RESTORE
is a project of Birmingham Churches Together which seeks to help, welcome, and support refugees and asylum seekers.
Extraordinary
Restore Open Meeting
on Wednesday 23rd July 2008
Venue All Saints Church, Herbert Road, Small Heath
from 7.00pm — 9.00pm
Jonathan Cox, Co-ordinator for the Independent Asylum Commission (IAC), has offered to come to Birmingham to motivate us to take up the recommendations raised by the Independent Asylum Commission and lobby for change.
Please note the earlier start time, as Jonathan has to catch a train back to London)
Please help us to publicise this event.
All Welcome.
Jonathan Cox, the Independent Asylum Commission Co-ordinator, is coming to Birmingham to facilitate a discussion between a broad range of individuals and organisations in the West Midlands who are committed to using the IAC's work to make positive change to the UK and regional asylum system.
During the evening we will be talking about the IAC's recommendations, further training opportunities that the IAC could provide, what our priorities would be in the West Midlands, and how we would take things forward and make sure the IAC reports do not gather dust.
RESTORE acts in response to the Biblical teaching to welcome the stranger and to provide justice for the oppressed. One of the most marginalised, misunderstood and misrepresented groups in our society today is asylum seekers. These people are claiming asylum due to fear of persecution in their home countries..
Since October 2000 RESTORE has been part of 'Birmingham Churches Together' and thus an instrument for the churches across the city in their concern for these marginalised people.
RESTORE's mission is:
- to encourage friendship and build resources, primarily through the church network in Birmingham and Solihull, to support asylum seekers and refugees;
- to enable refugees and asylum seekers to make a valued contribution to society;
- to work to raise awareness, change attitudes and challenge prejudice in the host community.
What does RESTORE do?
RESTORE’s key areas of activity are:
- befriending by local volunteers on a one-to-one basis
- hosting social activities for families and adults
- raising awareness within the host community, especially through the church network
- working together with other refugee agencies
- advocating on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers.
- All these activities are explored further on other web pages.
How did RESTORE begin?
RESTORE was started in 1999, when churches in the Ladywood and Edgbaston area saw a need and were motivated to take action. Up to that point, most asylum seekers had been accommodated in London and the South East, but a new government policy of dispersal sought to house them more evenly across the country. This led to a significant increase in new arrivals in Birmingham.
Since October 2000, RESTORE has been a project of Birmingham Churches Together and thus an instrument for the churches across the city to act to support these marginalised people.
Charity Number : 243931
Donations
Should you wish to make a donation towards the work of RESTORE,
please make your cheque payable to:
“Birmingham Churches Together - RESTORE”
Also, please be aware of our Funding page
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