Welcome the Stranger NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY

The BEACON Projects: McKenzie Friends CHAT (Care and Hospitality at Thornbury) CHAT Phoenix House & CHAT English Conversation Club Hosting And…campaigning, awareness raising, fundraising… NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY

‘On arrival in the UK, I knew that I was nobody here, had no one, and knew nothing […] ‘BEACON’ helped me to find a place to live. That room not only became a room to live, but also a place to learn, to think to restart and a starting point to be a better person’ One of BEACON’s first hosted guests Hosting Project NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY people have been hosted since 2008 At least a third have gone on to get leave to remain

CHAT (CARE AND HOSPITALITY AT THORNBURY) ‘Before I came to the UK I used to speak English sometimes as I worked at international company, I used to read, write and discuss when necessary […]. Since I came to the UK I shocked as I found myself unable to communicate and understand local accents and some people's pronunciation, then I started attending CHAT English club, I met there very helpful, polite and kind people who helped me and others to improve our language, increase our self confidence and also helped with some cultural information. Former CHAT English student, September 2015, now working as an engineer in Manchester. NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY Between 10 and 25 students access our English club, some don’t have any other contact with native speakers. In we served over 1145 cuppas and supported around 200 asylum seekers at Phoenix House

NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY CHAT English Club: fun, games (and English!)

Focus on: McKenzie Friends NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY Volunteer led A McKenzie Friend is a member of the public, without legal training, who assists an appellant when they have no legal representative, at a time that is often bewildering and full of anxiety. A McKenzie Friend is a volunteer, independent of the court system and the Home Office. Our volunteers work as a team to assist asylum seekers who have neither legal representative nor access to legal aid by: · providing moral support · attending court hearings with the clients · helping clients to submit appeals and fresh claims · liaising with other agencies as appropriate to ensure clients’ different needs are addressed At no point are clients asked for any kind of financial contribution.

CHALLENGES Ensuring our support is not misconceived as legal advice Managing expectations Helping the client take ownership and engage with their case. Volunteer recruitment Access to legal advice / guidance on behalf of our clients. Capacity NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY

GOOD NEWS STORIES…. NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY In March this year one of our clients had their appeal allowed thanks to the help of their McKenzie Friend! Another long-term client who we supported get access to a legal aid solicitor was granted leave to remain earlier this year. In we met with 56 clients from 24 countries. We are currently supporting 32 asylum seekers who would otherwise have no where to turn.

NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY

CASE STUDY: ‘Abdul’ is a young man from a country in Asia.* When we first met with Abdul it was difficult to work out where he was staying and why he had ended up destitute: he had only recently been refused by the Home Office and still had right of appeal at the FTT. With our volunteer interpreters (one is a former student at our CHAT English Club!) our McKenzie friends helped Abdul tell his story and submit an out of time appeal himself. His appeal was allowed to proceed and the McKenzie Friends started to help him document his story: explaining what types of evidence he might want to think about obtaining for his appeal. He didn’t have copies of all his papers so his McKenzie Friends helped him contact his previous solicitor and they sent Abdul all his important paperwork. The McKenzie friend also put Abdul’s papers in order and sequence and had drawn up a time line of the progress of his case since he arrived in the UK. *Names and location have been changed. NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY

CASE STUDY CONTINUED… Abdul had been subjected to horrendous abuse in his home country and he is at real risk of detention by the authorities due to imputed political opinion. He was also involved in an accident which has affected his health on a long term basis. Despite this, Abdul managed to get documentary evidence from his home country attesting to what has happened to him. His McKenzie Friends made him an appointment at a local legal aid law firm and accompanied him. The solicitor they saw took him on and will be representing Abdul at the Tribunal later this year. When we first met Abdul he was homeless and his case was in limbo, without legal representation or any understanding of what the next steps for him could be. Abdul is now also able to apply for S95 with the help of another agency and a quality legal representative to fight his case. NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY

WHAT MCKENZIE FRIENDS CAN OFFER The chance to be listened to. On-going support: clients can come back to us at any stage of their claim. Reassurance: moral support during bewildering time NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY

Walk for Justice: 22 nd June 2016: Join us! NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY

|T: | W: | F: Beacon Bradford Bradford Reg. Charity No NACCOM CONFERENCE, 13TH MAY