Speaking up for refugees

UP
DATE
Newsletter for the supporters
of the Refugee Council
Speaking up
for refugees
Autumn / Winter 2011
Jemima Khan supports
refugee protection
Nick Clegg visits the
Refugee Council
Misunderstanding about
refugees still rife
The not-so-secret millionaire
Cover photo: Bill Knight
Editorial
It has been a difficult time for the Refugee Council
since receiving the news of massive cuts to our
statutory funding. The £6.5million loss in income
has meant we have had to restructure our services,
sadly making redundant over 80 members of staff
and closing two offices – Ipswich and Hounslow,
West London.
Despite these challenges, we remain as committed
as ever to providing the best possible support to
asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.
In this issue you will read how, despite our
difficulties, we have been able to make our
60th anniversary year count. Even with the
government cuts, we continue to galvanise
support and demand better treatment of
asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.
We’ve had a successful event with Deputy Prime
Minister Nick Clegg at our very own Day Centre in
South London. Jemima Khan spoke at an event in
support of the Refugee Council and helped us to
raise vital funds. Our loyal supporters have shown
an incredible amount of generosity with the 60th
anniversary Match Fund, helping us to raise a
fantastic £240,000. Our Proud to Protect pledge
already has over 7,000 signatures.
It is encouraging to know that, despite heavy
losses, our staff, supporters and friends have
shown an enormous amount of determination and
loyalty to the charity, to the cause and of course to
the refugees to whom we are deeply committed.
We hope in the next few months you will be able
to join us as we continue to celebrate 60 years of
hard work and determination in speaking out for
the rights of refugees in the UK.
Donna Covey, Chief Executive
Projects & services update
We now offer the Own
Language Telephone Advice
Service (OLTAS) – a free
helpline where refugees can
speak to advisers – in English
or in their own language
– who will assess their needs
and provide advice over
the telephone or book an
appointment to see an adviser
if necessary. OLTAS is taking
an average of over 300 calls
per day, making support
more accessible to vulnerable
groups, and those with
disabilities, who previously
found it difficult to come to
appointments. This allows
for a number of issues to be
addressed without unnecessary
travelling, queuing and
extended waiting times.
Two projects coming to
an end are Refugees into
Teaching (RiT) and the Refugee
Integration and Employment
Service (RIES). RiT has worked
with over 1,000 refugee
teachers over the past three
years to provide advice and
support to re-qualify and access
employment in primary and
secondary state schools. RIES
has provided a broader range
of integration services including
housing and accessing benefits,
as well as employment advice.
The Healthcare Professionals
Project, which supports
refugee doctors, nurses and
dentists to help them requalify to work in the NHS,
has just received a further
three years of funding from
NHS London. Originally part
of Refugees into Jobs, which
merged with the Refugee
Council in January, in the first
six months of this year, six
refugees gained employment
in the NHS and twelve started
clinical attachments.
60th Anniversary Celebrations
Nick Clegg declares support
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg visited
the Refugee Council in South London in May,
to celebrate the charity’s 60th anniversary. He
spoke out in support of refugees in the UK, and
emphasised the importance of protecting people
fleeing persecution and conflict today, 60 years
on from the creation of the UN Convention for
Refugees. Clegg spoke to people from across
the refugee charity sector about the strides the
coalition government have made since they
came to power last year to ensure refugees in
the UK get the help they need, including the
end of child detention, and ensuring people
who are persecuted for their sexual orientation
are not deported.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:
“For my part, we have never shied away from
taking the right stance on asylum, even when
it has been controversial to do so. Now, in
Government, our approach has three key
strands: one, sorting out the inefficiency in
the system; two, ending the unfair practices
that remain; three, acting internationally to
help as many refugees as we can.
“A country like the UK should be aiming for
nothing less than the most compassionate,
efficient, dignified asylum system in the world.”
In his closing remarks he added:
“I hope our first year shows that we, like you,
want to reaffirm the UK’s place as a caring
and compassionate nation. No one should
ever be forced from their home. But when it
happens they must know that nations like ours
will provide the safety and security all people
deserve. That’s a promise we made 60 years
ago. It is as important today as it was then.”
Clegg spoke alongside Chief Executive of
the Refugee Council, Donna Covey, and Akoi
Bazzie, a Liberian refugee who now works
for the Refugee Council’s Gateway Programme
in Sheffield.
As part of our 60th anniversary, more than 7,000 people, including celebrities Patrick Stewart
and Colin Firth have signed our pledge stating they are proud the UK protects refugees, and
urging the UK government to continue protecting refugees.
Bill Knight
60th Anniversary Celebrations
Jemima Khan speaks
out for refugees
At a special event at The Lincoln Centre in
London, celebrating 60 years of refugee
protection, Jemima Khan called on the
UK government to continue protecting
people fleeing modern day conflicts
across the world.
In a very personal speech, Jemima spoke
about her work with Afghan refugees in
Pakistan and her own grandfather’s struggles
with identity and belonging as a German
Jewish exile in England.
Also at the event were Refugee Council Chief
Executive, Donna Covey, and Zimbabwean
refugee campaigner, Yeukai Taruvinga, who
spoke about her own harrowing experience
of the UK asylum system.
Jemima also called for financial support towards
the Match Fund, commending the Refugee
Council for its dedicated years of work, offering
advice and support to refugees and asylum
seekers in the UK since 1951.
Following the event, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
published a comment piece in the Independent
newspaper, which included a very emotive call
to arms and attracted several new donors to
the cause.
From our loyal donors to new supporters, all of us at the Refugee Council would like to express
our sincere thanks to all who made the Match Fund appeal such an enormous success. Special
thanks go to The Lincoln Centre for kindly donating the use of their venue; to Jemima Khan for
her input and publicity; to Yasmin Alibhai-Brown for her article; and to Lawrence Staden and the
GLC Charitable Trust for their staggering financial generosity.
60th Anniversary Celebrations
Match Fund success
With the help of around 1,000 generous supporters up and down the country, the Refugee Council
has managed to raise a staggering £240,000.
Half of this amount was generously contributed by the GLC Charitable Trust who agreed a 100%
match if the Refugee Council managed to reach a fundraising target of £120,000 by 28th July
2011, the 60th anniversary of the UN Refugee Convention.
In the wake of massive cuts to the Refugee Council’s statutory funding, friends and supporters
clearly demonstrated their belief in our work.
Trustee of the GLC Charitable Trust, Lawrence Staden, said: “I am delighted that Refugee Council
supporters have risen to the challenge to raise the £120,000. It is great to see that, even in tough
economic times, there is such loyal support for the Refugee Council and the work it does with
incredibly vulnerable people.”
The not-so-secret millionaire
There was a buzz around the Refugee
Council when it was announced that Aria
Taheri of Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire
would be joining us for the 60th
anniversary event with Jemima Khan.
An Iranian born entrepreneur and founder
of Aria Technology Ltd, Aria Taheri came to
the attention of the Refugee Council when
he helped asylum seekers in Birmingham
in an episode of The Secret Millionaire.
The Channel 4 programme takes multimillionaires, stripping them of their luxuries,
to go undercover in deprived areas and to
find out who needs their help. They spend
time volunteering with local charities and
organisations who are reaching out to
society’s most needy.
After his visit, Aria made a generous donation
towards the GLC Match Fund on behalf of
his company. On behalf of all clients and staff
at the Refugee Council we would like to say
a huge thank you to Aria Technology Ltd for
their kind support.
Following the 60th anniversary event, Aria was
keen to visit our London head office, where we
gave him a tour of our services and facilities
and talked about the financial difficulties that
the charity is currently facing.
Chris Bull
During Aria’s visit to Birmingham he spent time
with a refugee outreach organisation and was
visibly moved by the plight of vulnerable asylum
seekers – unheard and vilified by society and
trapped in a limbo of destitution, unable to
work or to contribute to British society.
60th Anniversary Celebrations
Umbrella Parade
To kick off Refugee Week, nearly 400 people marched through central London with
colourful umbrellas to celebrate 60 years of protecting refugees in the UK and across
Europe.
To the sound of a drumming band, onlookers stopped to take photos as the crowd of refugees,
asylum seekers and supporters carrying umbrellas paraded over the Hungerford Bridge and
along the Southbank, ending at the Celebrating Sanctuary Festival. The umbrellas symbolised
the protection and shelter provided to refugees seeking safety here.
The parade was co-ordinated by the Refugee Council, as part of a range of events that took place
during Refugee Week 2011. Similar marches took place in eight other European cities, including
Cardiff, in solidarity for refugees on World Refugee Day 2011.
Forthcoming events – seminar series
In association with the School of
Advanced Study of the University of
London, the Refugee Council will be
running a high-profile public seminar
series on refugee integration which will
take place between October 2011 and
March 2012 in commemoration of the
60th anniversary of the Refugee Council.
of affairs, to present and receive feedback on
recent work, and to develop research and policy
agendas for the future.
Several of the world’s most prestigious
universities have confirmed their involvement,
including Columbia University in New York and
Oxford University.
The Refugee Council is very excited about the
opportunity to work so closely along side the
School of Advanced Study, looking forward to
anchoring work, services and strategy within
this esteemed academic framework.
The six seminars seek to provide a focal point
for scholars and practitioners working on
refugee integration in the United Kingdom and
internationally, to reflect on the current state
The theme of refugee integration is of critical
importance to communities worldwide, not least
in this time of funding cuts to refugee services
and policy changes in the United Kingdom.
Please visit our website
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk for further
details on the seminars.
Campaigning
Advocacy team update
At the Refugee Council we face big
campaigning challenges in the years ahead
in defence of asylum seekers and refugees.
We will be focussing on four key issues that we
know are of huge concern to those who come to
us for help and will speaking out to highlight:
•The importance of decent legal advice and
representation to those seeking safety in the
UK, especially following the closure of legal
charities Refugee and Migrant Justice and
the Immigration Advisory Service which
had supported thousands of cases.
•The indefinite detention of asylum
seekers with no charge. We know that last
year 230 people (asylum seekers and migrants)
were detained for more than 12 months, and
70 people for more than 2 years. This is a
dreadful practice that must be stopped.
•The high levels of destitution amongst
refugees, in particular those refused asylum
but who cannot be returned home, and
who find themselves trapped with no
income or home.
•The appalling state of accommodation
provided to asylum seekers. We are
carrying out research to encourage asylum
seekers to tell us about the realities of their
accommodation so we can challenge some
of the media myths about asylum seekers’
accommodation.
At the political party conferences in September, we
spoke to a number of MPs and other influential
groups about these issues. We’re delighted to
have gone with two refugee campaigners, who
spoke at our events about the effects of the
Azure card on asylum seekers at the end of the
process, and the right to work for asylum seekers.
An uphill battle for Mohibullah
Despite having told his story
in a Channel 4 Dispatches
documentary that explored
the experiences of children
brutalised by the UK asylum
system, Mohibullah still
faces many difficulties ahead
in his plight to live in safety.
The programme, The Kids
Britain Doesn’t Want, showed
how Mohibullah’s time in
detention and the harsh
treatment by the asylum
system has caused this young
teenage boy to suffer from
severe depression, leading
him to self harm.
Although the Dispatches
programme showed video
evidence to corroborate his
story, and despite a court
order stating that Mohibullah
should no longer be placed
in detention, the UK Border
Agency forced him back into
detention for three months
and then released him. In total
he has been incarcerated four
times and then subsequently
released, which has had a
devastating effect on his
mental health.
Recently, the courts ruled
Mohibullah to be 17 years
old, and he must now wait
for social services to do
another age assessment,
which hopefully will concur
with the court’s ruling.
The Refugee Council will
continue to work closely with
Mohibullah and his solicitors
to assist him with his asylum
application, and to ensure that
he is taken into the care
of social services.
Mohibullah said, “If not for [my
case worker] Francesco, I would
have been sent home straight
away. When I was in detention,
I was told I will be sent home
… I know friends who were
sent back to Afghanistan
and then taken by the Taliban.
Some didn’t even make it as
far as their parents’ home.”
This year the Refugee Council
has already seen an 11%
increase of age dispute referrals
compared to the previous year.
In 2010, 86% of cases we took
on saw separated age disputed
children assessed as being
under 18 years of age and
subsequently taken into the
care of social services.
Supporter News
Community building
Two new short films
show the valuable role
that Refugee Community
Organisations (RCOs) play
in supporting marginalised
people and promoting
integration and community
cohesion.
showcasing Afghan food and
cookery, and bringing together
Afghan women and women of
other cultures.
The project gives women an
opportunity to learn leadership
skills and to increase their
confidence so that they will
The first film features the launch be able to integrate into wider
British society more effectively.
of an Afghan Association
project, A Recipe for Integration, It also serves as a networking
platform for Afghan women.
One participant at the launch
said: “I’m so happy, you know,
it’s not only Afghans today,
other communities as well,
and I am so happy to be with
them and to share things
with them.”
The second film highlights
the fantastic work of the
Iranian Association supporting
their members and the wider
community through projects
around health, culture, art and
employment. They also host
a weekly activity and support
group for older women to
address issues of isolation and
mental health.
The films were made by
the Basis Project, a national
partnership project run by the
Refugee Council and Refugee
Action that helps RCOs across
England manage, develop and
sustain their own work. You
can find out more about the
Basis Project and view more
case study films at
www.thebasisproject.org.uk
A Recipe for Integration launch
Misunderstanding about refugees still rife
An online survey conducted by Opinium
Research earlier this year for the Refugee
Council shows that three quarters of Britons
wildly overestimate the small number of
refugees granted asylum in the UK. In 2009,
4,175 individuals were granted refugee status,
yet 44% of Britons believe it was 100,000
or more.
Other key findings include:
• Two thirds of Britons (67%) are
sympathetic to refugees coming to Britain
(74% of women and 61% of men)
• Half of Britons (49%) are proud of Britain’s
role in drafting the UN Convention on
Refugees
• Negative attitudes to refugees are based
on misunderstandings and confusion
• 82% of respondents with an opinion
agreed with the statement that ‘protecting
the most vulnerable is a core British value’.
•12% believe the Convention on Refugees
is more relevant today than it was in 1951,
and 47% stating it is just as needed.
TO DONATE ONLINE OR BY DIRECT DEBIT, PLEASE VISIT
Supporter News
Spreading the good news on the streets
Charm, passion, sincerity and a life
changing story – that’s what makes
nineteen year old Ditmir an extraordinary
fundraiser for the Refugee Council.
Ditmir Hasani has been working as a street
fundraiser, signing up regular donors for the
Refugee Council. He is new to this line of work,
but his employers at a Professional Fundraising
Organisation called AAP know that he has what
it takes: he is articulate, passionate, has lots of
personality and a genuine spark.
Ditmir’s eagerness to give back to society is
both humbling and infectious, even for those
who have been working in the charity sector for
years. Only a couple of weeks into the Refugee
Council campaign, Supporter Services were
receiving glowing messages from members of
the public.
One person wrote, “I recently met one of
your fundraisers … he was sweet, direct and
very passionate about his message and the
positive work the Refugee Council does. His
name is Ditmir Hasani – I wanted to give him
a mention … Thank you for making the world
a better world for these people – please keep
going, you will always be supported.”
A journalist with Afronews magazine told
us, “I was very impressed with your street
fundraiser Ditmir Hasani, who approached
me in Brixton to raise awareness about the
work of Refugee Council.”
What makes Ditmir stand out from the
crowd? He is a young refugee, who arrived
in the UK with his mother, father and two
sisters, escaping the war in Kosovo in 1998.
He was only six years old at the time. It took
Ditmir and his family several months to reach
the UK, but they were helped by the Refugee
Council when they first arrived.
Ditmir told us that fundraising for the Refugee
Council and learning more about our work has
taught him a lot about himself. He said, “I didn’t
used to like to be called a refugee. It felt like a
bad word. But now I feel proud because of the
great work that the Refugee Council does. They
help people, and that’s good.”
Speaking to members of the public about
refugees isn’t easy as Ditmir explains,
“When I was street fundraising, I found there
is still a lot of confusion surrounding refugees
and illegal immigrants. I told people, ‘Imagine
if you were in my family’s situation. What would
you do in the middle of a war?’ For me, the
best result is when I’ve left an impression and
changed people’s minds. I feel like they’re
going to go home and think about things.”
Ditmir will be attending Brunel University in the
autumn to do a degree in Computer Science,
but he still wants to make time for charity work.
He said, “With the opportunities I have been
given and being able to live in safety without
war, I want the chance to help people and
make a positive difference.”
A huge THANK YOU to Ditmir Hasani and
the fundraising team at AAP for their
sterling work.
OUR WEBSITE WWW.REFUGEECOUNCIL.ORG.UK/DONATE
Supporter News
Get active in
support of refugees!
This anniversary year, many people have
taken the plunge and joined new and exciting
sponsored challenges. From fun runs to bike
rides across borders, they raised generous sums
of money to show their support for refugees
and asylum seekers.
Not only do once-in-a-lifetime challenges
make a difference to vulnerable people, they
also enable you to push your limits. That’s why
Refugee Council supporter Wanausha chose to
rollerskate an incredible 53 miles at Chichester’s
Goodwood Motor Circuit and raised £500!
Sarah Radcliffe told us that her run was a great
confidence boost. She ran London’s BUPA 10K
run for the Refugee Council and said: “Before
signing up, I’d never run more than 20 minutes
at a time, and would never have considered
getting up early on winter mornings to train.
Six months later, I have been converted!
Finishing the race in a respectable time was
such a confidence boost and I now consider
myself a ‘runner’…The highlight of the BUPA
Wanausha (L) skates 53 miles for the Refugee Council
race was running past Paula Radcliffe – I was
at 1km and she was at the 9km mark, running
in the opposite direction! It was a wonderful
atmosphere and very exciting...”
Fancy doing a challenge too? Browse
our online calendar of events at www.
refugeecouncil.org.uk/supportourwork/
sponsoredevents or let us know about
your own sponsored challenge idea.
Contact us on 0207 346 1205 or email us
at [email protected]. We will
support you every step of the way and provide
you with helpful tips, fundraising ideas and
campaign materials.
Congratulations to all our amazing supporters
for their enthusiastic ideas and fantastic
achievements!
Our own interpretation
With the enormous effect
of public spending cuts to
the Refugee Council, our
office in Leeds has found
an innovative way to earn
revenue while providing a
much needed service to the
wider community.
A good interpreter is vital to
supporting refugees effectively.
Access to quality interpreters
in several languages has
always been a core part of
the Refugee Council services
in order to meet the needs of
refugees.
Last year the Refugee Council
office in Leeds received
an increasing number of
10
requests from a variety
of businesses and agencies
for interpreters in specific
languages that are not widely
available. For example, quality
interpreters in dialects such
as Kinyarwanda (Rwandan)
and Tigrinya (Ethiopian) were
difficult to find.
Seeing a gap in the market,
the Leeds office now runs a
small enterprise acting as an
agency providing interpreters
to other organisations.
Working with over 600
interpreters, they provide
interpreting services in
over 100 languages and
rare dialects, available for
face-to-face sessions in the
Yorkshire/Humberside region
and telephone interpreting
sessions nationwide.
The service’s unique languages
and competitive prices have
secured them some big
contracts. They are now the
preferred supplier of the local
Citizens Advice Bureau and
are regularly used by solicitors,
the NHS, City Council and
doctor surgeries.
The money raised from this
project will go back to funding
the general work of the
Refugee Council, supporting
asylum seekers and refugees
in the UK.
Supporter News
Hold a RefuTEA on
Human Rights Day
This year again, we are calling on all tea lovers, bakers and party goers to host a RefuTEA
on 10th December, Human Rights Day, to commemorate the importance of the right to
asylum. Raise awareness and vital funds around a warm cuppa, and help us continue
protecting people’s right to asylum on this special day. It is the perfect time to show
your compassion and solidarity for those who fear for their lives and seek refuge in
other countries.
As 2011 marks the 60th anniversary of
the 1951 Refugee Convention as well
as 60 years of the Refugee Council,
there is even more to celebrate!
By holding a RefuTEA you will
raise much needed funds to help
us create a fair, humane and
effective asylum system and ensure
that refugees get the protection
they need and deserve.
Leanne Turner organised two
RefuTEA parties and said: ‘[This
year] we raised £200 and ate lots of
yummy homemade cakes and treats.
We all hope this small contribution
helps in some way to support the
Refugee Council to continue their
fabulous work in these tough
economic times.”
Host a tea
for friends
Roupa Jettoo wrote: “My
students set up a RefuTEA event
in our College. They baked cakes
and even organised a raffle. They
raised £243 and are happy to
organise another RefuTEA soon.”
To order your free RefuTEA pack,
call 020 7346 1203 or email
[email protected].
You can also register online and
find helpful tips by visiting our
website at www.refugeecouncil.
org.uk/refutea. We can’t wait to
hear from you!
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All I want
for Christmas...
helllo
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LONDON
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Visit www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/giveasyoulive
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The Refugee Council, registered charity number 1014576.
240-250 Ferndale Road, London SW9 8BB