Asylum Seekers, Sanctuary and Faiths Loughborough Council of Faiths, AGM.

Not all immigrants are asylum seekers Students Economic migrants from within the EU Economic migrants from outside the EU who come to work in this country and have a job to go to and permission to work “Illegal immigrants” who come here to work but do not have permission to do so Family members of people already here Asylum seekers and refugees

A refugee is a person who: 'owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country' Article 1, 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees

MAIN DESTINATIONS When refugees flee their own countries, most wind up with their immediate neighbours, often some of the world’s poorer nations.

SYRIAN DISPLACEMENT About 11.6 million Syrians have been displaced, nearly half of Syria’s entire population. Most of them are scattered within Syria, but 3.9 million were living abroad by the end of 2014 – nearly all of them in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.

Despite the drama of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe, most Africans displaced by conflict stay in Africa.

Asylum seekers get a bad press

Britain Is The Asylum Capital Of The World” MYTH: British people believe that on average the UK has 23% of the world’s refugees FACT: The UK houses less than 2% of the world’s refugees Two thirds of the world’s refugees live in developing countries In 2008 the UK ranked 17 th in the league table of industrialised countries for the number of asylum applicants per head of population (less than 2% of the total)

Asylum Seekers Are Mainly Illegal MYTH: People seeking asylum do so under illegal means FACT: There is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker The UK signed the 1951 Convention on Refugees giving anyone the right to apply for asylum in the UK and stay here until a final decision has been made on their application

Asylum Seekers Abuse The Welfare System MYTH: Asylum seekers receive large benefits FACT: Asylum seekers aren’t allowed to claim many types of benefit A lone parent asylum seeker will receive £43.94 per week A single person (not parent) will receive £36.95 per week. FACT: This is 50% below the UK poverty line

Asylum Seekers & Migrants Cause Crime MYTH: Reports in newspapers have implied that asylum seekers and refugees are more likely to cause crime FACT: A report by the Association of Chief Police Officers stated that the “vast majority of people seeking asylum are law abiding citizens” Asylum seekers are more likely to be the victims of crime than the perpetrators A report by Refugee Action stated that one in five of their clients experienced some sort of harassment

Asylum Seekers Cause The Shortage Of Housing In The UK MYTH: Asylum seekers take all the affordable housing FACT: This problem is not caused by asylum seekers Asylum seekers are housed in hard to let private accommodation which is often substandard Many asylum seekers are destitute and homeless. If every asylum seeker left the UK there would still be a shortage of housing

What about detention? In the UK, 30,00+ asylum seekers are held in immigration detention centres each year. Under the Detained Fast Track (DFT), asylum seekers are detained for the duration of their application and appeal. As a principle, UNHCR opposes the detention of people seeking asylum, and calls for the use of alternatives wherever possible. In 2012, 222 children were detained in immigration removal centres, with 156 being under the age of 11. (Source: Home Office Immigration Statistics April - June 2013)

Core Principles of City of Sanctuary Mainstream, grassroots movement – all sectors involved Building bridges between ‘local people’ and refugees Strengthening and broadening the support base for asylum seekers and refugees Helping create a culture of hospitality and welcome Celebrating the contribution of refugees to society Creating and enhancing networks between key players

Streams of Sanctuary Faiths Health Welcome Maternity Schools Arts Women, LGBT, Sports, ESOL, Destitution, Detention, etc.

Sanctuary and Faiths Welcoming the stranger – a tenet of all faith groups

6 th Century Irish Hymn I saw a stranger yestereen I put food in the eating place Drink in the drinking place Music in the listening place And in the sacred name of the Triune He blessed myself and my house My cattle and my dear ones And the lark said in her song Often, often, often Goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise

“Why should we love the stranger? Because God loves the stranger – and remember, you were strangers in Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:19 “I was a stranger and you welcomed me… Truly I tell you, just as you did this to the least of my brothers, … you did it to me” Matthew 25: 35,40

“ Do good - to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer.“ Quran 4:36

Jewish: “You shall also love the stranger”. Deuteronomy 10:9 No other command is repeated more than this one.

Bahai: “Be kind to strangers, help to make them feel at home.” Hinduism: “God resides in all human beings. To welcome a guest therefore is to also welcome God. All guests to be welcomed with the same respect that you offer to God.”

What can a Faith Group do? o Welcome without discrimination o Open eyes to see their ‘neighbour’ o Teach sanctuary principles (See Sanctuary Sunday and other resources)Sanctuary Sunday o Awareness raising on asylum issues o Share resources (people, space, finance) o Use existing structures (small groups, festivals) to practice hospitality and inclusiveness o Lobby on issues of justice and human rights o Practical examples of welcoming (see separate leaflet) o Encourage members to volunteer and get involved o You can apply for a Sanctuary Award

Faiths in Sanctuary Awards Three Core Principles  Learn about what it means to be seeking sanctuary  Embed - take positive action to make welcome and inclusion part of the values of your church/faith group, to support sanctuary seekers and refugees, and to include them in your activities  Share your vision and achievements

What does City of Sanctuary do in Leicester? Welcome and orientation Drop-in for hot lunch and social activities English classes Sewing group Access to IT and learning Art classes via Leicester ArtZone Bicycle loans in partnership with Red Cross Outings and other activities Shopping buddy scheme Appealing for items of need Advocacy and Referral New Evidence Search Team Awareness Raising

“Until we discovered Leicester City of Sanctuary we were depressed, we didn’t know what to do, we stayed at home all day.”

What do we do in Loughborough?

Refugees are ordinary people caught up in extraordinary situations. Peel back the label and you find people like you and me with gifts and talents, willing to work and contribute to our society - if we just give them a chance

Questions?