Hello everyone,
 
Welcome to Waltham Forest Migrant Action’s October newsletter.
 
It’s been a very busy month for us, at our Support Centre and more generally, with some exciting news and events to share, as well as some interesting resources from migrant justice organisations and an e-visa update. 
 
We are always keen to hear from you – whether you would like us to share relevant information for our next newsletter or have ideas for events and campaigns, please get in touch: [email protected]

In solidarity,
Anne

WFMA Updates

First, a big thank you to ZELT,who hosted their album launch last week and donated all the proceeds to us. 

We are very excited to announce that we have received a five-year grant from The National Lottery Community Fund  that will help us expand our immigration and welfare advice and casework for migrants and refugees across Waltham Forest.

This is particularly welcome news, as we have continued to see an increase in the number of visitors coming to the Support Centre, many facing a range of complex and compounding issues – ranging from immigration to housing, welfare and more

Our borough has a large migrant community, with high levels of deprivation in several wards. For many, we represent their last resort as they face language, financial and bureaucratic barriers to accessing their rights. This grant will enable us to help more people in need, more effectively.

We are also extremely grateful to St James Big Local for awarding us a grant. More about this soon!

📣It’s quiz time!

We are hosting a quiz, on 29^th November at the Orford Road Social Club, 73 Orford Road, E17 9QR. Join us for what promises to be a fun night. If you are interested in participating, please contact [email protected] to let us know whether you are coming as an individual, small group or a team of 8.
 
WFMA in the community

Earlier this week we joined the Persian LGBT+ group, a voluntary organisation which aims to support LGBT+ asylum seekers. We shared information about our work, the Support Centre, discussed e-visas and other issues of concern. Thank you for the warm welcome and joyous atmosphere.

News

Detention and Deportation

Earlier this month, 44 people were deported to Nigeria and Ghana. This was the first flight of its kind in two years. People on board shared concerning reports that they were unable to access the necessary legal support.

We concur with Detention Action’s ‘call on the government to allow automatic allocation of legal aid to people within 48 hours of their detention. This would ensure that the system recognises people with a right to remain in the UK, including those with family in the UK and victims of trafficking’.

Right to Remain hosted an online rally on 2^nd October in preparation of their protest on 19^th October. I joined the call, along with 70 others representing organisations across the UK to hear from experts, many with lived experience, recounting harrowing stories of time spent in detention centres.  

Hundreds then gathered on 19^th October as part of the campaign to call on the government to close Hassockfield, the Women’s Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) in County Durham. The demonstration takes place at an important time, following government announcements that they plan to open two more detention centres. (photo credit Simone Rudolphi) 

We are keeping an eye on any developments relating to the new Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill. Meanwhile, colleagues at RAMFEL produced a scorecard on the government’s first 100 days.

And finally, news that Paddington bear has been given a UK passport might have brought a smile to some faces, but, in reality, it feels more like an insult. How ironic, that we live in a country where thousands of people wait in limbo, many finding themselves stuck in the asylum system for years with no end in sight and no support, in fear of detention and deportation, a country where migrants are demonised, and yet, a fictional bear, who arrived on a small boat as a minor, has become a national hero. 

Resources

These last few weeks, I attended two online sessions with national organisations. The first was organised by Right to Remain who ran a training about their existing Toolkit – an incredibly useful resource which is highly recommended for anyone working in the sector or with an interest in the issues pertaining to migrant justice.

I also joined the launch of JCWI’s ‘Access to Justice’ Toolkit– a step-by-step guide aimed at people who are struggling to navigate the complex asylum system. Speakers at the meeting addressed ongoing challenges around the lack of availability of legal aid. One of the speaker shared that a woman they worked with had to contact 100 law firms, before she found someone who had capacity to support her. The JCWI toolkit is also available in Tamil, Urdy and Amharic. This article in the Big Issue explores some of the key aspects of the crisis.

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