Refugee Week – Day Two

June 21, 2017

Day Two

Yes, I know I am posting this on day three, but it was a very late night last night!

The day, for GARAS, started with preparing for an Audit. This was requested by OISC, the Office of Immigration Services Commission, the body that allows us to practice at Level One in Asylum and in Immigration Law. It was 15 years since we had last been visited by them, so, despite regular inspections by other bodies, we weren’t really sure what the process would be. I am delighted to say it went very well.
During his visit I went over to see the lovely people at St James Church, Tredworth. This is sort of our parish church and have been firm and reliable supporters since we began. On World Refugee Day, it was a delight to talk together and to answer their questions.

The day ended at Gloucester Guildhall, at the Black Men on the Couch event. This event, supported by UKCP, which has been promoting talking therapy for a number of years now, took a different twist last night as both of the "clients" in the the chair were refugees. Their stories were so very different. The one story of the long and challenging existence of someone managing to thrive despite years and years in Dadaab Refugee Camp and the other, the short, shocking story of being accidentally caught up in the terrible violence as civil war broke out in Libya.

On World Refugee Day it was vital to hear again such experiences and remember how these have long, long impacts, even when life may return to "normality", the truth is it is never the same again.

First day of Refugee Week 2017

June 19, 2017

I had a lovely start to the week visiting a primary school in the heart of Gloucestershire. We had a great morning thinking about the challenges of having to leave suddenly and what would you take. The children were remarkable, I had great answers to my questions. Although I am not quite sure we have anyone coming as asylum seekers from Mars quite yet! The answer to why would you need your passport, from a five year old? "So they know who you are!" So cool.

Back in the office and it’s the reality our clients face every time they go to sign. It is a requirement to sign with Immigration as stated on your IS96, for some it’s every fortnight, others once a month and for some lucky people, less frequently. But every time there is the fear that today maybe the day they pick you up. Then, what happens next? Where will you be taken to? How can you get a solicitor? Who will help?

Tomorrow includes talks and an Audit, so let’s see how that goes.

event

June 16, 2017

As Refugee Week approaches rapidly we are delighted that this year we will be involved in great event to be hosted at the Guildhall in Gloucester.

Black Men on the Couch is an event that raises awareness of the challenges of talking through issues, particularly for men. Men have, for so long, been expected to be strong and keep up the right image. This evening helps to show that men can talk!

IN the psychotherapists chair will be Rotimi Akinsete and the guests will be Alex Owumi, a professional basketball player and best selling author of Qaddafi’s Point Guard. and Mouli Hujale, a Somalian humanitarian journalist and advocate for refugees.

This promises to be a really interesting evening and all are welcome. It is a free (although donations to the work of GARAS will be very welcome!)

If you are interested tickets can be booked through: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/black-men-on-the-couch-gloucester-tickets-34879337036

I hope to see some of you there.

Adele

countdown continues

June 1, 2017

A second Immigration concern is, we would also ask politicians to include a commitment to vulnerable young people across Europe and beyond, acknowledging that whether they are supported by local social services or are on Dublin iii agreements or Dubs Amendment the support be in place to ensure they are well looked after.

Just as Lord Dubs entered the UK on the Kindertransport scheme, ask your candidates to remember that every child matters, and to remember and offer hope and security to the most vulnerable who have lost so much, by ensuring safe passage for them to family and opportunities in the UK.

Adele

week 2

May 18, 2017

Three weeks to go.

The second main area of concern is in the topic of Immigration.We would hope that any incoming Government will maintain the pledge to bring in Syrians and other vulnerable Refugees caught in dreadful circumstances and that this be increased. In order to assist this to happen, measures need to be in place to encourage more landlords to assist in providing accommodation, for example to those on resettlement schemes.

Ask your parliamentary candidates to pledge to continue the Syrian Vulnerable People’s Vulnerable Scheme, to remember and assist other refugees around the world and to facilitate this to happen by ensuring they can access housing, which can be an obstacle to the scheme progressing.

Adele