Advocacy Update 27th November 2024

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

Communities Not Camps

This week the last residents of the Bibby Stockholm are leaving the barge, marking the end of people in need of protection being placed there and a win for campaigners. Congratulations to all those who campaigned for the barge’s closure as unsuitable accommodation- and in particular, a shout out to all those within the Portland community such as the fantastic Portland Global Friendship Group who have consistently provided practical and moral support to people placed on the barge, over the last sixteen months.

Closure of hotel leaves 100s asylum seekers needing homelessness assistance

Derby Telegraph reports on the closure of the Novotel Hotel in Long Eaton which has left over 100 asylum seekers needing homelessness assistance from Erewash Borough Council.

Government being urged not to spend £170m reopening two disused immigration removal detention centres

The Labour government is moving forward with Conservative-initiated plans to refurbish the Campsfield and Haslar detention centers in Oxfordshire and Hampshire, respectively. A watchdog’s warning that millions have already been “wasted” on a similar scheme. Click here to access the full report.

Shortage of legal aid lawyers could undermine Starmer’s asylum policy commitments

Experts have warned that Keir Starmer’s promise to resolve the asylum backlog is at risk due to a critical shortage of legal aid solicitors needed to handle these cases. Click here for the full article. However, The Times (paywall) reports that the Government is set to announce a major increase in legal aid funding to help clear a large backlog of asylum appeals.

New High Court judgement on Home Office delays

The High Court found the Home Office’s process for handling ‘change of conditions’ applications, which allow destitute migrants to access public funds, to be unlawful due to excessive delays in processing. Click here for the legal press release.

Starmer won’t rule out offshoring

The Labour Government is looking at Italian-style migration deals with other nations to reduce the number of small boats. Sir Keir Starmer does not rule out the UK providing financial incentives to stop would-be asylum seekers making journeys according to reports in The Guardian.

TAKE ACTION

• Sign the Fight the anti-refugee laws pledge here
• Share this letter to the Prime Minister urging him to rule out offshoring, address the legal aid crisis, and build a compassionate refugee protection system

2. Government and Parliamentary updatesChannel deaths (content warning)

   On 5 and 6 November four bodies were recovered off the coast of Calais and Kent police have also said the body of a man was recovered from the Channel, in the latest loss of lives in the Channel.

   Diego Garcia

   64 people, including 16 children who were stranded in Diego Garcia in terrible conditions for three years will now be able to enter the UK, after the Government dropped its opposition to the group’s case. Coverage here.

   Move on process post 31st October

   The Home Office communicated this interim update on the move-on process:

   From 4th November with the introduction of eVisas we have amended practice temporarily to initiate the 28-day move on period from the point the asylum support discontinuation letter (ASDL) is issued to newly granted refugee. The asylum support discontinuation letter will not be issued until an individual has been issued their UKVI account details in order to access their eVisa, and the letter will also include a copy of these details.

   Individuals will also continue to be notified of this end of support date in a ‘notice to quit’ (NTQ) or ‘notice to vacate’ (NTV) letter from their accommodation provider. The NTQ/NTV should be issued around the same time as the ASDL but will always give at least 7 days’ notice as required by the Asylum Support Regulations 2000. This change will be implemented temporarily whilst consideration is being given to the proposal to support LAs and newly granted refugees during a period of increased decision making.

   E – Visas

   The Home Office issued the following update:

   To enable us to create UKVI accounts for newly recognised refugees, we will require a phone number and email address which they can use again. They will use these details each time they need to access or share their immigration status online, unless they update it using the Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details: Update your UKVI account details – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) online service.

   We strongly encourage newly recognised refugees, who have not already done so, and all those awaiting a decision to provide their phone number and email address as soon as possible using the asylumcentralcommunicationshub@contactus.homeoffice.gov.uk inbox. If you are acting on behalf of an asylum seeker (and we do not have an up to date Letter of Authority) you should also use the inbox and attach a Letter of Authority to your email.

   Should we be unable to obtain a phone number and email address, newly granted refugees will initially be unable to sign into their UKVI account and access their eVisa. In order to obtain access, on receipt of their UKVI account details, they will need to report to us that they are unable to access their eVisa and provide a phone number and email address which they can use to sign into their UKVI account, by completing the form here: Report an error with your eVisa – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

3. Reports and research

NACCOM Annual Survey Report

Our friends at NACCOM have released their Annual Survey findings revealing the depth of the homelessness crisis affecting people seeking asylum and broader Migrant communities. Read and share the report here, with coverage in the Guardian here.

ILPA Report Launch

ILPA have released a new report by Dr Jo Wilding on Legal Aid in Immigration representation showing  57% of main applicants (excluding dependents) claiming asylum or appealing a refusal in the First-tier Tribunal are now unable to access a legal aid representative.

No reason for no recourse: why reform of NRPF conditions would be good for London and the UK

This report, by the Centre of Social Policy Studies, finds a clear link between NRPF and poverty and makes a number of recommendations for reform of the system.

Report launch- ‘The forgotten third: migrant workers’ views on improving conditions in England’s adult social care sector’

Work Rights Centre has launched a new report looking at the major barriers to sustainable and fair employment faced by care workers with a migrant background- including exploitation, fraud and abuse- and identifying the reforms urgently needed to address them. You can register to join the report launch on 14th November 3pm on zoom here and share their post on X here.

Report Launch – the criminalisation of young people seeking asylum

Asylum Aid, Migrants Law Project & Common Law CIC have released a new report on the criminalisation of young people trying to seek asylum in the UK. You can read the full report and the executive summary here

4. Resources, events, jobs and training

Right to Remain: Detention and Beyond Detention Nottingham, 26 November

Right to Remain are holding a workshop on Tuesday 26 November in Nottingham, from 2pm – 5pm, where there will be space for discussing detention and enforcement in communities. Registration here.

E- Visa Webinar

ACH are hosting a webinar on Thursday, 21st November to explain the E-Visa transition for people going through the process, it will explain how it will affect them, with guidance from an experienced immigration lawyer. The webinar is free for all and happening online, register here.

E-Visa support guide

Right to Remain has created a guide for people who are supporting those who need to apply for/transition to an E-Visa.

Pixida Films screening of 6 short films on border-crossings

A film collective navigating stories of migration through film, Pixida Films, are hosting a screening and panel discussion of 6 short films depicting stories of border-crossing, from Greece to the UK. The screening will be on 21st November at 8pm at Rich Mix Cinema in Bethnal Green, London. You can find more information and tickets here.

Borders of Exclusion: The Power of Visual Counter-Narratives in Epistemic Knowledge

On Thursday 28th November 11am-1pm, Women in Refugee Law (WiRL) and GenSeM are hosting a collaborative, interdisciplinary event which will critically examine gendered and racialized harm across various forms of displacement, with a spotlight on Australia’s extraterritorial asylum regime. The event will include a screening of the documentary ‘Solace’ and a panel discussion. It is a hybrid event so can be attended in-person (Arts C333, University of Sussex) or remotely online. You can find more info and register to attend here.

No Other Land film screening in Tyneside

From 15th November, Tyneside Cinema will be screening ‘No Other Land’, a critically acclaimed documentary by Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, telling the story of his community’s occupation and his alliance with an Israeli journalist to fight back against the destruction of his village. More information, trailer and tickets here.

Fragments of Home: refugee housing, humanitarian design and the politics of shelter

On 19th November at 6.30-8pm, LSE is hosting an event with Dr Tom Scott-Smith, discussing his new book on refugee housing, including the political implications of methods employed and exploring how the principle of autonomy can offer a fruitful approach to sensitive and inclusive shelter for refugees. More information on how to attend or watch on Youtube here.

Jobs:

• British Future is recruiting a Media and Communications Officer and a Parliamentary and Public Affairs Officer. Deadline is 15 November.
• Medical Justice are recruiting a Casework Trainee with lived experience of the UK asylum / immigration system or lived experience of immigration detention in the UK, deadline 17 November.
• City of Sanctuary is looking for a Treasurer to join their board of trustees, deadline 22 November.
• RAMP project is recruiting an Adviser, deadline 22 November.
• Manuel Bravo Project in Leeds are recruiting a Project and Volunteer Coordinator and an Administrator for the new Leeds Volunteer Interpreting Service. An information session will be held on 12th November 5.30-7.30pm. Deadline to apply is midnight on 25th November. See here for more info and to apply.
• ASSIST Sheffield is recruiting a Housing Manager, deadline is 9am 25 November.
• Hope Not Hate are recruiting a Campaigns Officer, deadline 27 November.
• St Augustine’s Centre Halifax are looking for a Centre Director, deadline 28 November.
• Manchester Refugee Support Network are looking for a social media, digital fundraising and administration manager, deadline 29 November.
• ASAP is recruiting a Women’s Legal Advisor, deadline 1 December.
• The Boaz Trust in Manchester are looking for an empowerment and inclusion coordinator. Deadline 25 November; and a Head of Accommodation , deadline 9 December. Details here.
• The Comfrey Project, in Gateshead, is recruiting a Refugee Voices Coordinator, deadline 4 December. Applicants must have lived experience of seeking asylum in the UK.

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

This short film where four people with experiences of living long term in a hotel in Scotland share how this has affected their mental health, and tips and advice for coping.