Our latest news
Paddington's Been Arrested
Freedom from Torture’s campaign to higlight the injustice of “This government is pushing ahead with its anti-refugee ‘Nationality & Borders Bill’, which will criminalise refugees who arrive as ‘stowaways’ hidden on boats and lorries – just like Paddington did.”
Food bank Crowdfunder
We are yet again blown away by the generosity and commitment of our supporters and friends. Our latest food bank Crowdfunder has reached an amazing £5,095. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed and shared, without your support we would not be able to continue running our weekly foodbank, serving approximately 90 people per week. Thank you!
Safe Passage Response to Channel Crossing deaths Nov21
“The tragic truth is that these deaths could – and should – have been prevented. No one should have to risk their life to reach safety.”
“We cannot stand by and let this Government’s harsh rhetoric and ill-thought-out approach go unchecked. ”
We have signed the Together with Refugees third sector signed statement on the need for routes of saety.
Stand up against the Nationality & Borders bill
'Everyone-In' victory against Brighton & Hove City Council
Thank you to our fresh veg donors Common Ground
They have been providing fresh seasonal vegetables for our food bank throughout the pandemic. Their donations are always consistent and plentiful! A huge thank you from everyone at VIE for Common Ground’s continued support. Some clients are now starting to volunteer with CG in Stanmer Park, maintaining the site and growing produce!
Follow them on facebook
and Instagram @commongroundbrighton
Freedom From Torture - Ukraine Action
Food Bank moved to the Vallance Centre
We are sharing the space with another local food bank BrightStore, and are happy to have our new community and new neighbours at the Vallance!
For food bank donations please call or email ahead to arrange, 01273 328598, or stephen.cummiskey@voicesinexile.org
Vallance Centre
Unit 2, Conway Court,
Sackville Road
Hove BN3 3WR
Migrant Welcome Project
Good News Newspaper
Our peer support group Migrant Welcome Project, lead by Hayat Shebab, has been producing a ‘Good News Newspaper’ to bring a little positivity and hope into their group activities.
Syrian Meals by Manal Gharzeddin
Volunteer Manal has made her own Syrian cook book!
“In Syria, we love cooking and we love food! I have created this cookbook because I want to share my favourite recipes from home with people in England. This cookbook is not like others as all the Syrian recipes are easy to make at home with ingredients you can buy in your local supermarkets.
It is available for £10 (including post & package, UK only, EU to follow soon)
I want to give back to my country so any profits I make from the cookbook will be sent to Syria to help people who can’t afford to pay for medical treatment.
I hope you will like my book and try out the recipes.”
Campaigns we have signed
Urging the Government to take a lead in supporting the people of Ukraine, who will be forced to leave their homes as tensions in their country escalate.
Petition calling on the UK to support Ukranian refugees
You can join us an sign the petition.
Refugee Action
Public statement in response to new plan for immigration consultation.
“On 23rd March 2021, the UK Government announced sweeping changes to how they will treat people seeking safety in the UK. Instead of fixing a system that’s been failing people for years, these changes take a wrecking ball to the very principle of asylum.”
Together with Refugees
Join the coalition for a fairer, more effective approach to supporting refugees in the UK.
Aspen Card Changover
Open letter to home secretary Aspen Card crisis June 2021
RISE network
We members of the RISE Network, an alliance of migrant-and refugee-led non-governmental organisations representing tens of thousands of people across Europe, urge all world leaders to give protection to Afghans seeking refuge.
We have signed this letter about the Unspeakably cruel new plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda
You can Write to your MP to show your support against this policy.
Women for Refugee Women
Impact on proposed immigration plan on refugee women
Open letter to the home secretary
“The changes would have harmful effects on both men and women. In this letter we highlight the impact on women, as these experiences are too often unheard.”
Firm
A call for humane immigration and integration policy
Anti Slavery
Together with Focus on Labour Exploitation, (FLEX), Doughty Street Chambers and Hope for Justice, Anti-Slavery International and The Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group complied a letter to ministers urging them to revoke a new policy that will make rough sleeping grounds for removal from the UK.
JCWI
Over 100 charities and human rights organisations have written to the Home Secretary, urging a generous and compassionate welcome to Afghan refugees.
UNHCR
“Addressing people-smuggling is crucial, but asylum proposals would damage lives, be hard to implement and undermine international cooperation on refugee issues”
Here you can read the article and the observations on the new plan
Homeless Link
Stand up against the rough sleeping deporation rules
Hands up For Our Health
Report on the campaign for the healthcare rights of migrants living in the UK.
At the moment, people living in the UK are refused free hospital care because of their immigration status. This policy is cruel, it undermines the founding principles of the NHS and puts all of our health in danger.
Doctors of the World Petition
We’ve joined TheBMA, royal medical colleges, DOTW_UK and medical organisations calling for the NHS Charging Regulations to be suspended. To tackle the #COVID-19 pandemic it is critical that everyone can access health services when they need to.
Migrants’ Rights Network, PILC and Project 17
Open letter to chief execuives of all local authorities England calling for urgent action to ensure that all migrants, regardless of immigration status, get the support they need during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Joint letter to LAs COVID-19 and migrant homelessness BM
Jesuit Refugee Service
Migrant Rights organisation call for ‘leave for all’ to protect public health
Calls for UK government to provide and maintain translate Covid-19 guidance
Doctors of the World UK (DOTW) and over 20 local authorities, public health bodies and non-profit organisations have written to the UK Government to express concern at the lack of COVID-19 public health guidance in languages other than English.
Bail for Immigratoin Detainees
Letter to the home secreatary calling for the release of all immigration detainees held in Immigration Removal Centres and Prisons in order to prevent a full-scale crisis.
Urgent call for the UK Government to protect and safeguard survivors of Modern Slavery who have insecure immigration status
NACCOM
Covid-19 Advocacy: Joint letter to the Prime Minister Policy recommendations to protect people who are experiencing homelessness and insecure migration statuses
Solace Women’s Aid and Public Interest Law Centre
UK: Domestic abuse services call for urgent support for migrant victims blocked from safety, healthcare and refuges
Haringey Migrant Support Centre, London
To Rt Hon. Robert Jenrick MP
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government: An open letter calling for the government to extend the ‘Everyone In’ policy.
Open Letter to Robert Jenrick MP_Final
Open letter to Prime Minister: Reverse the decision to evict people with NRPF into homelessness
Requesting that the Prime minister immediately reverse this decision so as to prevent people who have been refused asylum becoming homeless and destitute, and to protect the health and safety of both individuals and the general public.
Give NHS workers who are EU and other Nationals automatic UK citizenship if they stay and risk their own lives looking after the British people during the COVID crisis.
Freedom From Torture
Joint-letter on increasing asylum support rates in response to the Covid-19 crisis
Public Interest Law Centre and Southall Black Sisters
The Government urgently needs to allocate ringfenced funding to ensure survivors of domestic abuse who flee abusive homes have a safe place to go.
Freedom From Torture
The Home Office must urgently act to protect immigration detainees and asylum seekers who are at higher risk of dying of Covid-19.
We’ve written to Immigration Minister Chris Philp, along with 54 organizations: Letter
Free School Meals
We’re joining 60 organisations to call on the Government to permanently extend #FreeSchoolMeals to all low-income migrant families – read the letter here https://bit.ly/3gRLWos and send him your own https://bit.ly/3i5MWpb @childrensociety
Avid Detention
Letter to the Immigration Minister and Shadow Home Secretary highlighting the risks of housing vulnerable asylum-seekers in crowded barracks where social distancing is impossible.
Voices in Exile Groups
- Learn about useful services, interesting places and fun activities in Brighton and Hove
- Practice English in a friendly, supportive space
- Build connections and a community of friends
- Improve your health and wellbeing
- Get support with accessing digital devices and using the internet
- Use public transport with confidence
- Access information to develop your skills and employability
- Learn about other groups and volunteering
When: 10:00 – 1:00 on Tuesdays, Wednesday or Thursdays (Join one of three groups)
Where: Brighton and Hove (or online when necessary)
Contact: Hayat Shehab hayat.shehab@voicesinexile.org
Mobile: 07526 0772347 (text or whatsapp)
Sessions and Activities
Common Ground are a community food growing project based in Stanmer Park.
In the warmer months our groups visit the plot every week, with activities ranging from veg planting, harvesting, cooking, and drawing. The group members love visiting volunteers at Stanmer Park, and some have become volunteers themselves.
Common Ground regularly donate the organic vegetables grown on the plot to our weekly food bank.
Kite making workshop at The Riwaq – as part of Brighton Festival May’22
Introduction from Marwa Al-Sabouni:
Riwaq is the Arabic word for colonnade. Architecturally, the Riwaq is a semi-open space, which juxtaposes the building and frames the surrounding open space. It offers a transitional phase between enclosed spaces and open spaces, becoming a threshold for exchange. That’s why it is often figuratively used in Arabic traditions as a referential space for culture and knowledge: the Riwaq of poetry, the Riwaq of culture, and so on.
Sally has invited us back in the next few months, sewing is a great activity which accepts many skill levels and does not rely on having high English levels.
