Building a culture of welcome
city by city
LOCAL GROUPS DECEMBER 2013
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Swansea
Cardiff
Bristol
Gloucester
Exeter
Oxford
Hackney
Luton
Bedford
Ipswich
Wolverhampton
Birmingham
Coventry
Leicester
Nottingham
Lincoln
Manchester
Liverpool
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sheffield
Huddersfield
Bradford
Leeds
Wakefield
Hull
Halifax
York
Newcastle
Glasgow
Edinburgh
Belfast
Derry
Coleraine
Dublin
Doncaster
Tees Valley
Derby
6th Century Irish Hymn
I saw a stranger yestereen
I put food in the eating place
Drink in the drinking place
Music in the listening place
And in the sacred name of the Triune
He blessed myself and my house
My cattle and my dear ones
And the lark said in her song
Often, often, often
Goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise
“Why should we love the stranger?
Because God loves the stranger – and
remember, you were strangers
in Egypt.”
Deuteronomy 10:19
“Do good - to parents, kinsfolk, orphans,
those in need, neighbours who are near,
neighbours who are strangers, the
companion by your side, the wayfarer.“
Quran 4:36
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me…
Truly I tell you, just as you did this to the
least of my brothers, …
you did it to me”
Matthew 25: 35,40
THE CORE PRINCIPLES
• Mainstream, grassroots movement – all sectors
involved
• Building bridges between ‘local people’ and
refugees
• Strengthening and broadening the support base
for asylum seekers and refugees
• Helping create a culture of hospitality and
welcome
• Celebrating the contribution of refugees to
society
• Creating and enhancing networks between key
players
Asylum Process- Around 12 Months
•
Arrival in UK – port of entry
•
Statement of Evidence form (SEF)
•
BIA(NASS) Housing and Support (Reception centre, dispersal)
•
(HO) asylum Interview
•
Refused
Appeal in Court
•
Refused
•
Tribunal
(Judicial Review)
Accepted
(28 days to leave NASS Support)
Time Limited (3yrs)
(ELR, HLR, ELE, DLR)
Section 4 / case resolution
(Refused - Destitute, Detained & Deported or voluntary return)
WHO WILL BE INVOLVED?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Education – schools, colleges, universities…
Sport – big clubs, little clubs, football, rugby…
Health – hospitals, health centres, community…
Faith- churches, mosques, temples, small groups...
Business…
Voluntary – charity shops, social groups, clubs…
Services – police, fire service, libraries, council…
Politicians, celebrities, youth, elderly…
Resolution of Support
xxxx (organisation or individual) recognises
the contribution of asylum-seekers and
refugees to the City of xxxx, and is
committed to welcoming and
including them in our activities. We
support xxxx becoming a
‘City of Sanctuary’ for all newcomers,
especially those seeking safety.
WHAT IS NEEDED ?
• Welcome, inclusion and befriending for
new arrivals
• Sensitivity to the times of greatest need
• Response to destitution and detention
• Healing of the trauma of forced migration
• Understanding and myth-busting across
society
• Recognition of the contribution refugees
make to society
THE CHANGING SITUATION
• Cuts/ Home Office Contracts
• New arrivals
• Legal aid
• ESOL classes
• ‘New Asylum Model’
• Under-funded charities
• Increased barriers to family reunion
• Fresh ideas about working together
WHAT CAN A FAITH GROUP DO?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Welcome without discrimination
Open eyes to see their ‘neighbour’
Teach sanctuary principles
Awareness raising on asylum issues
Share resources (people, space, finance)
Use existing structures (small groups, festivals) to
practice hospitality and inclusiveness
Lobby on issues of justice and human rights
Practical examples of welcoming
Encourage members to volunteer and get involved
Apply for a Sanctuary Award
WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR CITY?
• Do an inventory of the work going on
• These are your first partnerships
• City of Sanctuary will support and promote these
organisations and projects, NOT get into
competition with them or give them extra work
• City of Sanctuary can help networking and
partnerships across the city
• City of Sanctuary always gets the message out
beyond the ‘usual suspects’
Faiths in Sanctuary Awards
Three Core Principles
• Learn about what it means to be seeking
sanctuary;
• Embed - take positive action to make
welcome and inclusion part of the values
of your church/faith group, to support
sanctuary seekers and refugees, and to
include them in your activities.
• Share your vision and achievements;
OVER TO YOU
So – what are you going to do next?