URBANCONSULTATIONJAN2013 BELIEVINGINTHECITY2

PaulWilson OutreachWorker,InternationalTeams ConnectingwithAsylumSeekers

PaulWilsonhassubmittedanumberofhelpfulresourcesthatheusedtoaccompanyhis presentation

AsylumGlossary*
Immigrantallencompassingtermthatreferstoanyonewhohascometoliveinthiscountry refugees,asylumseekers,internationalstudents,peopleonworkvisas,marriagevisasandmany more! AsylumSeekersomeonewhocomestotheUKtoclaimasylumfrompersecution.Theyhave submittedanapplicationtotheHomeOfficeandarestillwaitingtoheartheoutcome.Theyarenot illegalimmigrants! Refugeesomeonewhohasclaimedasylum,receivedapositivedecisionfromtheHomeOfficeand beengrantedsomeformofleavetoremaininthiscountry. The1951RefugeeConventionestablishingUNHCRdescribesarefugeeissomeonewho"owingtoa wellfoundedfearofbeingpersecutedforreasonsofrace,religion,nationality,membershipofa particularsocialgrouporpoliticalopinion,isoutsidethecountryofhisnationality,andisunableto, orowingtosuchfear,isunwillingtoavailhimselfoftheprotectionofthatcountry." Toreceiverefugeestatus,theasylumseekermustbeabletoprovethattheyarefleeingaspecific threatagainsttohim/herselfpersonally.Fleeinggeneralwarandhardshipisnotdeemedenoughto meritrefugeestatus. IDP(InternallyDisplacedPerson)someonewhoisforcedtofleehisorherhomebutwhoremains withinhisorhercountry'sborders.Theyareoftenreferredtoasrefugees,althoughtheydonotfall withinthecurrentlegaldefinitionofarefugee. FailedAsylumSeekersomeonewhohasclaimedasylum,butreceivedanegativedecisionfromthe HomeOffice. Manysocalled"failed"asylumseekersareabletogatherenoughfreshevidencesotheirclaimcan berevaluated;somedogoontoreceiveILRandevenbecomeBritishcitizens.Thisisahighly negativetermthatisoftenusedinthepress,as'failed'doesnotaccuratelydescribethesituationof manypeopleplacedinthiscategory. SeparatedChildrenchildrenseparatedfromtheirparents,usuallybecauseofwar,disasterorona journeytoanewcountry. UASC(UnaccompaniedAsylumSeekingChildrenorChild)youngpersonunder18whoarrivesin theUKwithoutaparentorguardianandclaimsasylum.LookedafterbyLocalAuthorities. ILR(IndefiniteLeavetoRemain)givesapersontherighttoremainintheUKpermanently. DLR(DiscretionaryLeavetoRemain)createdtoallowthegovernmenttogiveapplicantswith uniquecasestemporarypermissiontostay.ManyUASCaregrantedDLRuntiltheir18thbirthday. Afterthattheymustapplyforanextension,whichmanyfailtoget. HP(HumanitarianProtection)enablesthegovernmenttogivepermissiontostaytopeoplewhoif returnedwouldfacepersecutionforareasonnotlistedinthe1951Convention,forexample becauseoftheirgenderorsexuality.Thisstatusisalsoforalimitedperiodoftime.
*adaptedfromRefugeeSupportNetwork"JargonGuide"http://refugeesupportnetwork.org/content/jargonguide

Current Asylum Process (New Asylum Model)

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. 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 (an immigration unit). You will be fingerprinted and asked questions about your journey. You should receive your application. Registration Card (ARC). You will be assigned a case owner. Your case owner normally makes the decision on your claim for asylum. Detention if you are refused asylum, you may be detained. Note you could be detained at any point in the process.

Ongoing requirement to report to Brand Street (an immigration unit) or another location. (weekly/ monthly)

Move to initial accommodation in Glasgow (e.g. Scottish Induction Service SIS- in Glasgow). SIS will help you find a legal representative and assist with finding help for health problems you may have.

Substantive interview with case owner at UK Border Agency (Brand Street) in Glasgow, if your case is dealt with there. Move to general accommodation (YMCA, Angel Group or GCC) while your claim is assessed. At this point you should be able to use your ARC at the post office to obtain your cash support.

Case owner serves decision

Positive decision

Negative decision

If status given, you may be eligible for Refugee Integration Employment Service (RIES) at Scottish Refugee Council

Grant of protection status (Refugee Status/ Humanitarian Protection/ Discretionary Leave to Remain)

Your legal representative can put in a written appeal on your refusal to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of Tribunal Your legal representative will tell you if you are able to appeal further

Appeal successful

Appeal not successful

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

Sowhatdowedonow?Gettinginvolvedinsupportingasylumseekerswhereyoulive.

WORKINGWITHREFUGEESANDASYLUMSEEKERSINYOURCOMMUNITY

Introduction Thisisanactivitytohelpyoureflectontheneedsofrefugeesandasylumseekers.You candotheactivityinasmallgroupof35peopleorinalargergroup.Theaimsofthe activityare: Tounderstandtheneedsofasylumseekersandrefugees Tothinkaboutwaysinwhichyoucanengagewithasylumseekersandrefugees

Activityequipment Threecasestudies,photocopiedforeachgroup Pens Largesheetsofpaper

Activityplan 1. Introduction(5minutes) Askpeoplewhatknowledge/experiencetheyhaveofasylumseekers/refugees? 2. Buzzgroups(15minutes) Organiseyourbiggroupintosmallergroupsof 35. Readoutacasestudyofanasylumseekerorrefugeetoeachgroup.Askthemto drawthepersononabigsheetofpaper.Thenaskthemtoidentifyandnote: Needsthepersonwillhaveinrelationtotheirhealth,selfidentityandself esteemand practicalneeds. Waysinwhichthechurch,ortheyasindividuals,couldtacklesomeofthose needs. Resourcesmighttheyneedtohelpout. Issuesorchallengestheymightencounter. Resourcestheyhavethemselves,orwithintheircommunities.

Encouragethegroupstothinkaboutawholevarietyofneeds,fromemotionalneeds suchasfriendship,topracticalneedssuchasfoodandclothing.Askpeopleto considersmallwaysinwhichtheycanfulfilneeds,suchasgivingsomeonealiftto thesupermarket,tobigwayssuchassettingupESOLclasses. 3. Feedback(15minutes) Talkabouttheneedsyouidentified.Discuss: Whichneedsappeartobethemostpressing? Inwhichwaysdopeoplefeeltheywouldliketogetinvolvedwithasylum seekersandrefugees? Whatkindofresearchand/ortrainingwouldyouneedtodobeforeyougot involved? Whichotherorganisationsorindividualsmightyouworkwith?

Workingwithasylumseekersandrefugeesisnotnecessarilyasdifficultasyoumight think.Anyonecanofferawelcomingsmile!However,aswithworkingalongsideany vulnerablegroupofpeople,itisimportanttobethoughtfulabouthowtogetinvolved. Inparticular,werecommendthatyou: Nevergivelegaladvicetohelpwithsomeonesasylumclaim,unlessyouare qualifiedtodoso.

Besensitivewhenaskingasylumseekersorrefugeespersonalquestions,asmany willhavefacedtraumaticsituationsintheirpastthattheywillnotfeel comfortablesharing.Untilyouknowsomeonewell,avoidaskingwhytheyhave comehere.Alsorememberthatpeoplemayhavelostfamilymembersinhorrific circumstances. Becarefulaboutgettingintocounsellingsituationsthatyoucanthandle. Rememberthatittakesspecialisttrainingtocounselsomeonewhohasbeen traumatised. Seekexpertadviceasoftenasyoucanbygettingintouchwithorganisations suchastheRefugeeCouncilandRefugeeAction. Beconfidential.Talkingaboutanasylumseekerspersonalhistoryorsituation couldhaveanadverseaffectontheirasylumclaim. Lookafteryourselfandmakesureyouarewellsupported. Rememberthatgivingisnotaonewaytransaction.Manyasylumseekersand refugeeswillbedelightedtooffer youhospitalityandfriendship.

Casestudy1 SulimanisfromIraq.HecametoEnglandwith hiswifeand3childrentenyearsagoandhas beengrantedfullrefugeestatus.InIraq,hewas aphysicsteacherbuthehasbeenunabletoget backintoteachinghere.Heworksinabread factoryandstudiesintheevenings.Hiswifeis unwellandunhappyandseemsunabletomake friendshere.Shewitnessedhersisterandniece beingkilledinthefamilycourtyard.Shedoes notlikethechildrenplayingoutside.

Casestudy2

MaryisageographyteacherfromZimbabwe. Herhusbandwasveryactivepoliticallyand waskilled.Marywasthenraped.Shefledto Englandandhasbeenhousedinemergency accommodationinalargetowerblockin Londonforninemonths.Sherecentlygave birthtoababy.Shefeelsveryisolated.

Casestudy3

Samuel isfromDemocraticRepublicofthe Congo.HehasbeeninEnglandforfivemonths, hasalreadybeenrefusedasylumandisinthe processofappeal.Hewastorturedfortwo weeksandsufferedleg,armandheadinjuries. Hedoesnotknowwherehiswifeand4 childrenaredespiteeffortsbytheRedCrossto tracethem.Hecomplainsofconstant headachesandcannotsleepatnight.Hefeels likegivingup.

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! StRolloxCommunityOutreachSighthill:Tel01415581809email: strollox@btinternet.com ...andmanyothersaroundtheGlasgow.Lookupyourlocal"IntegrationNetwork"whowill havemanyexistingcontacts. TheRefugeeSituationandAsylumPolicy: Putthefollowingintoasearchengine UNHCR UKBAAsylum RefugeeCouncil RefugeeAction Campaigning TheIndependentAsylumCommission/CitizensforSanctuary StillHuman,StillHere ChristianResponsetoRefugeesandAsylumSeekers CTBIActiononAsylum/Churches'RefugeeNetwork RefugeeHighwayPartnership JesuitRefugeeService Books: >AsylumVoices,ABradstock&ATrotman(Eds),2003,CTBI >APlaceofRefuge,ChurchofEnglandMissionandPublicAffairsCouncil,2005,Church House >UnderstandingtheStranger:Buildingbridgescommunityhandbook,NAmas&BCrosland, 2006,CalousteGulbenkianFoundation

>AsyluminBritain:AQuestionofConscience,AHarvey,2009(reviseded.),CTBI(availableforfree on:http://www.ctbi.org.uk/337)

>HumanCargo:AJourneyAmongRefugees,CarolineMoorehead,2005,HenryHolt >ThisFlowingTowardMe:AStoryofGodArrivinginStrangers,MarilynLacey,2009,AveMariaPress >FriendshipattheMargins,CHeuertz&CPohl,2010,IVP >MakingRoom,CPohl,1999,Eerdmans >21DaysLater/21MonthsLater:DestitutionandtheAsylumSystem,RefugeeSurvivalTrust& BritishRedCross,2009(availableforfreeon:http://www.rst.org.uk/knowledge/research)