Hello everyone,

I hope you’re well. Spring is approaching and here is the newsletter for March containing updates from WFMA and information about some upcoming events.

As ever, if there’s anything you’d like to be included in the next newsletter, or that you would like me to send to our supporters urgently, please contact me at [email protected]. I want this newsletter to be a helpful resource for members of the community, so appreciate feedback and input.

In solidarity,

Joseph

WFMA Updates

Gaza Families Reunited open letter

We have signed an open letter organised by the campaign group Gaza Families Reunited with over 60 other organisations, from the Refugee Council to Bail for Immigration Detainees, calling on the Home Secretary to create a Ukraine-style Gaza Family Scheme to enable Palestinians in Gaza to reunite with their immediate and extended family members in the UK. WFMA has been calling for such a scheme – and for a ceasefire – since October. 

Existing routes for family reunion are not working because Palestinians in Gaza are unable to apply for family reunion visas due to the Home Office’s requirement to enrol biometric data, including fingerprints – and this cannot be done in Gaza. While the Home Office has a discretion to defer the biometrics requirement, too often applications by Palestinians in Gaza are being rejected.

Read more in the Guardian here and sign the petition.

Support Centre Update

At our recent Board meeting, our Support Centre coordinator Mel gave an update on the work of the centre from October 2023 to February 2024, which I summarise below:

In the four months from November 2023 to February 2024 we received an average 15 visits a week from 119 visitors from 40 nationalities, whose issues were: immigration 38%, housing 36%, and other issues including referrals to food and clothing banks, benefits, and help with form-filling.

Right to Remain Annual Gathering

On 19 March we spent the day learning, strategising and building solidarity at
Right to Remain’s Annual Gathering in Birmingham.

It was great to meet other organisations and campaigners from across the UK to explore collective responses to the government’s increasingly cruel and violent immigration policies.

For a full list of the organisations who attended see here.

Events

London Legal Walk

Our fundraising page for the London Legal Walk is up and running. Please consider donating! WFMA gets to keep 100% of the funds we raise – all of which will go towards our running costs, including keeping our Support Centre and weekly advice service going.

We also need people to sign up to the walk – at the moment it’s just me! So please get in touch at [email protected] if you’re keen to join. It will be a fun day out – a 10 km walk starting in central London on the afternoon of Tuesday 18 June.

Knowledge is Power Workshop

The next Right to Remain Knowledge is Power workshop is on 15 April – tickets here (there is currently a waiting list, unfortunately).

Io Capitano screening

We will be attending a screening of the new feature film Io Capitano later this month. Our friends Captain Support UK will be introducing their film and talking about their ongoing fight to free Ibrahima Bah and end the criminalisation of people crossing the Channel. The film is told through the mind’s eye and experiences of two Senegalese teenagers living in Dakar who yearn for a brighter future in Europe.

The screening starts at 9pm on Saturday 13 April at Garden Cinema in Holborn. Tickets can be bought here.

Stand Up! Speak Out! 2024 – Solidarity Knows No Borders Training Series

Stand Up! Speak Out! 2024 is a training series developed by members of Solidarity Knows No Borders (SKNB)—a community of migrant justice organisations working in solidarity for dignity and justice. View the list of upcoming trainings here.The next workshop is on 9 April – an introduction to Vicarious Trauma, Burnout and Collective Care.

Get involved!

Could you be a WFMA volunteer?

If you have any time to spare each week, month or even for a one-off piece of work, please do email [email protected] and we will send you a registration form so we can see how we might best use your talents!

If you’re interested in anything campaigns or communications related, please contact me at [email protected]

Support us

Become a WFMA member and become part of our community – click here to fill out the joining form.

Alternatively, click here! to make a one-time donation – or even better, set up a monthly recurring donation – and make a valuable contribution to what we do.

Every penny you give will be appreciated and go towards helping us give urgently needed support to migrants in Waltham Forest through our Support Centre and other work.

The Support Centre is open for drop-in every Friday from 10am -12.30pm at the Baptist Church, 65 Blackhorse Road, Walthamstow E17 7AS.

For more information, please email is [email protected]. Most immigration inquiries will require a follow up appointment – so drop in, phone or email to secure a time.