The issue of small boat crossings has become a heated political and humanitarian debate, but how do Britain and France each view this crisis? 

Produced by Anne Daguerre and Nick Lazar, this timely film delves deep into the contrasting perspectives between Britain and France regarding migration, border security, and humanitarian responsibility. Through candid interviews with officials, activists, academics, and migrants themselves, the documentary highlights the stark differences and surprising commonalities in how both nations navigate this shared challenge.   

Following a successful premiere at Duke’s at Komedia, Brighton, and a vibrant panel discussion, the film continues to spark important conversations. 

A fresh perspective on the Channel crossings debate 

The documentary takes a fresh angle, focusing on the often-fraught relationship between France and the UK when it comes to migration across the Channel 

and interpolating perspectives from both countries. Rather than centring on the lived experiences of migrants (which the filmmakers noted has been well-covered elsewhere) the film looks at the interplay between politicians, rights groups, and filmmakers, revealing the tensions, misunderstandings, and sometimes flawed assumptions that shape policy and public opinion.  

The documentary also explored the British government’s “smash the gangs” approach, questioning its effectiveness in addressing the underlying causes of dangerous Channel crossings. 

Challenging questions in the Q&A 

Following the screening, filmmakers Dr Anne Daguerre, a social justice policy academic at the University of Brighton, and Nick Lazar, a director, filmmaker and actor, led a Q&A session.  

Audience members asked challenging questions about the absence of certain political voices, the role of the media in shaping public perception, and the need for more context and fact-checking in the national conversation.  

Discussions also touched on issues such as the organisation of smuggling networks, the reasons why many migrants want to leave France, and the realities those who arrive in the UK via other routes and later claim asylum face. 

Why events like this matter 

For our team, the evening was both inspiring and sobering. It underlined the need for more informed, nuanced discussions about migration – ones that recognise the human realities behind the headlines, challenge harmful narratives, and push for policies grounded in justice and compassion. 

We are very grateful to Anne, Nick and the other organisers for not only hosting this screening but also directing proceeds to Voices in Exile, helping us continue our work supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable migrants in the local area. 

To find out more about the documentary, including details of how you can watch it, visit smallboatsdocumentary.com. 

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You can watch it here:

We also have a write to Ministers campaign action live if you would like to share.

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This article explains the impact of this policy, highlights the challenges it creates, and outlines the actions you need to take to protect yourself.

What is changing?

From 31 December 2024, physical BRPs and BRCs will expire. To prove your immigration status, you must create an eVisa account, which serves as your digital record. This change affects everyone with an immigration status in the UK.

If you haven’t created an eVisa account by the deadline, your leave to remain and entitlements will still be valid, but proving your status could become significantly harder. Service providers like the NHS, landlords, and employers might refuse to recognise your rights if you cannot present proof through the new digital system.

Why this matters

The move to eVisas may seem straightforward, but for many, it creates unnecessary barriers. Refugees, asylum seekers, and others who are digitally excluded or unaware of the changes are at serious risk of being denied their lawful entitlements.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Digital-only proof is a challenge: Not everyone has access to reliable internet, smartphones, or the skills to navigate complex online systems. This puts many at risk of losing access to essential services.
• Errors can have devastating consequences: The eVisa system has already been prone to technical errors, leaving thousands unable to prove their status. Any mistakes in your record could lead to wrongful denial of benefits, housing, or healthcare.
• Lack of awareness and training: Many government departments, landlords, and employers remain uninformed about the transition, leading to confusion and potential discrimination.

What you need to do now

To avoid being negatively impacted by these changes, it’s essential to take action as soon as possible:

1. Create your eVisa account: Visit the UKVI website and follow the steps to set up your eVisa account. If you need help, ask a trusted advisor or support organisation.
2. Check your status: Once your account is set up, verify that your details are correct. Any errors should be reported immediately to UKVI for correction.
3. Gather additional proof: If you don’t have digital access, keep copies of your grant of status letter or other documentation to provide backup evidence when needed.
4. Inform your service providers: Make sure your landlord, employer, or other relevant organisations are aware of your immigration status and how to verify it.

How to get help

If you are struggling with the transition to eVisas, please get in touch with Voices in Exile and we will do our best to help you, or point you in the direction of further assistance.

The post The shift to eVisas: what you need to know and how to protect your rights appeared first on Voices In Exile.

Last September 2023, our team saw a rising number of homelessness cases among refugees who had been granted status, which was also impacted by the closure of the Home Office run ‘single men’s hotel’ in Brighton in November 2023. The combination of the closure of asylum hotels and the backlog of asylum claims being processed simultaneously led to an increased demand for third sector organisations to support refugees at risk of homelessness. The closure of half of asylum hotels was part of ‘Operation Maximisation’ —a Home Office policy set out on 13^th July 2023 requiring single adult asylum seekers to share a room in Initial Asylum Accommodation (mostly hotels).

The Home Office recently reported a plan to make 10,000 decisions in September and maintain this going forward, prioritising those in receipt of asylum support. Therefore, we are concerned that we will see a rise of homelessness for refugees during this winter period due to lack of housing options available; a flurry of decisions being made at once by the Home Office; a lack of mental health evidence asylum seekers hold due to stigma surrounding mental health support; low ability to access this; and long waiting lists.

To prepare for this, we’re working closely with the Refugee/Asylum pathway team at Brighton and Hove Council and attend regular network groups with the NHS and other third sector organisations.

Jesuit Refugee Service’s new report examines experiences of homelessness among people refused asylum in London in Autumn 2023. Most research participants had no secure accommodation, rough sleeping was common, people were vulnerable to exploitation and abuse and prevented from managing life-threatening conditions. We also experienced this in Brighton and Hove, where refugees had been made homeless because of the asylum system when provided with 28 days’ notice to leave Home Office accommodation and find somewhere new to live.

In addition, vulnerable migrants face multiple barriers to access both council housing and private rented accommodation: not being allowed to work for the first 12 months whilst seeking asylum and then only able to apply for the right to work where limited roles are available from the Shortage of Occupation list — therefore gaining no work experience or income. Other factors that create barriers are the ‘no recourse to public funds’ status, low level English skills, and a lack of evidence to demonstrate vulnerabilities and complex needs.

We would like to acknowledge the local agencies that work with us to support our clients in finding accommodation. These include Care4Calais, Thousand 4 £1000, Room for Refugees, Refugees at Home, Brighton Wellbeing Service, Refugee Radio, Network of International Women, Brighton Exiled Trauma Service, and Brighton Therapy Centre.

For more information on the issue of rising homelessness among refugees, check out the below resources:

• Keys to the City 2024: Ending refugee homelessness in London (Refugee Council)
• Homeless Link and NACCOM share new migrant homelessness briefing (Homeless Link)
• Homelessness, refugees and resettlement paper (Centre for Homelessness Impact) 
• Report: Hostile Accommodation (Refugee Action)

Some key terms to learn:

• Asylum Support – Accommodation and Subsistence from Home Office. This is separate from an asylum claim.
• Shortage of Occupation List – Asylum Seekers can apply for the Right to Work after 12 months of living in the UK, but the roles are limited to what is on the Shortage of Occupation List
• No Recourse to Public Funds (often written as NRPF) – unable to access public funds such as benefits like Universal Credit, PIP, etc.

Want to do more to help, but don’t know what?

Find out more about hosting a refugee on a short term let here: Refugees at Home

The post Addressing the housing crisis for refugees in Brighton: Challenges and solutions  appeared first on Voices In Exile.

Today we join over 240 orgs to stand in solidarity with those affected by the recent acts of violence across the UK, many of whom have already fled unimaginable horrors to try to find safety.

 This must be a turning point. Read more below:

MORE THAN 200 REFUGEE CHARITIES ‘STAND TOGETHER’ IN JOINT RESPONSE TO ANTI-MIGRANT VIOLENCE

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We all need rights. We all need safety. We all need dignity. We all need justice. We all need privacy. We all need community.

These are the six steps towards achieving justice for people who move, and a fairer society for us all. These basic principles have been jointly drafted by 45 organisations that work with people who move on a daily basis, and with allied organisations. We see how deeply the hostile policies and statements targeting migrants impact people and their communities. We’re proud to stand behind these six steps towards migrant justice, and a fairer society for all of us.  

1.   Rights – We should all be able to thrive, no matter where we’re from or the colour of our skin
2.   Safety – We must welcome people who seek sanctuary in the UK
3.   Dignity – We must all be able to live with dignity and feel safe in our homes and workplaces
4.   Justice – We should all be able to defend our rights and hold the government accountable
5.   Privacy – We should all be able to pursue health, justice and support knowing that our personal data will be kept safe, and our privacy respected
6.   Community – We all have a right to participate in our communities, and find care and belonging

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