The UK government has recently introduced new rules for how we treat refugees. The Nationality and Borders Act represents a major attack on people seeking safety.
This is part of the ‘hostile environment’ against refugees and other people arriving in the UK.
But people who travel here are simply seeking safety and fairness, as well as bringing insights and skills that we all benefit from.
What could a kinder, fairer approach look like?
Together With Refugees are calling for a system that:
- Stands up for people’s ability to seek safety in the UK no matter how they came here;
- Ensures people can live in dignity while they wait to hear a decision on whether they will be granted protection as a refugee;
- Empowers refugees to rebuild their lives, and contribute to their communities;
- Means the UK works with other countries to do our bit to help people who are forced to flee their homes.
Could we create a ‘supportive environment’ to nurture people who arrive here and the communities they join?
Pop into Peace Hub to find out more, and get ideas for how you can join in Together With Refugees orange hearts campaign.
You can also buy greetings cards from Birch, a volunteer led charity working to harness the enthusiasm of local people to offer friendship and hospitality to people seeking sanctuary.
And you can buy copies of ‘Soaring with Clipped Wings’ a book of poetry written by refugees and asylum seekers working with Stories of Hope and Home.
Meanwhile, the energy and cost-of-living crisis is making people feel insecure, and making it easier to present groups like refugees as scapegoats. So you can continue to sign up to support the Enough is Enough campaign identifying the real cause of these problems as inequality, and calling for 5 steps to provide economic security for everyone.