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Advocacy and campaigning initiatives
Communities Not Camps
The Government has made the welcome decision not to proceed with plans to place people seeking safety at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, saying the site “no longer represents value for money”. £60 million has already been spent on previous plans for the camp. West Lindsey District Council is now proceeding with efforts to regenerate the site. In Portland, indications are that there will be no new arrivals to the Bibby Stockholm, and that decommissioning of the vessel will begin from the end of November.
Meanwhile, the camps at Napier barracks and RAF Wethersfield, where medics have described a ‘staggering’ mental health crisis, remain operational.
Asylum support rates review
We mentioned in our last update the Home Office is currently progressing the annual review of the level of asylum support rates. The Home Office has invited organisations to submit their views on the weekly cash allowance so they can be taken into consideration in this year’s review.
If you wish to respond we have added a top lines guide to the Home Office form which covers the inadequacy of the current rate of support, the methodology, and Section 96(2) and Section 4 equivalent additional payments. Click on the link here, then please download it if you wish to use it. The deadline for submissions is 20th September, however, the Home Office, when we asked for an extension, stated they don’t want to delay the review process but will continue to consider responses that are sent in for a couple of weeks after the consultation ends (so until 4th October).
e-Visas
Praxis have produced reels on Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Facebook to raise awareness of the upcoming move by the Government to e-Visas, the problems with the scheme and the need to register for an account. Their briefing on the scheme is here. Open Rights Group have developed a Write to Your MP campaign ‘Stop e-Visas becoming the next Windrush scandal’. You can sign one here
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Government and Parliamentary updates
Eight people dead in latest Channel tragedy
Eight people tragically died over the weekend trying to cross the Channel from France to England. At least thirty-nine people have lost their lives attempting to cross the English Channel in 2024 so far, up from twelve in 2023.
Offshore processing and Starmer’s Italy visit
The British Prime Minister has visited Italy to meet with Georgia Meloni ‘for advice on tackling small-boat migration’ according to the FT, with Starmer setting his sights on an Italy-style offshore processing deal according to inews. NGOs including Refugee Council, Amnesty International and the International Rescue Committee are calling on Starmer to distance the UK from Italy’s hard-right immigration plans.
New boss and funds for UK Border Security Command
Martin Hewitt, the former chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council was named as the commander of the Government’s new border security command on Sunday. He has reportedly warned the Prime Minister’s plan to ‘smash the gangs’ won’t be enough to stop Channel crossings without a ‘deterrent’. Meanwhile the Government has announced a £75 million increase in funding for the new command to ‘crackdown on people smuggling networks’, using funds previously allocated to the Rwanda scheme.
Government news story – e-Visas
The Government has issued a news story urging all those who use a physical immigration document (such as a Biometric Residence Permit) to take immediate action to transition to an e-visa, and promoting its information resources on the scheme. It has published a list of organisations who will provide support on a national basis on the E-Visa scheme in the nations of the UK. It says that dozens of community based organisations will join this network in the coming weeks. It has also produced ‘help videos’ to the scheme, and a number of guides.
ICIBI call for evidence: age assessments
The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration is inviting anyone with knowledge and experience of the Home Office’s use of age assessments to submit evidence for this inspection. The deadline has been extended to 9 October.
ICIBI call for evidence: Home Office management of contact with those who are without leave to enter or remain
The ICIBI is carrying out an inspection into Home Office contact with people without leave to enter or remain and the consequences of loss of contact for the Home Office and individuals. Details of the scope of their inspection here.
Brook House inquiry
A year after the Brook House Inquiry found a toxic culture at the immigration removal centre, with detainees subjected to degrading treatment and racist and derogatory language, its Chair, Kate Eves, has spoken out about an “inadequate and disappointing” reaction from central Government, with only one of the inquiry’s 33 recommendations implemented. Coverage here
ICIBI finds Rwanda safety plans failed to meet minimum standards
A review by the ICIBI has found that the last Government relied largely on evidence from Rwandan officials when assessing whether or not Rwanda was a safe place to send people seeking asylum. The ICIBI found that the Government’s report, which deemed Rwanda a safe country contrary to evidence put forward by the UNHCR, did not meet minimum standards of research, leaving fundamental gaps and unanswered questions. Coverage here.
Over 1,500 child trafficking victims feared back with exploiters
The Guardian reports that more than 1,500 victims identified for support are at risk of falling back into the hands of their traffickers, leading to the children’s commissioner for England warning that that some child trafficking victims are not being adequately protected when referred to support services. Coverage here
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Reports and research
Invitation to contribute to Asylos’ thematic research project on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
Asylos are currently working on their next Thematic Research Project, in which they aim to fill a critical COI gap, and are focusing on COI for Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Survivors seeking asylum in the UK and globally. As part of scoping, they are particularly interested in determining which countries of origin or habitual residence would most benefit from improved COI, particularly for vulnerable applicants who are most vulnerable to poor decision-making. Therefore, you are invited to participate in their short research survey here. You can also email directly at [email protected].
Deadline: Friday, 20 September 2024, close of business.
Briefing and report: Destitution by Design: righting the wrongs of UK immigration policy in Scotland
This briefing published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation summarises the findings of a report by Herriot Watt university, and outlines immediate and longer term actions needed to address destitution in Scotland. Coverage here.
After the riots: building the foundations for social cohesion
The Belong Network, British Future and the Together coalition have published this paper examining some of the causes of the disorder, and recommending key elements to be included in the Government’s strategic response.
LGA call for move-on period to be doubled
The Local Government Association have published a new report that calls on the Government to extend the move-on period for newly-recognised refugees from 28-days to 56-days, in line with the Homelessness Reduction Act, joining calls from partners including NACCOM. Read more here.
Coercion and Control: The Treatment of Women Seeking Asylum in Hotel Accommodation
Women for Refugee Women have published a new report highlighting serious concerns regarding the treatment of women housed in asylum hotels across the UK. Coverage here
4. Resources, events, jobs and training
Migration Yorkshire VCS Engagement Day
Our regional Strategic Migration Partnership, Migration Yorkshire, are hosting their annual VCS Engagement Day in Leeds on Wednesday 27th November 2024. Always a good chance to get together, horizon scan and talk through & coordinate our responses as a sector. You can find more info and register here.
Online launch of JCWI Access to Justice toolkit
JCWI are hosting an online launch event for their brand new toolkit for people navigating the UK’s immigration system, and seeking access to justice. They will be launching the toolkit – along with translations into common community languages, provided by Common Languages – with an online event on Monday 21st October, 18:00-19:30. You can register here.
Demonstration Against Detention: 19 October Hassockfield / Derwentside
Right to Remain and No to Hassockfield are calling on the Government to shut down Hassockfield and End Detention, with a national demonstration planned for 19 October. Stay tuned for updates. In solidarity for those who can’t make it, an online rally will take place at 7-8.30 on 2 October – details here.
Who is your neighbour? and Imix: creating spaces that disrupt division
IMIX are facilitating an introduction to Who is your neighbour?, a South Yorkshire based charity who work to foster understanding amongst communities, on 25 September from 2-4. Register here.
Right to Remain Knowledge is Power workshop
Right to Remain are holding an online workshop on Tuesday 8th October 10.00-12.30 which will cover: how to use the Right to Remain Toolkit and other tools, such as legal updates, videos, translations, Young Asylum Guide and Asylum Navigation Board, an overview of the stages of the asylum system, and the difference between providing legal support and legal advice. You can register here.
Introduction to ‘the right to health’ in the UK: An interactive session
Just Fair and the Right to Health campaign are providing free, online training on the right-to-health on Monday 30th September, 4.00-5.30pm. You can register here.
Tackling Financial Disadvantage in Migrant Households
Migration Policy Scotland are holding an online event to launch their new report ‘Tackling Financial Disadvantage in Migrant Households’. This event on Wednesday 9th October 12-1.30pm will present their findings and ongoing work to explore and design effective solutions through changes to policy and practice. You can register here.
Jobs:
- RAMA in Colchester are recruiting a caseworker, deadline September 22nd
- DPG are seeking a paralegal with a view to a training contract to work in their Public Law team in London, deadline 23 September
- The Hummingbird Refugee Project in Brighton are recruiting a Youth Service Manager (maternity cover), deadline 23 September, and a Specialist Support Worker, deadline 30 September
- Bail for Immigration Detainees are looking for a new Director, deadline 30 September
- Screen Share UK are recruiting a digital access project manager, deadline 30 September
- Bristol Hospitality Network are looking for a Director, details here, deadline 4 October
- TERN are looking for a contractor content producer, deadline 4 October
- ASAP is recruiting a Duty Scheme Support Officer, deadline 6 October
- Music Action International are recruiting a regional programme manager, London. Deadline 7 October
- Medact are recruiting an Executive Director, deadline 7 October.
- Asylum Link Merseyside are recruiting a complex caseworker, deadline 11 October
- Migrateful are recruiting 3 freelance Cookery Class Facilitators in London. Deadline is 11 October
- Abigail Housing are recruiting a Housing Project Support Officer based in Leeds/Bradford. Deadline is 11 October.
- Safe Passage are recruiting an Arrivals and Social Support Worker. Deadline is 13 October
5. What we’re reading, watching and listening to
- These profiles of inspiring young men in limbo in the asylum system, including at the barracks in Napier.
- This piece in the BMJ about why mass containment sites must be abandoned.
- This article about the inspiring approach a football club in Galicia took to welcoming and standing in solidarity with new arrivals to their small town, reclaiming the narrative by cultivating appreciation and celebration of migration.
- This piece about a week of positive action in Leicester to show support and compassion for people seeking asylum following the summer riots.
- This letter about the hostile rhetoric and policies that are contributing towards Channel fatalities.
- This piece on the individual stories of those who are faced with perilous Channel crossings in the absence of safe routes
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