connecting with asylum seekers (paul wilson)

7/29/2019 Connecting with Asylum Seekers (Paul Wilson)

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URBANCONSULTATIONJAN2013BELIEVINGINTHECITY2

PaulWilsonOutreachWorker,InternationalTeams

ConnectingwithAsylumSeekers


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PaulWilsonhassubmittedanumberofhelpfulresourcesthatheusedtoaccompanyhispresentation


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AsylumGlossary*Immigrantallencompassingtermthatreferstoanyonewhohascometoliveinthiscountry

refugees,asylumseekers,internationalstudents,peopleonworkvisas,marriagevisasandmany

more!

AsylumSeekersomeonewhocomestotheUKtoclaimasylumfrompersecution. TheyhavesubmittedanapplicationtotheHomeOfficeandarestillwaitingtoheartheoutcome. Theyarenot

illegalimmigrants!

Refugeesomeonewhohasclaimedasylum,receivedapositivedecisionfromtheHomeOfficeand

beengrantedsomeformofleavetoremaininthiscountry.

The1951RefugeeConventionestablishingUNHCRdescribesarefugeeissomeonewho"owingtoa

wellfoundedfearofbeingpersecutedforreasonsofrace,religion,nationality,membershipofa

particularsocialgrouporpoliticalopinion,isoutsidethecountryofhisnationality,andisunableto,

orowing

to

such

fear,

is

unwilling

to

avail

himself

of

the

protection

of

that

country."

Toreceiverefugeestatus,theasylumseekermustbeabletoprovethattheyarefleeingaspecific

threatagainsttohim/herselfpersonally. Fleeinggeneralwarandhardshipisnotdeemedenoughto

meritrefugeestatus.IDP(InternallyDisplacedPerson) someonewhoisforcedtofleehisorherhomebutwhoremainswithinhisorhercountry'sborders.Theyareoftenreferredtoasrefugees,althoughtheydonotfall

withinthecurrentlegaldefinitionofarefugee.

FailedAsylumSeekersomeonewhohasclaimedasylum,butreceivedanegativedecisionfromtheHomeOffice.

Manyso

called

"failed"

asylum

seekers

are

able

to

gather

enough

fresh

evidence

so

their

claim

can

berevaluated;somedogoontoreceiveILRandevenbecomeBritishcitizens. Thisisahighlynegativetermthatisoftenusedinthepress,as'failed'doesnotaccuratelydescribethesituationofmanypeopleplacedinthiscategory.SeparatedChildrenchildrenseparatedfromtheirparents,usuallybecauseofwar,disasteroronajourneytoanewcountry.

UASC(UnaccompaniedAsylumSeekingChildrenorChild)youngpersonunder18whoarrivesintheUKwithoutaparentorguardianandclaimsasylum. LookedafterbyLocalAuthorities.

ILR(Indefinite

Leave

to

Remain)

gives

a

person

the

right

to

remain

in

the

UK

permanently.

DLR(DiscretionaryLeavetoRemain)createdtoallowthegovernmenttogiveapplicantswithuniquecasestemporarypermissiontostay. ManyUASCaregrantedDLRuntiltheir18thbirthday.

Afterthattheymustapplyforanextension,whichmanyfailtoget.

HP(HumanitarianProtection)enablesthegovernmenttogivepermissiontostaytopeoplewhoifreturnedwouldfacepersecutionforareasonnotlistedinthe1951Convention,forexample

becauseoftheirgenderorsexuality. Thisstatusisalsoforalimitedperiodoftime.

*adaptedfromRefugeeSupportNetwork"JargonGuide"http://refugeesupportnetwork.org/content/jargonguide


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This process applies across the UK but may vary according to individual circumstances.The following summarises the process for someone whose case is being processed in Scotland.

Cur r en t Asy lum Process (New Asy lum Mode l )

Claim asylum at seaport, airport or in the UK &receive grant of temporary admission. This is when

you should receive your IS96 document.

Screening interview at the Home Office (UKBA) in Croydon (animmigration unit). You will be fingerprinted and askedquestions about your journey. You should receive yourapplication. Registration Card (ARC).

You will be assigned a case owner. Your

case owner normally makes the decisionon your claim for asylum.

Move to initial accommodation in Glasgow (e.g. ScottishInduction Service SIS- in Glasgow). SIS will help you finda legal representative and assist with finding help forhealth problems you may have.

Substantive interview with case ownerat UK Border Agency (Brand Street) in

Glasgow, if your case is dealt withthere.

Case ownerserves decision

Positivedecision

Negativedecision

Your legal representative can

put in a written appeal on yourrefusal to the Immigration andAsylum Chamber of Tribunal

Grant of protection

status(Refugee Status/

HumanitarianProtection/

Discretionary Leave toRemain)

Detention if you arerefused asylum, you maybe detained. Note you

could be detained at anypoint in the process.

Appealsuccessful

Your legal

representative

will tell you ifyou are able toappeal further

If status given,

you may beeligible forRefugeeIntegrationEmploymentService (RIES)

at ScottishRefugee Council

Move to general accommodation (YMCA,

Angel Group or GCC) while your claim isassessed. At this point you should be

able to use your ARC at the post office toobtain your cash support.

Appeal notsuccessful

Note : Information provided above is accurate as of August 2010, when created, but is subject to change.

Ongoingrequirement to

report to Brand

Street (animmigration unit)

or anotherlocation. (weekly/monthly)

Scottish Refugee Council


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So what do we do now? Getting involved in supporting asylum seekers where you live.

WORKING WITH REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Introduction

This is an activity to help you reflect on the needs of refugees and asylum seekers. You

can do the activity in a small group of 35 people or in a larger group. The aims of the

activity are:

To understand the needs of asylum seekers and refugees

To think about ways in which you can engage with asylum seekers and refugees

Activity equipment

Three case studies, photocopied for each group

Pens

Large sheets of paper

Activity plan

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

Ask people what knowledge/experience they have of asylum seekers/refugees?

2. Buzz groups (15 minutes)

Organise your big group into smaller groups of 35.

Read out a case study of an asylum seeker or refugee to each group. Ask them to

draw the person on a big sheet of paper. Then ask them to identify and note:

Needs the person will have in relation to their health, self identity and selfesteem and practical needs.

Ways in which the church, or they as individuals, could tackle some of those

needs.

Resources might they need to help out.

Issues or challenges they might encounter.

Resources they have themselves, or within their communities.


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Encourage the groups to think about a whole variety of needs, from emotional needs

such as friendship, to practical needs such as food and clothing. Ask people to

consider small ways in which they can fulfil needs, such as giving someone a lift to

the supermarket, to big ways such as setting up ESOL classes.

3. Feedback (15 minutes)

Talk about the needs you identified. Discuss:

Which needs appear to be the most pressing?

In which ways do people feel they would like to get involved with asylum

seekers and refugees?

What kind of research and/or training would you need to do before you gotinvolved?

Which other organisations or individuals might you work with?


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Working with asylum seekers and refugees is not necessarily as difficult as you might

think. Anyone can offer a welcoming smile! However, as with working alongside any

vulnerable group of people, it is important to be thoughtful about how to get involved.

In particular, we recommend that you:

Never give legal advice to help with someones asylum claim, unless you are

qualified to do so.

Be sensitive when asking asylum seekers or refugees personal questions, as many

will have faced traumatic situations in their past that they will not feel

comfortable sharing. Until you know someone well, avoid asking why they have

come here. Also remember that people may have lost family members in horrificcircumstances.

Be careful about getting into counselling situations that you cant handle.

Remember that it takes specialist training to counsel someone who has been

traumatised.

Seek expert advice as often as you can by getting in touch with organisations

such as the Refugee Council and Refugee Action.

Be confidential. Talking about an asylum seekers personal history or situation

could have an adverse affect on their asylum claim.

Look after yourself and make sure you are well supported.

Remember that giving is not a one way transaction. Many asylum seekers and

refugees will be delighted to offer you hospitality and friendship.


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Case study 1

Suliman is from Iraq. He came to England with

his wife and 3 children ten years ago and has

been granted full refugee status. In Iraq, he was

a physics teacher but he has been unable to get

back into teaching here. He works in a bread

factory and studies in the evenings. His wife is

unwell and unhappy and seems unable to make

friends here. She witnessed her sister and niece

being killed in the family courtyard. She does

not like the children playing outside.


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Case study 2

Mary is a geography teacher from Zimbabwe.

Her husband was very active politically and

was killed. Mary was then raped. She fled to

England and has been housed in emergency

accommodation in a large towerblock in

London for nine months. She recently gave

birth to a baby. She feels very isolated.


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Case study 3

Samuel is from Democratic Republic of the

Congo. He has been in England for five months,

has already been refused asylum and is in the

process of appeal. He was tortured for two

weeks and suffered leg, arm and head injuries.

He does not know where his wife and 4

children are despite efforts by the Red Cross to

trace them. He complains of constant

headaches and cannot sleep at night. He feels

like giving up.


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Furtherresourcesonrefugee&asylum

issues:

Lookingtostartanoutreach?>ServeUK(http://www.serveuk.org) excellentresourcesandcasestudiesabout

communitymission. HasaspecificsectiononservingAsylumSeekers.Alsoincludesfree

coursestohelpchurchesthinkthroughengagementintheircommunity. Formerlycalled

"CommunityMission".

>SMGLifeWords/ECSRAsylumToolkit

(http://www.sgmlifewords.com/asylum/index.html) abasicintroductiontoasylumissues

forchurchesandChristians.Abitoutofdate,butremainsagoodstartingpointthatisn't

overlytechnical.

>Speaktopeoplealreadyinvolved!

StRolloxCommunityOutreach Sighthill:Tel01415581809email:

[email protected]

...andmanyothersaroundtheGlasgow. Lookupyourlocal"IntegrationNetwork"whowill

havemanyexistingcontacts.

TheRefugeeSituationandAsylumPolicy:Putthefollowingintoasearchengine

UNHCR

UKBAAsylum

RefugeeCouncil

RefugeeAction

CampaigningTheIndependentAsylumCommission/CitizensforSanctuary

StillHuman,StillHere

ChristianResponsetoRefugeesandAsylumSeekersCTBIActiononAsylum/Churches'RefugeeNetwork

RefugeeHighwayPartnership

JesuitRefugeeService

Books:>AsylumVoices,ABradstock&ATrotman(Eds),2003,CTBI

>AsyluminBritain:AQuestionofConscience,AHarvey,2009(reviseded.),CTBI(availableforfree

on:http://www.ctbi.org.uk/337)

>APlaceofRefuge,ChurchofEnglandMissionandPublicAffairsCouncil,2005,Church

House

>UnderstandingtheStranger:Buildingbridgescommunityhandbook,NAmas&BCrosland,

2006,CalousteGulbenkianFoundation

>HumanCargo:AJourneyAmongRefugees,CarolineMoorehead,2005,HenryHolt

>ThisFlowingTowardMe:AStoryofGodArrivinginStrangers,MarilynLacey,2009,AveMariaPress

>

Friendship

at

the

Margins,

C

Heuertz

&

C

Pohl,

2010,

IVP

>MakingRoom,CPohl,1999,Eerdmans

>21DaysLater/21MonthsLater:DestitutionandtheAsylumSystem,RefugeeSurvivalTrust&

BritishRedCross,2009(availableforfreeon:http://www.rst.org.uk/knowledge/research)

connecting with asylum seekers (paul wilson)

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