A refuge is not where I’m from or where I want to be, but it’s where I can go to to get back to being who I want.
Involving Refugees through Volunteering at Leicester Libraries
This case study is based on interviews with Leicester City Council’s Senior Community Librarian and a refugee who volunteers for Leciester Libraries.
Leicester Libraries have been working to involve refugees and asylum seekers in service development since 2001. Starting from a consultation exercise with asylum seekers about their information and stock requirements, the work took shape with the creation of a post in 2005 dedicated to service development and community involvement.
Time was invested into relationship-building with refugee organisations, and developing a refugee volunteer programme. This has led to a range of initiatives to involve the community, based at the library, including a partnership from 2008 with a community media social enterprise, Citizens’ Eye, and Hatnews, an associated news agency dedicated to refugee and asylum issues.
Click here for a report from East Midlands today concerning the sponsored walk from Leicester to Loughborough.
Make a Difference Day for Asylum Seekers and Refugees will be taking place on Saturday 31st October 2009 between 2pm and 5pm at the Secular Hall, Humberstone Gate. For more details, click here
Come to an evening of song and dance
in aid of
the British Red Cross
Fri 15th May 7.30pm
Ukrainian Social Club
Corner of Fosse Road South and Hinckley Road
Leicester
Hosted by
Red Leicester Choir
Dancing to the
Greenshoots Ceilidh Orchestra
Licensed bar Tickets £6/£4 tel 0116 270 3143 to reserve
British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949) and Scotland (SC037738).
Our next Open Meeting will take place on Wednesday
13th May at the Secular Hall, Humberstone Gate, Leicester. Refreshments will be
available from 2.30pm and the meeting starts at 3.00pm, finishing at
5.00pm.
Come and hear from our guest speaker, Jonathan Cox,
from the Citizens for Sanctuary Campaign in London. All are welcome, especially
refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
This campaign aims to implement the recommendations
of the Independent Asylum Commission (IAC). Leicester City of Sanctuary
supporters heard about the IAC recommendations last October from Canon Nick
Sagovsky and were urged then to lobby MPs and decision makers to adopt the
recommendations.
This will be an interactive session, please come
and participate.
May Bank Holiday (Monday 4th of May 2009)
Assemble 11:30 am
Tothill Street
SW1H
London
Nearest Tube St James
March to Trafalgar Square for
'Strangers into Citizens Rally'
Strangers into Citizens is a national campaign compiling the country's largest alliance of civic institutions calling for a one-off regularisation of long-term irregular migrants in the UK. There are an estimated 500,000 irregular migrants in the UK. They face exploitation and uncertainty. They want to work, integrate and be able to contribute to life in the UK as full members of our society.
We are calling for:
* A pathway to citizenship for migrants who have put down roots in the UK
* A recognition that migrants remain vital to the UK economy and society
* An end to limbo for people fleeing persecution who have waited on a decision for many years
We argue for an earned amnesty on economic, security, humanitarian and practical grounds.
"Where people have been here a long time and have no prospect of being able to be sent back then an amnesty could be considered so that they can pay taxes and legally contribute to the British economy" Boris Johnson, Mayor of London
Lambeth Council and the Greater London Assembly have both voted to support the campaign
Live acts include:
- Asian Dub Foundation
- ThePetebox
- Ukrainian folksinger Ludwig, and many others
Enquiries/further information:
Policy Director
Austen Ivereigh
020 7043 9874
Leicester, City of Sanctuary present our:
Golden Giver Challenge!
- will you meet the challenge and receive a Golden Giver certificate?
There are many asylum seekers in Leicester who, having fled persecution in their home countries, are denied the permission to work, are not entitled to any benefits, housing or even a bed in a homeless hostel, and who rely on organisations like the
British Red Cross for food parcels and other essential supplies - can you help?
There are local people, shocked at the inhumanity of Government policy which
forces asylum seekers into destitution, who regularly drop off bags and boxes of
food, toiletries and other essentials to the British Red Cross, and we invite you to
join them and the Golden Giver Challenge!
Can you, perhaps with family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, classmates, or any other group of people you know, over the period of a year get together and donate 50 bags or small boxes of food and other supplies and meet the
Golden Giver Challenge?
Contact us for a registration pack, once registered every time you make a donation to the British Red Cross your Challenge card will be updated - each month our website will be updated so you can check your progress and see how close you are getting!
12 months after your registration date you will receive a certificate, as a record of
how well you did, and as a thank-you from all those you helped support over the year
- those passing the Golden Giver Challenge! will be invited to a special event to receive their certificate, and so we can personally thank all those involved!
For more information contact Gill at: Leicester, City of Sanctuary,
c/o Refugee Action, Chancery House, 7 Millstone Lane, Leicester LE1 5JN, or on: leicester@cityofsanctuary.com or 07716 073403.
Leicester, City of Sanctuary
Golden Giver Challenge -
questions and answers
- an information sheet to try and answer any questions you may have. If your question isn't covered please get in touch!
What counts as a ‘bag or small box'? - a full / almost full carrier bag, re-usable bag or small box, or a ‘bulk' pack e.g. a pack of 10 nappies, a sack of rice, a pack of 12 toilet rolls, or a case of sweetcorn.
What if I disagree with the ‘number donated today' which is added to our registration card? - try to come to an agreement with the person accepting the donation, who will be comparing it with other similar donations, but the final decision will be made by the British Red Cross representative receiving the donation.
Can I drop off my donation anywhere else apart from the British Red Cross? - currently the British Red Cross is the only drop-off point where you will be able to get your donation recorded and Challenge card updated.
I want to make a donation but cannot get to the British Red Cross, what can I do? - donations equivalent to 5+ ‘bags or small boxes' can be collected by a representative of the British Red Cross or Leicester, City of Sanctuary by arrangement, contact Gill at Leicester, City of Sanctuary to arrange a collection.
What if I want to make a donation but do not have the Challenge card with me? - donation records will also be kept at the British Red Cross so state your team name and request a receipt so your Challenge card can be updated at your next visit.
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