – Migrant Action & Nicola Parker Coaching Consultancy will co-deliver a leadership development program for 10 emerging leaders and managers from migrant-focused & migrant-led organisations. The program offers a valuable opportunity to enhance knowledge, develop leadership skills and network.

Through this programme you will…

– Understand key skills to support, manage & lead people effectively

– Explore what leadership & management means

– Build relationships with other leaders & emerging managers in migrant organisations

– Develop coaching skills useful for life in and around work

– Reflect on how you will lead or manage in uncertain time.

Dates: Delivered via 3 X 2 hour sessions on zoom on 29 April, 27 May & 24 June (10am-12pm). Ongoing group support will be delivered by Migrant Action after the programmes to ensure the group continues to connect, support and learn from one another. For more information please contact Fidelis Chebe at info@migrantaction.org.uk

MIGRANT ACTION: COVID19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Health Justice online workshop

23rd March 2021 by ficheb

We are delighted to announce that Migrant Action will be running an online workshop on 14th April 2021 at 10 am that focuses on migrant and BME communities and the difficulty they face in regards to the COVID19 vaccine

BME communities continue to be overrepresented in Covid-19 related hospitalisations and deaths. The crushing economic impact of Covid-19 is most visible amongst these communities who are overrepresented at the ‘frontline’ and in the most precarious, disposable, insecure and low paid jobs. Migrants, who have no recourse to public funds, don’t have a ‘safety-net’ to fall back whilst those with insecure or irregular immigration status, are wary about participating in Covid-19 responses including the vaccine.

Whilst vaccine ‘hesitancy’ is complex, covid-19 outcomes for BME and migrant communities are precariously obvious.

Migrant Action is organising a collaborative workshop to:

– Enhance constructive discourse about covid-19/vaccine

– Ensure equity of access to the vaccine

– Challenge conspiracies and transform vaccine hesitancy

This workshop features special guest keynote speakers:

– Anna Miller and Matteo Besana (Doctors of the World)

– Aliya Yule (Migrants Organise)

– Tesfalem Yemane (RETAS)

To purchase tickets for the online workshop:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/migrant-action-covid19-vaccine-hesitancy-and-health-justice-workshop-tickets-147436359119?keep_tld=1

‘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.

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.

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.