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
