Migrant Action

Empowerment Advocacy Justice

Migrant Action’s response to ‘The New Plan for Immigration’

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On 23 rd  March 2021, the UK Government announced sweeping changes to how it will treat people seeking safety in the UK. These changes signal the Government’s firm resolve to pursue even more hostile and inhumane treatment for people forced to flee and seeking sanctuary in the UK.

The ‘New Plan for Immigration’ undermines the sanctity of life and disregards the compassionate treatment of asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants by humanitarian agencies and millions of ordinary people of goodwill.  Of grave concern, these changes legitimize state-sanctioned cruelty and signal a disturbing trajectory for the future of migrant rights and justice and the prospects of a fair, just, and harmonious society. The plan risks criminalizing people seeking sanctuary.

The timing and framing of the Government’s consultation on the ‘New Plan for Immigration’ expose the reluctance to genuinely listen and its resolve to pursue the policy- (for more details on the shortcomings of the consultation set out in a public statement by Refugee Action, click the link below).

Migrant Action stands in solidarity with the voices for compassion, equity of rights and justice, and for a fair, just, and humane immigration system. Through our collaborative work, we uphold and value the sanctity and dignity of human lives threatened increasingly by protracted conflicts and complex political emergencies as well, structural violence exemplified in part, by the Government’s ‘new plan for immigration. 
 
For more responses to the ‘New Plan for Immigration’, see links below

How Quakers can respond to the Government’s New Plan for Immigration ‘consultation’
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10MKdFDt1IHFYNDI5Poge0BUIIrLKpeqLmQCMogS75lE/edit
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrpXrE5JrHwAuKfiIt_y5NTYrLTAPZobhDriI87PMoevK6DQ/viewform?gxids=7628
New Plan for Immigration: Make your voice heard
Over 70 leaders working with refugee women come together to highlight to the Home Secretary that her new plan for immigration will harm women
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/priti-patel-immigration-plans-women-refugees-b1840281.html

MIGRANT ACTION: COVID19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Health Justice online workshop

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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:

Register on Eventbrite

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Covid-19 relief: ‘No Child Left Behind’

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Covid-19 has revealed the staggering inequality in our society reflected. According to research carried out by Sky news, during the lockdown, 43% of children from disadvantaged backgrounds study for 1 hour a day compared to 14% from more affluent backgrounds and 4% of children attending private schools.

Nearly two in three (64%) of secondary pupils in state schools from the richest households are offered some form of active help, compared with 47% from the poorest fifth of families, the study suggests. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-52701850

82% of secondary school pupils attending private school are offered active help, with 79% being provided with online classes.  https://www.ifs.org.uk/uploads/BN288-Learning-during-the-lockdown-1.pdf

The most deprived communities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and the government’s lockdown measures including school closures. The experiences and impact of the lockdown will vary largely based on the child’s environment and the opportunities available to them.

While children from ‘better off’ backgrounds have access to online learning resources, equipment, school and parental support as well as a convenient learning environment, those who are poor and less well off lack these ‘privileges’ therefore disadvantaged in this ‘forced’ home learning environment. Covid-19 has exacerbated an entrenched tier education system whereby children from better-off families are racing faster to the top while those from poorer backgrounds are ‘left behind’ as they race to the bottom.

Through these interventions, Migrant Action is helping to prevent and transform inequalities and promoting social justice.

Transforming Inequalities

  • Migrant Action has supported some migrant families with IT equipment to help children access vital online learning resources including doing school home work.
  • Children has also received some study material (books, toys and pencils) to assist learning and development during lockdown
  • Migrant Action student volunteers have facilitated virtual interactive learning with children and their parents.  These sessions also provide opportunities for informal conversations which help to reduce isolation and loneliness especially for new arrivals in Leeds who could feel ‘cut-off’ from society. 
  • Our online family learning support provides a great opportunity for family bonding during these challenging times but also give the volunteers the opportunity to directly engage with migrants and share experiences. As such, the scheme has a broader outcome of mediating social and cultural integration.

Service-user feedback

  • “you have made her day, she is so pleased she doesn’t have to share my laptop with me” — Anonymous
  • “Thanks Migrant Action for the books, the kids are very happy today and very busy now [with the books]” — Anonymous

Migrant Action: Helping vulnerable EU migrants applying for Settled Status

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As the uncertainty and anxiety around BREXIT continue to linger on, Migrant Action in collaboration with partners is working to help vulnerable migrants. To ensure that EU citizens are not in limbo, we are delivering support to secure the status of all EU citizens living, working and studying in the UK after BREXIT.

What support is available?

Migrant Action run weekly drop-ins where we provide free information, advice and guidance sessions for EU citizens to help them make informed choices. We also run group sessions to help build your confidence to apply for the scheme. Migrant Action will provide practical support to make settled status applications for individuals who are unable make applications independently. As part of the support we offer, we signpost and refer people to services for further support and legal advice if needed.

Where do we provide support?

In Leeds, Migrant Action run a drop-in every Thursday from 4.00- 6.30pm at RETAS, Roundhay Resource Centre, 233-237 Round hay Road, LS8 4HS. For inquiries and appointments Email us at info@migrantaction.org.uk or call 01133731763/07787744993

In Barnsley: Migrant Action run a drop–in working in collaboration with ELSH every Thursday from 10am-12pm at ELSH at 205 Sheffield road, S70 4DE Barnsley.

In Doncaster: Migrant Action is working in collaboration with local partners; The Junktion https://thejunctionhexthorpe.com/ and The Youth Association http://youth-association.org/ to provide similar support for Vulnerable migrants in the Doncaster area.

For more information, advice and guidance regarding the EU Settled Status Scheme contact us at info@migrantaction.org.uk or call 01133731763/07787744993

A CALL TO ACTION!

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Sadly, largely the tone and narratives on migration is becoming increasingly hostile. Government policies and political discourses convey a commitment to pursue with relentless gusto an anti-migration agenda unless it serves its domestic priorities.

The purpose of this torrent of hostile anti-migration policies across Europe is to force migrants into pathways of inhumane and degrading treatment that violates their humanity, human rights and for some their right to life.

What can we do?

Migrant Action is working with partner across the UK and in Europe to mark the 3rd of October as a day of ‘Welcome and Memory’. This campaign commemorates October 3rd when 368 people including children, women and men lost their lives in a shipwreck off the coast of Lampedusa. http://www.snapshotsfromtheborders.eu/

Please support the Snapshots from the Borders campaign for a human rights-based approach to migration and solidarity with migrants.  

The aim is to get 25 000 signatures to push the EU parliament for policy change, and to shift towards a human rights-based approach to migration. Over 10,000 people have signed so far, please help us reach our target, and enable representation for this in the European Parliament.

You can sign the petition here: bit.ly/2LHJ6W6 and forward to your networks.

If you are in Leeds or able to travel to Leeds, We’d also like to invite you to come to our free screenings of 2 Award-winning films, which we are putting on with Leeds Film Festival:

 24th October: To the Four Winds – the story of a ‘heroic’ French people smuggler, who helps migrants to safety. 5-7pm at Leeds University, Rupert Beckett Lecture Theatre, Michael Sadler Building. Free food and drinks!

30th October: Revenir – a unique insight, which follows the ‘real-life’ journey of a migrant from the Ivory Coast. 6-8pm Belgrave Music Hall. Free drinks for the first 40 people

Let’s work together in solidarity to change policy and make a difference in people’s lives!

Migrant Action Director Fidelis Chebe sharing the campaign on Fever FM