Please click the link below for the PowerPoint slides used at our Time of Prayer for Refugees and Those Walking Alongside on 26th April 2021. They give prayer pointers and suggestions for action, including responding to the government’s consultation by 5th May 2021.
April 2021 Time of Prayer for Refugees – New Plan for Immigration
On Tuesday 18th August, we held our first online monthly ‘Time of Prayer for Refugees and Those Walking Alongside’. It was a joy and privilege to join with other Christians who care about refugees, to hear from Vanessa Faulkner and others involved in Marlow Refugee Action, and to pray for their work, other local groups, the UK and global situation.
The next meeting will be on Monday 21st September, 7.30-8.15pm. We look forward to hearing from Sarah Wahby and Goytom Fissehaye, Service Manager & Trustee of Sanctuary Hosting, to inform our prayers. We will also focus our prayers this month around people who have made or are making perilous sea crossings. Please register on Eventbrite to receive the login details.
CCOW’s Refugee Networking Officer, Joanna Schüder, has a new mobile number: 07552 948688. She would love to hear from you on this number or by email: joanna@ccow.org.uk.
New on CCOW’s website:
Sanctuary Hosting continues to host and support around 10 guests, one of whom recently gained a scholarship to Oxford Brookes University. More volunteer hosts are needed throughout the Thames Valley and also a web developer to enhance their website.
Wycombe Refugee Partnership has supported their 21st family to secure a rental proerty in London so the parents, both doctors, can complete their remaining exams and hopefully soon work in the NHS. WRP is currently looking for: bikes (helmets, pumps and locks), bedding, van drivers with vans, someone experienced with Universal Credit, an Albanian speak and qualified ESOL teachers.
Asylum Matters and NACCOM have produced a fact sheet “Everyone Out?”which you can use to write to your MP urging the government to prevent evictions from asylum accommodation into homelessness during Covid-19 and beyond.
Read City of Sanctuary‘s suggestions on action we can take to Stand up for Sanctuary, including templates, links and a petition, for writing to our MPs, sharing positive stories on social media, and complaining about media coverage.
The CCOW events calendar is updated regularly with events of interest on this and other topics. Take a look!
Subscribe to this quarterly email Refugee Support Newsletter at: www.ccow.org.uk/manage-your-preferences/. We also regularly post on Twitter about refugee issues, campaigns and events. Follow @CCOWinfo.
This powerpoint was created for one of our online refugee prayer times. You can use the material for your own reflection or with your house group, church, or Churches Together group.
“Establishing a law centre in Samos is probably the thing that as a group I’m most proud of … From Marlow there are three young volunteers in their twenties who have done amazing things .. Just step out, be brave and do something …”
Listen here to some short items from an interview with Vanessa Faulkner, co-founder of Marlow Refugee Action. Hear what motivated her to get involved, highlights of Marlow Refugee Action’s activities, her reflections on the impacts of COVID-19, how local churches have become involved in Marlow Refugee Action’s work … and more.
The organisers of Refugee Week have produced a pack of Activities for Children and Young People.
Awareness-raising resources for schools, around refugees and children in migration, including video testimonials of young refugees now in the UK, have been produced by My Bright Kite.
Free Movement have put together many free resources on asylum law on their Asylum Hub and have released five short introductory videos on refugee law.
Two Oxford Brookes Sanctuary Scholarships are offered to asylum seekers for 2020/21. Applications, accompanied by a referee supporting statement, can be submitted until 6th July 2020.
A new website, Refugee Action Good Practice, has information for organisations supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. This includes practical guidance on best ways to make destitution payments during the pandemic and ways to prevent digital exclusion.
Particular problems experienced by refugees, asylum seekers and others at this time, and recommendations for the authorities, are highlighted in a report by Doctors of the World “An Unsafe Distance: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Excluded People in England”.
At the end of an article on integration, Sponsor Refugees gives links to six free online courses provided by various universities and the British Council, e.g. Working Supportively with Refugees, Migrants and refugees in Education, Refugees in the 21st Century.
A report by the Home Affairs Committee on the Home Office’s response to the impact of Covid-19 on the immigration and visa systems was published on 16th June. Further changes it recommends include the temporarily lifting of the No Recourse to Public Funds condition and the widening of the free visa extensions for NHS medical staff to all NHS employees and social care workers, as lower paid staff such as hospital porters are currently not eligible. The exemption of NHS staff and social care employees from the NHS surcharge announced on 21st May was welcomed, but this doctors and nurses report that they continue to have to pay it and are uncertain whether the payments will be refunded.
With the government announcing on 8th June that asylum support allowance would be increased by just £1.85 a week, 220 organisations wrote to the Home Secretary urging her to reconsider. You can add your name to the Refugee Council’s letter to the Home Secretary calling for immediate changes.
The Government’s position in Brexit negotiations with the EU, as shown in documents released in May, is that refugee children in Europe will not have the same rights of reunification with family in the UK as they currently do. Safe Passage is calling on people to sign a petition to the Home Office to keep reuniting child refugees with their families after Brexit, for this to be a mandatory obligation and the right to appeal protected.
As normal events are not possible at the moment, many refugee groups and charities have created some imaginative initiatives to raise awareness and funds, which you could try, e.g.
We’re coming to the end of Refugee Week, a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees. This year it is being held online, so there are still many events you can get involved with – see their events calendar. Join with Christians from across the UK for a National Refugee Prayer Hour on Saturday 20th June, World Refugee Day.
Wednesday 24th June – The Annual Elizabeth Colson Lecture – Mobility and immobility in the time of coronavirus: reflections from long-term study of migration and displacement (Refugee Studies Centre)
Wednesday 1st July – 17th IMISCOE Annual Conference (International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion in Europe) )
Wednesday 22nd July – Online Training For Church Refugee Workers – Rebuilding your team after lockdown (Welcome Churches)
The CCOW events calendar is updated regularly with events of interest on this and other topics. Take a look!
Subscribe to this quarterly email Refugee Support Newsletter at: www.ccow.org.uk/manage-your-preferences/.
We also regularly post on Twitter about refugee issues, campaigns and events. Follow @CCOWinfo.
Sign up here to receive our Refugee Support Newsletter by email once every three months
When the Coronavirus crisis began in the UK, The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and others wrote to the Home Secretary asking for a number of measures which would protect vulnerable migrants.
A recent BMJ article gives evidence of the harm caused by the NHS charging regulations for migrants and supports the revoking of these charges.
A factsheet written by the No Recourse to Public Funds Network for local authorities in England advises how people should be supported during the pandemic.
An article on the Free Movement website Remote hearings in the immigration tribunal: what could possibly go wrong? highlights one particular challenge for those in the asylum process
Globally refugees could be some of the worst hit by Covid-19 and many agencies, charities and support groups are responding with emergency medical, hygiene, shelter and food supplies and are appealing for donations, e.g. UNHCR , Donate4Refugees, Med’EqualiTeam.
>Following recent devastating fires in the refugee camp on the Greek island of Samos, Samos Volunteers sent an open letter to the European Commission calling on them to urgently assist Greece in evacuating the 38,700 people living in the camps of the Aegean Islands.
At CCOW, we have been busy updating the resources on the Refugees and Forced Migration page of our website and creating some new ones.
Refugee Action has created a Coronavirus Asylum Handbook as a collaborative resource for organisations supporting refugees in the UK. It shares practical tips on how organisations are adapting at this time with links to useful websites.
Refugee Council has created a “Your questions answered” page where you can watch their Head of Advocacy giving clear and succinct responses to e.g. Why don’t asylum seekers in the UK have the right to work? How will the asylum interview process continue during COVID-19? What will be the major changes to the UK asylum policy after Brexit?
They are also offering a free My Refugee Friend activity to teach children about the challenges that refugee children face.
Doctors of the World is working with the British Red Cross and others to provide COVID-19 guidance in 51 languages.
The Book of the Month from Oxford University’s Social Science Library, The health of refugees: public health perspectives from crisis to settlement, whilst written pre Covid-19 pandemic is particularly relevant at this time.
Right to Remain has developed an online version of the Asylum Navigation Board game. Information Cards and Problem Cards help participants to understand each step of the UK asylum system and what people can do to be in a better position.
Oxford City Council’s Activity Hub has links to a wealth of events and activities online, as well as commuity volunteering opportunities and advice for wellbeing at this time.
Details of two university scholarships for asylum seekers – application deadline 16 th June – are publicised by Refugee Support Network. These can make a huge difference to someone’s life who would otherwise not be able to get higher education, being ineligible for student finance.
Hear how one local charity is adapting its services to continue to support refugees – an interview with Refugee Resource’s children’s psychotherapist on BBC Radio Oxford (skip to 1:25:30, 2.5 minutes long).
Asylum Welcome has welcomed their new director, Mark Goldring, and is providing ongoing support for clients.
Safe Passage now has a Young Leaders group made up of 16-25 year olds from refugee backgrounds. Despite not being able to meet in person after their inspiring initial training session they are continuing to develop their skills in campaigning and advocacy through weekly online meetings.
Campaigning by Safe Passage culminated on 11 th May with 47 people from Greek refugee camps being reunited with family in the UK
Imix, a group of communications professionals trying “to change the conversation about migration and refugees to create a more welcoming society” shared stories of acts of kindness by refugees and migrants around the world during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Refugees, here in the UK and around the world, need our support more than ever during the coronavirus pandemic.
People who have fled their homes are often living in crowded camps or rough settlements, unable to self-isolate, practise social distancing or wash hands regularly. The majority are displaced within their own countries or in neigbouring countries, many of which have healthcare systems unable to cope with COVID-19, through the effects of war or longterm economic weakness. With borders closed many are trapped, such as on the Greek islands, unable to continue their journey.
Those who are now in the UK often find themselves isolated, as their social networks are still limited and refugee charities have been forced to scale back their services. Access to appropriate housing, healthcare and vital supplies and services is now a problem for many, particularly for asylum seekers and others with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). Many people, including the Mayor of London and migrants’ rights charities are calling for a suspension of NRPF, and the Home Office is rethinking this policy but the Home Secretary’s current position is that since people with NRPF are eligible for some of the government’s Covid-19 support measures and some individuals can apply to have their NRPF restriction lifted,this is sufficient. Refugee Charities are also calling on the government to increase asylum support payments in line with the increase in Universal Credit which was made in response to the pandemic. With regards to healthcare, whilst treatment for COVID-19 has been made free to everyone, treatment for underlying health conditions would still need to be paid for by some people, deterring them from seeking medical care. So Doctors of the World, the BMA and refugee charities are calling on the government to suspend NHS charging regulations.
What can we do?
Pray
for measures to help protect refugees from COVID-19 to be implemented
for those in the asylum process whose immigration interviews have been suspended at this time and those for whom the process of family reunion has stalled
for those in need of a safe place to live – give thanks that those in UK asylum accommodation have been permitted to stay there for the next 3 months, that all those on the streets are to be housed by local authorities and that many have been released from immigration detention centres. Pray for all who are still in shared accommodation.
for those with No Recourse to Public Funds and those prevented from accessing healthcare due to NHS Charging Regulations
for refugees who are qualified health workers but have not yet completed the process of registration in the UK – give thanks that they can now work in the NHS as Medical Support Workers, but pray they may soon get registration so they can use their full skills at this time of urgent medical need.
…and act
support refugee charities and community groups adapting to support people remotely, but facing financial difficulties due to a loss of fundraising income – see details of some local groups’ work and how you can help in “In response to Covid-19”
reach out to refugees living near you – ideas and resources from Welcome Churches (in several languages) to show you care about them
sign the letter calling for suspension of NHS charging regulations
sign Refugee Action’s petition to increase asylum support payments by £20.
Refugees are particularly vulnerable during this pandemic. For those wishing to help we offer the following suggestions for action at this time
Support refugee charities and groups
Many local and national charities and smaller community groups continue to work with and for refugees in the UK and overseas
Asylum Welcome is prioritising its most vulnerable clients, giving essential services, alleviating destitution, with reduced hours and appointments only. Email advice@asylum-welcome.org if you know of anyone else needing help. Most face-to-face work by both staff and volunteers is suspended in favour of telephone advice and help through hardship payments. Supporters can donate online or by bank transfer. Mark Goldring started work as the new Director of Asylum Welcome on 20th April.
Red Cross operational staff and volunteers are working from home and providing a remote casework service focussing on those most in need (e.g. service users affected by safeguarding issues, domestic abuse, homelessness and destitution cases). They are also conducting welfare calls to ensure service users have up to date information on the virus and how to keep themselves safe. Currently methods of getting destitution support to those most vulnerable such as through posting/delivering supermarket vouchers, cash-based assistance cards and emergency provisions are being explored. Contact Refugee Support Thames Valley Helpline on 0300 333 5393 (answered Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or email tvrefugeesupport@redcross.org.uk
You can donate to support their work.
Under the current circumstances Connection Support is not visiting the Syrian refugee families it supports. But they would are looking for volunteers who could spend time phoning the families just for everyday conversation. Also helping families with the children’s school work via whatsapp or other similar social media facilities. Anyone interested should contact their volunteers coordinator on kevinburrows@connectionsupport.org.uk
Marlow Refugee Action continues to raise awareness of the situation of refugees and to supports various projects locally and in Europe, with personal connections to work in northern France and on the Greek island of Samos. Follow MRA’s facebook page for the latest information. Together with similar groups across the South East of England they recently contributed to Donate4Refugees’ Covid 19 emergency appeal and have sent funds to Med’EqualiTeam on Samos
Reading Refugee Support Group has suspended all face-to-face activities including their Monday & Wednesday Drop Ins and their Homework Clubs. They are working to continue their Pop-up English Conversational Classes using videocall technology. Their first Digital Drop In using Zoom enabled 16 people to talk, listen and laugh together. You can donate online to support this work.
Refugee Resource‘s offices are currently closed but they continue to provide remote support. Many fundraising events have been cancelled, but the Oxford Half Marathon in October is still going ahead for now. So any runners who are keen to keep their fitness up & work towards this please consider signing up to run on behalf of Refugee Resource. They would also welcome donations to support the loss of income from community fundraising
Refugee Support Network is trying to provide support round-the-clock for vulnerable, isolated refugees and asylum seekers at this unique time. Lockdown can be a very challenging time for those with recent experience of such/being unable to escape, and isolation can be very difficult for those recently arrived who have a very limited social network. RSN is also keen not to lose momentum on its building campaign to bring a unique refugee education centre and social impact hub to one of the most deprived areas of London. You can support the Refugees during Covid-19 campaign to keep key services running, join the 2.6 challenge with a fundraising activity for RSN and support the Sending Solidarity campaign, in which members of the public can, beyond making a donation, send a postcard or photo of to a vulnerable or isolated refugee who RSN works with. See also RSN’s new Connected Through Covid page.
Sanctuary Hosting is continuing to actively support their 12 guests, while also ensuring hosts and support workers can continue in their roles. A number of hosts have had to end their placements due to being in the vulnerable category with regards to Covd 19, so new hosts are needed for these guests. and also for 5 people on the waiting list. Sanctuary Hosting is increasing the weekly stipend to their guests who are destitute to £30 weekly to cover higher food prices. So if anyone could help by donating £10 per month that would be tremendously helpful.
Refugees in the UK will have smaller local networks and may not be sure who they can go to for support during the Covid19 pandemic. Many will be feeling very isolated and far from home. It is more important than it ever has been for churches to reach out to refugees and asylum seekers in their communities. Welcome Churches are producing new resources regularly to help churches do this: welcomechurches.org/covid19. Please give to help them develop more ways of supporting refugees across the UK during this time at . Thank you.
Wycombe Refugee Partnership< has welcomed their 21st refugee family to Mellor House and are putting the father of their 22nd family into temporary accommodation while he waits for his family to be allowed to join him. WRP were delighted that people quickly volunteered to shop for one of their refugee families who are self-isolating due to having a vulnerable child. People in High Wycombe can join the group’s facebook page to check for ongoing practical needs of these local refugee families.
Keep informed
The Refugee Council provides daily updated information on Changes to Home Office Asylum & Resettlement policy and practice in response to Covid-19
Right to Remain also gives a summary of Changes to the asylum and immigration process due to Covid-19
And further up-to-date information on Coronavirus and the UK immigration system is provided by Free Movement
Refugee Resource Centre for Churches has written a Guidance for Churches working with Refugees and Asylum Seekers during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Follow local, national and international refugee groups, charities and agencies on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news and information on the situation of refugees and what is being done.
Follow CCOW on Twitter and check the Refugees and Forced Migration page on the CCOW website regularly for new resources.
Stay connected
cWhile it is not possible to meet in person we can connect with others, such as refugee families or refugee supporters locally, via email, telephone or video conference. Some people are using Zoom, others (liked CCOW) other services such as Go To Meeting or Microsoft Teams. There are many providers of free video call technology and some refugee organisations are now organising virtual meetings, e.g. TimePeace which facilitates connections between locals and refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, and Charlbury Refugee Action which recently held a virtual Easter Tea Party. Welcome Churches recently held a lunchtime conference call using Google Meet to share ideas about how to serve isolated refugees and asylum seekers and is now offering free online training for church refugee workers using Zoom, once a month beginning on 18th May.
The British Red Cross invites others from the voluntary sector to join two open google groups, overseen by their policy and advocacy team, for feeding into and tracking issues. These are firstly : Google group for third sector operations people/organisations and secondly a Google group for third sector policy people/organisations You will need a google account to register.
Pray
Amid all this activity we should not forget the importance of prayer.
Suggested prayers and guidance from a number of different churches can be found on this webpage.
We also offer the prayer below for the current situation –
Dear Lord,
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues we pray for refugees, asylum seekers and all displaced people. We ask that those in authority would act to improve their living conditions, remembering especially those in refugee camps and sleeping rough. Give government leaders and all in authority wisdom and motivation to do all that is possible to protect these people – and all people – from illness and suffering.
We also ask that you will grant wisdom, protection and resilience to staff and volunteers of refugee charities and groups, who are striving to continue to support their clients in the current difficult circumstances.
Help us all not to be afraid, but to continue in times of rapid change to love our neighbours as ourselves, trusting not in our own understanding but in your unchanging love and mercy.
Amen.
Sign up here to receive our Refugee Support Newsletter by email once every three months
In this newsletter
This week Asylum Welcome is almost entirely closed, prioritising a list of around 40 of their current most vulnerable clients for ongoing help. Please help keep the pressure off their reduced team: no drop ins! Email advice@asylum-welcome.org if you know of anyone else needing help. Supporters can donate online or by bank transfer.
British Red Cross is currently updating information on the availability and contact details of their serices due to coronavirus. You can still donate to support their work.
Under the current circumstances Connection Support is not visiting the Syrian refugee families it supports. But they could really do with people offering to volunteer who could spend time phoning the families just for everyday conversation. Also helping families with the children’s school work via whatsapp or other similar social media facilities. Anyone interested should contact their volunteers coordinator on kevinburrows@connectionsupport.org.uk
Refugee Resource‘s offices are now closed but they continue to provide remote support. Many fundraising events have been cancelled, but the Oxford Half Marathon in October is still going ahead for now. So any runners who are keen to keep their fitness up & work towards this please consider signing up to run on behalf of Refugee Resource. They would also welcome donations to support the loss of income from community fundraising.
Refugee Support Network is trying to provide support round-the-clock for vulnerable, isolated refugees and asylum seekers at this unique time. Lockdown can be a very challenging time for those with recent experience of such/being unable to escape, and isolation can be very difficult for those recently arrived who have a very limited social network. RSN is also keen not to lose momentum on its building campaign to bring a unique refugee education centre and social impact hub to one of the most deprived areas of London. You can support the Refugees during Covid-19 campaign to keep key services running and the Sending Solidarity campaign, in which members of the public can, beyond making a donation, send a postcard or photo of to a vulnerable or isolated refugee who RSN works with.
Sanctuary Hosting is continuing to actively support their 14 guests, while also ensuring hosts and support workers can continue in their roles. A number of hosts have had to end their placements due to being in the vulnerable category with regards to Covd 19, so new hosts are needed for these guests. and also for 5 peope on the waiting list. Sanctuary Hosting is increasing the weekly stipend to their guests who are destitute to £30 weekly to cover higher food prices. So if anyone could help by donating £10 per month that would be tremendously helpful.
Refugees in the UK will have smaller local networks and may not be sure who they can go to for support during the Covid19 pandemic. Many will be feeling very isolated and far from home. It is more important than it ever has been for churches to reach out to refugees and asylum seekers in their communities. Welcome Churches are producing new resources regularly to help churches do this: welcomechurches.org/covid19. Please give to help them develop more ways of supporting refugees across the UK during this time at welcomechurches.org/donate. Thank you.
Wycombe Refugee Partnership just welcomed their 21st refugee family to Mellor House and are putting the father of their 22nd family into temporary accommodation while he waits for his family to be allowed to join him. WRP were delighted that people quickly volunteered to shop for one of their refugee families who are self-isolating due to having a vulnerable child.
