Simple acts of compassion you can carry out this Refugee Week to support refugees and asylum seekers, standing against the Illegal Migration Bill.
This Refugee Week, carry out simple acts of compassion by supporting our and partner campaigns.
René Cassin
Father’s Day Action:
Compassion For Father’s in Detention:
Throughout history, the ability to seek refuge has been essential to Jewish survival. However, in the UK today, those seeking refuge can be indefinitely locked up in immigration detention centres.
Imagine if you were locked up, and no one knew your release date.
The UK is one of the only countries in Europe to indefinitely imprison people in detention centres. Every year, around 25,000 people are detained by the Home Office without charge and without time limit across seven immigration detention centres. Described by a cross-party group of MPs as “expensive, ineffective and unjust”, indefinite detention is rendered unnecessary by the fact that many of those detained are eventually released back into the community.
This Father’s Day (18th June) and Refugee Week (19-26th June), we encourage individuals to show compassion to a father in detention as the government’s Illegal Migration Bill continues through Parliament. We will stand up again and show that our communities of faith want Compassion Not Cruelty, for people seeking sanctuary in the UK.
Post a Father’s Day message to a Father in Detention and on your social media this Refugee Week. Show that the UK wants Compassion Not Cruelty, towards asylum seekers and refugees.
Sending a message of compassion is one of the ‘Simple Acts’ suggested by Refugee week (19th-25th June). We know that receiving a compassionate message is a powerful tool for giving someone hope, inspiration and care in the difficult times that they are facing. This is especially true for Father’s away from their children and families during Father’s Day.
Send a message of compassion, using our toolkit found here.
Partner Actions:
Hosting Meals for Together With Refugees
During Refugee Week (19-25 June) and Refugee Festival Scotland (16-25 June), as the government’s Illegal Migration Bill continues through Parliament, we will stand up again and show that our communities of faith want Hospitality Not Hostility for people seeking sanctuary in the UK.
Through actions of welcome, Hospitality Not Hostility will send a message to Westminster from all corners of the country, that how we treat refugees is about who we are. At our best, we are welcoming and kind to those facing difficult times. The government’s #RefugeeBanBill does not represent us.
Share a meal or refreshments with refugees, asylum seekers and other people in your community during Refugee Week 2023. Gather people around the table together to show that we want Hospitality Not Hostility towards refugees in the UK.
The link to the Tool Kit can be found here: Hospitality Not Hostility: toolkit for faiths groups.
Women For Refugee Women & End Detention Group: Sending Cards
To mark Refugee Week, Women For Refugee Women and the End Detention group have launched a new campaigns toolkit, focused on targeting brands that use Mitie’s ‘services’.
They are asking these brands to stop working with Mitie. Women For Refugee Women think this is another important way to exert pressure on Mitie, to end their involvement in immigration detention.
The brands we are focusing on in this action are Bravissimo, Sainsbury’s and Ikea, all of whom currently use Mitie’s ‘services’. They’re asking people to target these brands in the run up to and during Refugee Week, via email and social media. You can find out more about the action and download the campaigns toolkit here: https://www.refugeewomen.co.uk/campaign/stop-big-brands-contracting-mitie-for-their-services/
The End Detention group have also designed some Refugee Week cards, which can be posted to Bravissimo, Ikea and Sainsbury’s.
They are also very happy to send over some of the Refugee Week cards, plus stamps & envelopes.
Refugee Action: Listening to Podcasts
Listen to the Podcast episode: Rwanda Policy and Its Impacts on People’s Mental Health.
This episode is hosted by panellists Dr Grace Crowley, a psychiatrist and member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists working group on forced migration, Sima (not her real name), one of their wonderful volunteers at Yorkshire and Omid, a volunteer at the City of Sanctuary Sheffield.
You can listen???? here (Spotify) and ????here (Apple Podcast). As usual, I’d like to hear your feedback and please circulate links with your network.
Stay tuned for episode June: The Pride Month ????️????
For more simple actions:
Refugee Week Simple Actions can be found here.
