Advocacy Update 22nd January 2025

1. Advocacy and campaigning Initiatives
2. Government and Parliamentary updates
3. Reports and research
4. Resources, events, jobs and training
5. What we’re reading, watching and listening to

1. Advocacy and campaigning Initiatives

Fight the Anti Refugee Laws

Calls grow louder for safe routes

With the new Government’s continuation of tough border enforcement and criminalisation leading to a record number of Channel fatalities in 2024, pressure is growing to establish safe routes for people seeking asylum to reach the UK.

Australian offshoring deemed a breach of human rights by UN

In what should give the British Prime Minister pause for thought following his favourable comments about offshore processing last year, the UN has just found that Australia violated the human rights of refugees through their offshoring initiative, described by the UN as ‘arbitrary detention’.

Far-right terrorist behind knife attack on sanctuary seeker given life sentence

The Nazi-obsessed terrorist who tried to stab an asylum seeker to death in a protest over Channel crossings has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years and eight months. In what should prove a cautionary tale to those continuing to peddle hostile anti-migrant rhetoric for political gain, the attacker claims he was ‘angry and frustrated’ about Channel crossings when he undertook the vicious attack in a Worcestershire hotel.

BBC World Service refugee advocacy initiative

The stories of Iranian refugee Paolo Prijanian and Lesotho chef Ska Moteane highlight the incredible resilience and contributions of migrants, even in the face of systemic challenges. Their journeys remind us of the importance of advocating for refugee rights, ensuring that those fleeing hardship are given the opportunities to thrive and enrich our global community.

KRAN launches stories to amplify voices of those seeking asylum

Amplifying the voices of young people from asylum and refugee backgrounds is crucial in fostering understanding and challenging misconceptions. Initiatives like the Stories Without Limits podcast highlight their resilience, celebrate their triumphs, and spark meaningful conversations, emphasizing the need to advocate for their rights and create opportunities for them to thrive.

Lift the Ban

The Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, Professor Brian Bell, has told the Times he believes that people seeking asylum should be allowed to work after six months, stating “If all decisions were being taken by six months, then the right to work becomes irrelevant.”

The submission includes some new analysis in relation to numbers affected by NRPF conditions from Migrant Journey 2023 data and it also includes content on children in families receiving Asylum Support

Communities Not Camps

The Bibby Stockholm barge has been returned to its owners, marking the end of a sorry story for protection in the UK.  Home Office officials have also confirmed that a proposed site at Bexhill on Sea in East Sussex is no longer under consideration as either asylum accommodation or immigration detention. However, Napier barracks remains open and traumatised people continue to be housed in unacceptable conditions at MDP Wethersfield. Meanwhile, the Home Office has settled a judicial review brought by ex-detainees seeking an independent inquiry into overcrowding and terrible conditions at the short term holding facility at Manston in 2002.

Home Office Minister Angela Eagle has told Parliament that nine hotels housing people seeking safety are scheduled to close in March. Concerns continue to be raised about safeguarding in hotels, and the Times reports on the debate within Government over who should be responsible for running asylum accommodation – private operators or mayors and local authorities.

Asylum Poverty

Joint briefing to inform the Child Poverty Strategy

This briefing draws primarily on research and analysis concerning children in the asylum and immigration context conducted by researchers based at the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE), London School of Economics and Political Science and COMPAS, University of Oxford. The submission includes some new analysis in relation to numbers affected by NRPF conditions from Migrant Journey 2023 data and it also includes content on children in families receiving Asylum Support produced by Dr Ilona Pinter. This will help to inform the UK government’s broader Child Poverty Strategy. You can download the briefing here.

2. Government and Parliamentary updates

Channel deaths

A young Syrian man who died of a cardiac arrest reportedly after being crushed on a dinghy has tragically become the first Channel fatality of 2025. More than 70 French organisations have protested the border policies of the UK in Calais, calling for safe routes across the Channel, improved search and rescue and the end of hostile policies in France. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has trailed proposed measures to sanction people organisations and groups involved in facilitating channel crossings.

Home Affairs Select Committee – Call for Evidence on Asylum Accommodation

Parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee has opened a Call for Evidence on the delivery of asylum accommodation. Its inquiry will look at the use and management of the accommodation contracts, provider performance and how the Home Office works across Government and with stakeholders; as well as its approach to distribution of accommodation, the impact of current arrangements and its approach to working with local partners to support those granted refugee status. Details on how to submit evidence are here and the deadline is 3 February.

OISC rebrand

The OISC has rebranded as the Immigration Advice Authority. More information here and here

Report on GPS tagging

The Home Office has published a report on its GPS expansion pilot, which in 2022 – 23 tested the expansion of the use of electronic monitoring or tagging as a condition of immigration bail. Its evaluation suggests that GPS tagging of people on immigration bail did not improve ‘compliance’ from people seeking asylum on bail conditions. Coverage here and here.

3. Reports and research

‘I Kept Waiting and Waiting’: The realities of asylum seekers’ restricted right to work in the UK

This report by FLEX shines a light on peoples’ experiences of trying to access permission to work and the labour market in the UK – coverage here.

‘Treat Us Like Humans’ – A report on lived experience of the asylum system

The Good Faith Partnership and NACCOM have released this report on the lived experience of people seeking asylum in Manchester, Newcastle and London. Participants spoke about issues they had experienced in asylum accommodation, with dispersal and with accessing transport, work and training opportunities. The report calls for a ‘humanitarian’ approach to accommodation, with greater involvement of local government in providing accommodation. Coverage here.

Call for Evidence: Digital Reform of Tribunals and Addressing Disadvantage

The Administrative Justice Council has issued a call for evidence on the impact of digital reform of tribunals on users and addressing disadvantage in the administrative justice system. Deadline 10 February at 5pm.

Fair Compensation: A Guide by Experts by Experience

Praxis and their No Recourse to Public Funds Action Group have produced this guide aimed at third parties who wish to engage group members in projects such as research and panel discussions.

Unseen Children – the hidden lives of children seeking asylum in the UK

This CASE research paper, by Dr Ilona Pinter at the LSE, gives an overview of administrative data regarding asylum seeking children and families in the UK and makes the case for their welfare to be a core policy making consideration.

Memory and trauma in LGBTQ+ women’s asylum claims on sexual orientation and gender identity grounds: disregarded, dismissed and denied

This research paper looks into the relationship between trauma and memory in LGBTQ+ women’s claims for protection and how the impacts of these are currently dealt with in asylum procedures.

Briefing: Stateless People in the UK: At Risk of Legal Limbo, In Need of Protection

Asylum Aid, JRS UK, the University of Liverpool, JustRight Scotland and the European Network on Statelessness have produced this briefing setting out steps to improve the situation of stateless people in the UK.

Section 3C leave and employer responsibilities: A Guide

RAMFEL have produced this resource for employers explaining what Section 3C leave is; how employers can use the Home Office’s Employer Checking Service (ECS) to verify status and why suspensions are unnecessary and how to avoid them.

4. Resources, events, jobs and training 

   Training

   • Future Leaders are running two online leadership programmes – the Flagship Leadership Programme and the School of Entrepreneurship for people aged between 18-30 who are seeking asylum or refugees in the UK. Details here.  Deadline January 31st.

   • Migration Exchange have released Shaping the Future: a fund to support leadership development of the migration sector, and it’s now open for applications closing on 12 March 2025 at 5:00 pm. You can find more detailed information on their website

   Jobs:

   • Waltham Forest Migrant Action are recruiting a Welfare Advisor and an Immigration Advisor. Deadlines for both roles, deadline 24 January;

   • The Destitution Project in Bolton is looking for an Operations and Development Manager. Deadline 26 January;

   • Medical Justice is recruiting for a Fundraising Lead. Deadline 26 January;

   • Right to Remain are looking for a part-time Finance and Operations Manager, deadline 27 January;

   • Gloucester Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS) are recruiting a volunteer coordinator and therapy team administrator. Deadline 27 January;

   • The Cotton Tree Trust are looking for IAAS level 2 caseworkers and supervisors – deadline 31 January;

   • HIAS + JCORE are hiring an Administrator, an Advocacy Coordinator (p/t)and a Community Engagement Specialist (p/t), deadline 3 February;

   • The Law Centre (Northern Ireland) is hiring a Policy and Research Officer (Migration Justice) – deadline 3 February;

   • PAFRAS are recruiting for a Senior Mental Health Assessment Worker and a trustee (Treasurer and Company Secretary), deadlines 3 and 5 February respectively;

   • Greater Manchester’s Migrant Destitution Fund is looking for a Migrant Destitution Project Worker – lived experience of immigration control essential. Deadline 7 February;

   • Growing Together Levenshulme in Manchester are looking for trustees, deadline 15 February.

5. What we’re reading, watching and listening to

This moving documentary about the struggle of one man to keep hope through running whilst placed on the Bibby Stockholm.