Our core values

ADVOCACY

The government’s immigration policy is deliberately aimed at creating a hostile environment for migrants whereby migrants basic rights and justice are systematically eroded. Through advocacy we seek to challenge all forms of discrimination, inequality and injustice. We enable migrants to access justice and actualise their rights working in partnership with specialist services. Through advocacy we aim to make equality and social justice a reality for migrants.

LIVED EXPERIENCE

Migrant Action is an organisation rooted in lived experiences of migration and working directly with different groups of migrants. Our lived experience underpins or values, mission, vision values and how we work.

EMPOWERMENT

Migrant Action supports migrants to overcome the barriers they face and enable people make informed decisions. Through providing information, advice, good guidance and advocacy support migrants become more aware of their rights and choices.

PREVENTION & EARLY INTERVENTION

We recognize that crisis intervention is not only costly but often counter-productive. The prospects for positive outcomes are significantly enhanced through early and targeted interventions. Migrant Action adopts a proactive and early interventionist approach it is work with migrants and other services.

CONFIDENTIALITY & IMPARTIALITY

Migrant Action offers migrants a safe space to openly explore sensitive and complex issues. We respect the individual’s right to privacy. When and where information needs to shared, we would follow strict information sharing protocols. We an independent organization and adopt a non-judgemental and non-directive approach to advice and guidance by enabling migrants to fully explore the range of options and in order to confidently make informed choices.

PARTNERSHIPS

Migrant Action works collaboratively with other agencies and builds strategic alliances in order effectively support migrants and influence wider policy/systemic changes.

MIGRANT LED

Our work is based and shaped by the needs and experiences of migrants.

Who we are

Migrant Action is an Advocacy and Rights based organisation providing information, guidance, advocacy support and direct practical assistance to vulnerable migrants. We work to ensure equity of rights and justice for vulnerable migrants. Migrant Action’s work is focused on migrants who do not fit into the ‘neat’ categories of migration including those who have fallen through the cracks of the immigration system. We do not work with asylum seekers and refugees but signpost them to the appropriate agencies.

Service provision for non-asylum seekers is undefined and limited. In Leeds, migrants seeking information, guidance, advice, advocacy and integration support struggle to find where to go to for help. Many vulnerable migrants are confined to the ‘edges’ of society and face daily, the real risk of exploitation, destitution, child poverty, detention, forced removal and deportations without access to justice. Vulnerable migrants with entrenched complex needs encounter restricted access to service provision which has far reaching implications for their health and well being. Migrant Action is set up in response to this gap in service provision working with other vulnerable migrants who are not asylum seekers.

By delivering early and proactive interventions, we aim to reduce vulnerability across categories of migrants and navigate positive pathways to integration. Through the support we offer, we combat and help to reduce the effects of the government’s increasingly ‘hostile environment’ policies on the people subject to these policies. Working in partnership with other agencies, we ensure positive choices and pathways for migrants, better access to justice, reduce vulnerability and exploitation, increase integration and contribute to wider system and social change.

Overall, Migrant Action is working to help create an environment whereby migrants feel welcome, equal and able to thrive.

How do we do this?

We adopt an early intervention, prevention and proactive in our work with migrants.

Provide a welcoming and safe space
Provide information and guidance to help migrants make informed choices
Help migrants to navigate and access good legal/immigration services
Provide advocacy support and facilitate access to mainstream services
Support integration- help migrants navigate community and social networks, training, volunteering, employment and other pathways for social integration
Activism- Working with other agencies to advocate and influence policy and social change

Who do we work with

Vulnerable migrants (victims of trafficking & modern slavery, People on temporary visas, unaccompanied minors, visa over stayers, undocumented/irregular migrants, people with insecure immigration status and anyone who is unsure of their immigration status
New migrants ( EU and Non-EU migrants)