Links
National
- Welcome to Birmingham
WMSMP is pleased to announce that the new ‘Welcome to Birmingham’ website was formally launched on Monday 23 February 2009 at WMSMP’s Regional ‘Migration Matters’ Conference. Development of this website was a partnership project funded by Digital Birmingham and Birmingham Health and Wellbeing Partnership. The website is a guide to information, support and services in Birmingham for people new to the city. It contains over 100 pages of information in plain English as well as Welcome videos in 7 different languages. The site is targeted at all new arrivals and also useful to those who work with them. It can be navigated by migration status or by topic area. Links are provided to translated information and to other websites that provide further information.
For more details, contact Clare Daley at c.daley@wmlga.gov.uk or on 0121 678 1078.
- Citizens for Sanctuary
Citizens for Sanctuary is a Citizen Organising Foundation campaign to secure justice for people fleeing persecution and rebuild public support for sanctuary. The largest organisation in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. They give direct help and support and also work with asylum seekers and refugees to ensure their needs and concerns are addressed.
- Refugee Council
The largest organisation in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. They give direct help and support and also work with asylum seekers and refugees to ensure their needs and concerns are addressed.
- Enabling Christians in Serving Refugees
Assisting and equipping Christians to express God’s love in practical and informed ways to asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.
- Church Action on Poverty Living Ghosts Campaign
seeks to address the issue of the destitution of asylum seekers.
- Amnesty International UK
An organisation standing up for human rights world wide and particularly the rights of those who are persecuted and imprisoned.
- The British Red Cross
In Birmingham the British Red Cross are very involved in supporting asylum seekers, especially those who are destitute.
Local
- Birmingham Churches Together
- ASIRT (Asylum Support and Immigration Resource Team)
provide immigration advice to asylum seekers. They run a drop-in service for advice on Thursdays.
- Birmingham Money Advice and Grants (B-MAG)
is an anti-poverty agency which provides social work and legal advice services to individuals and communities in need.
- Celebrating Sanctuary
Birmingham’s Refugee Week celebrations.
- Karis Neighbour Scheme
seeks to offer practical support, friendship and advocacy in the local community in Ladywood through volunteers.
- Sport4life UK
exists to change lives through the power of sport. They are running regular football sessions for asylum seeker and refugee men.
- Handsworth Welcome!
A project of the churches in the Handsworth area of Birmingham serving refugees and asylum seekers: Contact Suzanne Dix on welcomeproject@yahoo.co.uk
- Selly Oak World Friends
has monthly events for asylum seekers and refugees at Selly Oak Methodist Church, Birmingham.
- Love Life Live Lent 2
More information about this innovative publication.
- The Vietnamese Development Centre
is located in Handsworth.
- Solihull Welcome is operated as a Drop-in centre by the Solihull Churches Asylum Seekers Support Group to offer hospitality to Asylum Seekers and Refugees visiting the offices of the Border and Immigration Agency based at Sandford House in Homer Road, Solihull.
It is open on Wednesdays 11.30am to 3.45pm and Fridays 10.30 to 3.00pm in St Augustine’s Church Hall, Homer Road. Hospitality includes the provision of free refreshments, conversation with our guests, a limited amount of clothing, toys for children and, when requested, pointers as to where further help and advice may be obtained. All this happens in a friendly and stress-free atmosphere.
It started in Dec 2006 having been set up and supported by Solihull Churches Together and it is staffed entirely by Volunteers. More information available from:
The Chairman
Solihull Welcome
St Augustine’s Church
1 Herbert Rd
Solihull
B91 3QE
Tel: 0156477 5315
Email davidjwaters@talktalk.net or swanmrsp@aol.com
Flyers
Glossary
- Refugee — someone who is outside the country they normally reside in and is unable or unwilling to return home for fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.
- Asylum Seeker — a person who has applied for refugee status and is waiting to be considered by the Government.
- Volunteer — a person who works for an organisation without being paid. Many charities depend on the generous gifts of time, energy and commitment that volunteers offer.
- Refugee Council glossary
Independent Asylum Commission’s West Midlands Roadshow, an evening of free entertainment and information about the first independent review of the UK’s asylum system
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