A very warm welcome to your November newsletter.
 
Apologies for being a few days late sending this out to you, but with so much news to share, we wanted to make sure you get a full overview of what’s been happening as we prepare to end the year … with lots to look forward to in 2025.
 
While we close 2024 on a positive note, as a stronger organisation, making a significant difference in our community, the news section is nowhere near as cheerful. In a world increasingly hostile to migrants, people seeking asylum and refugees, more of us need to speak up and express our solidarity. If you aren’t a member yet, please sign up – your support is invaluable. 
 
Please never hesitate to contact me – I love hearing from you with information for the newsletter or any ideas you may have for events or campaigns: [email protected]
 
In solidarity,
Anne

WFMA Updates

2024 has been a pivotal year for WFMA. The hard work to increase the organisation’s funding streams and sustainability has paid off and we are thrilled to share that we were successfully awarded the following new grants:

✨A grant from St James Big Local (SJBL) Legacy Fund will provide hot meals and social activities after the Friday morning drop-in. This project is a partnership with our sister organisation Stories and Supper, who create spaces where refugees and people seeking asylum can come together with local residents over food and stories. In its pilot phase, WelcomeStow Social Fridays will run EVERY Friday from 6th December 2024 to 27th September 2025 – except during school holidays.


ALL migrants, people seeking asylum and refugees in Waltham Forest are invited to join us for a free, freshly-cooked delicious meal, a chat, social and creative activities and making new friends. Food will be served from 1.00 to 2.00 pm, followed by activities until 3.00 pm. We will continue to update you via the newsletter and on social media about this exciting development. Meanwhile, please spread the word.

✨A three-year grant from the Trust for London for the Support Centre Manager role, with an increase in the number of hours to 20 hours / week. The amazing Mel will continue in her current role.


In the past few months, there have been some important changes to our team. Mel and George were joined Jazmyn and I – and now we are four! In the coming weeks, we are planning to share more information about who we are and what we do, so you can more easily connect with WFMA’s work. Stay tuned!

First up is our new General Manager Jazmyn Sabi who was appointed in early November.

Originally from the USA, I’ve called East London home for nearly half my life. As a teenager, I relied on free drop-in centres for support and advice, an experience that gave me a deep appreciation for how charities have the potential to improve people’s quality of life.

As a child of a migrant, I’m inspired by WFMA’s approach to challenging negative public perceptions of migrants and motivated by my passion for delivering programmes that make a real difference to people and communities.

I started my career as a freelance PA supporting vulnerable adults by helping to set goals, access entitlements, and improve quality of life. In 2018, I transitioned to the tech, social enterprise, and charity sectors, where I’ve spent the last 6 years managing operations for CEO’s, founders, Trustees and Parliamentarians. Whether you’re a tech CEO, small business owner, or community leader, everyone needs support to get things done. I’m passionate about designing processes and systems that serve people.

Outside of work I’m passionate about community organising and can’t turn down the chance to try a new sport. Most recently I started a new 5-aside football club with a friend and both played our first game of football. I’m really excited to join WFMA!

Volunteers

WFMA runs the way it does thanks to tireless work of volunteers, and we thank each and every one of them for their continued and invaluable contribution to our aims to support migrants. Most volunteers support drop-in sessions and we look forward to introducing them to you in the near future.

In October, we were pleased to welcome our latest recruit, Isabel, who joined as our Communications and Campaigns volunteer and is contributing to the newsletter news section. Isabel is the daughter of immigrant parents and is dedicated to achieving social justice and amplifying the voices of those affected by inequality and poverty. She currently work as a campaigner for Oxfam UK. Alongside her advocacy work, she describes herself as an avid book enthusiast, who loves to discover the art of literature around the world.

Oh what a night!

Everyone loves a good quiz, they are a fantastic opportunity to come together for fun, a little competition and, in this case, raising awareness and funds for migrant justice. And last Friday, Luke, one of WFMA’s trustees, organised a quiz to remember. Many people from across Waltham Forest, joined us for a packed and superbly curated event at the Orford Road Social Club. Two rounds of three sets of questions were punctuated by a raffle with stunning gifts. We are grateful to all who attended and to local businesses for their generous donations. Huge thank you to the organising team! We are already looking forward to the next one.   

Support Centre Update

Month in, month out, the number of to visitors the support centre continues to grow. In her latest update, Mel shared that in September and October 2024, we had 189 contacts from 112 visitors from 33 nationalities. We saw more than 28 people per week – up from 16 in the summer – and note an increase in the number of people contacting the centre for immigration reasons – partly because of a larger number of people needing support with e-Visas.  

We had 189 contacts from 112 visitors from 33 nationalities.   This time the ratio of male to female visitors has swung back towards female visitors: females (57%) to males (43%).   It is a 50/50 split between visitors with families (ie. with at least one child under 18 years) in the UK and visitors without.

As we approach the end of the year, the imminent expiry of the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) cards (31st December 2024) and original e-Visa deadline is looming. This will likely lead to higher demand for e-Visa appointments. However, there is concern amongst front line organisations that not everyone needing to switch to the digital system is aware of the impending transition.  If you or anyone you know has any questions or needs help, please do not hesitate to contact us: [email protected]

Please note:

In the News

News these days is often accompanied by a sense of dread – from the Home Office losing the grip at the overcrowded Manston centre where they unlawfully detained 18,000 people seeking asylum, then only to downgrade the inquiry, to news of Donald’s Trump re-election, on a virulent anti-migrant ticket – it’s not always easy to remain hopeful. Praxis launched a petition in response to Trump’s victory to mobilise and stand against hate. 

For this newsletter, however, we’ve tried to dig out some more positive stories that demonstrate that together we can make a difference and make change happen.

Legal aid
It is a testament to organisations, in various sectors, that have campaigned long and hard on this issue to see that, finally,  the government has announced £20 million in extra legal aid funding, including for lawyers to represent people seeking asylum. Not only will help clear a large backlog of appeals, it will also lead to an increase in legal aid fees for those working in housing and debt, and immigration and asylum. Fees for immigration and asylum legal cases have not increased since 1996, which equates to a real terms cut of 48 per cent.

No Recourse to Public Funds
People seeking asylum and refugees are most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, because of the restrictions they face in accessing work or benefits. As a result, many experience housing insecurity, limited financial resources and inadequate access to social services. Those with ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) are the most marginalised, as they are not eligible to receive any kind of state support. The tragic story of Mazeedat Adeoye, who died after social workers refused to provide short-term foster care because her mother had overstayed her visa, is a case in point.  

The Home Office default position is to grant UK visas subject to a NRPF condition that prohibits most migrants from accessing welfare benefits unless they can show that they are (or are nearly) destitute.

A few days ago, however, following a case that challenged widespread delays in making the decision to lift the NRPF condition – on average 10 weeks – “the High Court found that the Home Secretary does not have an adequate system in place for processing change of conditions application to reduce, to a reasonable and proportionate minimum, the risk of inhuman and degrading treatment caused by the “no recourse to public funds” (“NRPF”) condition.” 

CW: Mental Health and Trauma
People seeking asylum and refugees have undeniably experienced trauma, loss and violence before arriving to the UK and often experience mental health challenges – an issue that is frequently undermined. There is a lack of mental health support, including barriers in accessing essential services due to language difference, immigration status or lack of understanding of the UK system, including the healthcare system. Various organisations are working to raise awareness of these particular issues and ensure that mental health care and support is more readily available.

The World Health Organisation published a report outlining five key themes to improve their access to mental health care:  

  • Community support: Evidence shows that being part of a community with a shared background and attending school are associated with lower rates of mental disorders. 
  • Basic needs and security. For example, an insecure legal status can contribute to poor mental health.
  • Stigma: experiences of racism and discrimination are consistently associated with adverse mental health outcomes. 
  • Adversity and trauma. For example, extended detention is associated with increased rates of depression and PTSD.
  • Access to services. Refugees and migrants often do not prioritize their mental health because they are not aware of the services available free of charge or do not accept health care due to language barriers and concerns around confidentiality.

Earlier this year, the UK government pledged additional funding to provide mental health services for those who have experienced trauma – a sector that is largely under resourced and often inaccessible to migrants. 

Events

🗓️November marks Islamophobia Awareness Month – although I am sure you will agree that we need to be aware of it all the time – and the William Morris Gallery is celebrating in a very special way, with a breath-taking new exhibition that showcases the rich heritage and beauty of Islamic art and culture and how it influenced William Morris’ work.

This free exhibition explores the art, stories, and traditions that have shaped Islamic art, culture and craftsmanship across centuries, as well as exchanges between Victorian Britain and the Islamic world. It also serves as a reminder, that even though Morris stood against imperialism, as a wealthy business man, he benefitted first hand from increased trading opportunities.

William Morris and Art from the Islamic World showcases captivating pieces and provides a platform to foster understanding and unity. We are proud to live in Waltham Forest, a borough that stands against Islamophobia.
You have until 9th March 2025 to visit the gallery.

🗓️On Wedesnday11th December, Migrant Voice are partnering with the University of Westminster HOMELandS Centre to celebrate International Migrants Day (18th December), for an event on the theme “Migration Making Britain Great”. 

🗓️Next Friday, 13th December, between 11.00 and 12.00,  Right to Remain are hosting an online Radical Solidarity Hub meeting on e-Visas.Click for more info and to register.

🗓️There is still time to visit the All Our Stories atMigration Museum – it finishes on 20th December. 

🗓️The Choose Love pop up shop is now open at 254 Regent St.

And finally, I wanted to share that at the end of November, I attended ‘When the lights go off … and the cleaners get in’, an event organised by Migrants In Action (MinA) as part of the London Migration Film Festival. The project is part live performance, part screening and provides an intimate and moving portrait of Latin American women who have migrated to Europe and become cleaners. It highlights how largely invisibilised they are in a society where migrants are othered and overlooked.

Get involved!