News

Blocked routes to safety - a short animation from Médecins Sans Frontières UK & Ireland

MSF has created a short 2-minute animation to demonstrate the lack of accessible safe routes to the UK:  https://twitter.com/MSF_uk/status/1633041884573573120.   

Please watch and share this video.

Refugee Coucil

The Refugee Council has published a report on Channel crossings.

‘By analysing the Home Office’s data we can show that at least 6 in 10 of those on the boats in 2022 would be likely granted asylum. We do this by cross checking nationalities with grant rates for asylum. We also show how the numbers of people on resettlement schemes has fallen dramatically. And that Government proposals to detain and deport people arriving on the boats would lead to thousands of people being held limbo.’

Report and press release

More than 320 organisations call out Government's latest anti-refugee bill

https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/more-than-320-organisations-call-out-governments-latest-anti-refugee-bill/

Please read and share this link to an open letter to PM Rishi Sunak calling out the Government’s latest anti-refugee Bill.

 

Campaigns we have signed

Letter sent to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Secretary of State for Education, and the Immigration Minister - Children missing from Home Office hotels

Refugee Council

Refugee council logo

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.

Signed by 50+ charities

Petition calling on the UK to support Ukranian refugees

change.org logo

You can join us an sign the petition.

Refugee Action

 

Together with Refugees

together with refugees logo

Join the coalition for a fairer, more effective approach to supporting refugees in the UK.

Campaign PDF

Aspen Card Changover

Positive Action Logo

Open letter to home secretary Aspen Card crisis June 2021

RISE network

RISE logo

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.

Statement 

People seeking sanctuary excluded from vital housing safety regulation

Joint letter calling for safe homes for all

Voices in Exile has signed this joint letter to to both Michael Gove and Suella Braverman, along with 142 other organisations, calling for safe homes for all.
We are calling on the government to abandon plans to remove the licensing requirements for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) used as asylum accommodation.

Open letter from refugee charities to the Home Secretary

Voices in Exile and more than 50 other organisations sign an Open Letter to Michael Gove, raising concerns about the impact of the Illegal Migration Bill on homelessness and destitution in the UK. The letter is live on NACCOM’s website and other channels – you can view it here.

 

Voices in Exile, along with 170 other organisations, has signed a letter to the Prime Minister opposing the Government’s plans for the use of military bases, former prison sites and barges as accommodation for people seeking asylum. 

#CommunitiesNotCamps

JCWI

JWCI logo

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

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

FIRM logo

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

JWCI logo

Over 100 charities and human rights organisations have written to the Home Secretary, urging a generous and compassionate welcome to Afghan refugees.

Voices in Exile Groups
The groups meet every week during term time, and practice the following ethos:

  • 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

Our group enjoyed activities at the Secret Garden in Hove in June, including a very relaxing meditation using the five senses. 

Everyone enjoyed getting to know(and taste!) various plants and vegetables. Some members hope to volunteer there again. 

Refugee Week Event

Our groups enjoyed a very relaxing day out at Common Ground as part of Refugee week. There was a nature inspired event with Alex, Nick and Lucy from Living Vital and a sound healing session with Kelly from The Ripple Effect Brighton.  

Group members made beautiful art and enjoyed an outdoor lunch. A big thank you to all involved. 

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.

Riwaq
paper kite

common ground logo

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.

 

Atelier by the Sea hosted us for a paper crafts workshop. Group members made crystal and star decorations, and are excited to go home and teach their children!

paper stars  paper stars

Sally at the Orca Barge at the Marina has been working with our groups doing sewing lessons. The members loved the sewing session and produced some amazing things within just one hour!

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.

bag
dress
Group members made amazing clay faces at a Clay workshop at the Hanover Community Centre.

Clay face   clay face

Some of the fantastic pots our group members made at an Art session in the Phoenix Gallery.

Food bank support & donors flyer