Migration and Europe – Grassroot Case Studies

The Trust supports a variety of organisations working in diverse areas, particularly in Birmingham and the Black Country. It also funds campaigning organisations and grassroots groups seeking to influence the public and policy debate on migration.

In addition, we seek to support projects that provide a platform for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants to speak out at local, national or international level.

Examples of organisations currently supported by the Trust:

Women for Refugee Women (WRW)

WRW was set up in May 2006 in response to the injustices experienced by women refugees in the United Kingdom asylum system. It seeks to raise awareness of poor decision making on asylum cases involving gender related persecution, including rape, forced marriage, threats of honour killing and female genital mutilation. WRW raises awareness by working with the media and by talking with politicians and policy makers. It also builds partnerships with individual asylum seekers, to involve them in decision making. The Trust is currently supporting the group to deliver a programme of research, media work and advocacy on the refusal of asylum to women fleeing gender-related persecution.

Article 1

Based in London, Article 1 was started in October 2008 by members of Waging Peace, a human rights organisation founded in 2004 which campaigns against human rights abuses in Darfur, Sudan. Article 1 brings together the Darfuri diaspora to share problems and solutions, and to make their voice heard as a group. Its aim is to influence policy, increase media and public awareness and to support Darfuri asylum seekers in the UK. The Trust thinks it is crucial to support Article 1, a young organisation with huge potential to support vulnerable Darfuri asylum seekers and to influence policy. Our grant is enabling it to improve the organisation’s ability to assist asylum seeker with their cases, particularly those facing immediate deportation, or direct them to the relevant specialist organisations. Article 1 is also working closely with the UK Darfuri community to set up grassroots organisations and campaign for their fair treatment through media work and lobbying Government and politicians directly.

Kalayaan

Kalayaan is a registered charity, established in the 1980s to support and campaign on behalf of undocumented and destitute migrants. Migrant domestic workers are extremely vulnerable and can face physical, psychological and sexual abuse, discrimination, low pay and long hours. Kalayaan works with its clients to overcome these barriers and improve their quality of life through confidential advice, ESOL courses, practical emergency assistance and a safe space to socialise. The group also campaign for the rights of migrant domestic workers. The Trust is supporting Kalayaan to employ a worker to co-ordinate the advice and support given to migrant domestic workers, who will work with a solicitor to ensure that cases can be taken to tribunal, developing legal precedent.

Refugee and Migrant Centre

RMC was founded in Wolverhampton eleven years ago by two volunteers. It assists asylum seekers, refugees and migrants from over 100 different countries, providing support from the point of arrival until full settlement and naturalisation. The main priority of the organisation remains its most vulnerable service users who face destitution, lack of legal advice and mental health problems. As one of the only groups providing support of this kind in the Black Country, RMC work closely with partners and regional migration forums to improve the quality of other advice and support services to asylum seekers, refugees and migrant groups. Funding from the Trust is contributing to core costs and to the employment of a part-time case worker who works with undocumented migrants and refused asylum seekers.

Migrants’ Rights Network (MRN)

The need for an organisation like MRN was identified through discussions and research undertaken by the Barrow Cadbury Trust in 2005, with its public launch in 2006. Since then MRN has been building up a UK-wide network of organisations working in support of the rights of migrants with regional networks established in Scotland, Wales, North West England, the West Midlands and London.  MRN undertakes a range of activities including research on immigration policy and campaigning to influence policy. It works for a rights-based approach to migration, with migrants as full partners in developing the policies and procedures which affect life in the UK.  The Trust supports the core costs of MRN. We believe its work is vital in providing a strong and well evidenced intellectual view on migration and more specific areas such as regularisation of undocumented migrants.

Bosnia & Herzegovina UK Network (BHN)

BHN is an umbrella organisation established in 1996 and based in Sparkhill in Birmingham. Its core services include counselling, advocacy, advice, supplementary schools, training, signposting and organisational development to member organisations and local community groups who are working with asylum seekers, refugees and migrants from all backgrounds.

BHN works with partners, clients and local communities to encourage the formation of friendships across different ethnic and refugee groups focusing on their common experience and tackling the issues they face together. The Trust is currently supporting the group to develop its strategic role in the local voluntary sector, building the capacity of local grassroots groups and developing its building into a community hub.

Ileys Community Organisation

Ileys is an unincorporated association, which registered as a charity in 2008. It was set up with a mission of tackling poverty and social exclusion in the Somali refugee community, but over time has expanded focus to include individuals who are no longer refugees and those who are from Arabic speaking countries other than Somalia. The group deliver several small projects from a shop front in Smethwick, a socially deprived area with a high Somali population. Funding from the Trust has enabled the group to expand and develop its drop-in advice surgeries, which provide support with a range of issues including housing, welfare and benefits, health and navigating local public services. A full-time Community Support Worker provides advice, but also accompanies clients to meetings of particular importance to ensure a resolution or appropriate next step.