MRN London Newsletter July 2020
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Next London Network Meeting
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The theme of the meeting is "Digital Rights and COVID-19."
Data surveillance has been a key strategy used by the Home Office to monitor migrants, often leaving migrants without access to their own personal data. Justified concerns around data sharing between public service providers and the Home Office prevented migrants from seeking support during COVID-19.
This London Network Meeting is for the purpose of helping us to understand how data sharing has impacted the rights of migrants throughout COVID-19 and how we can come together to challenge the hostile environment through fighting for digital rights.
The meeting will take place online on 21 July 2020, 2-4pm.
To RSVP and receive the Zoom details and full agenda,
register on Eventbrite or email london@migrantsrights.org.uk |
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Survey: Housing/hotel or other accommodation evictions
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We are looking to better understand the impact of Covid-19 and lockdown measures on migrants subject to No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) conditions in the UK. The survey is to be completed by organisations and caseworkers that represent these migrants in London, in order to learn about housing evictions experienced during/post the Covid-19 lockdown. More info and to take this survey here.
The deadline for responses is 7 August 2020. |
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BBC: Undocumented migrants are at risk
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"We're calling for all undocumented migrants to be given leave to remain because we do feel this to be the humane thing to do and it would protect not just them but society at large as well." - Fizza Qureshi, CEO, Migrants' Rights Network
Charities say they fear that thousands of undocumented workers here in London are at risk of coronavirus- because they're too afraid to seek help. That's despite reassurances from the government that hospitals will NOT carry out immigration checks. A new report- by a London migrant rights charity- says the government's hostile environment policies are a risk to public health. Watch Leana Hosea's piece for the BBC on undocumented workers
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Campaigns We're Supporting
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- Home For All - Crisis Campaign -
 During the coronavirus pandemic, we have come together as a society to achieve extraordinary things for people facing homelessness – from finding accommodation for people in hotels to protecting people from becoming homeless during the pandemic. Crisis is calling for the change we need so that everyone has a safe, stable home; and funding homelessness services to help people leaving temporary accommodation and those newly facing homelessness to find somewhere permanent to live. Join MRN in supporting a #HomeForAll to make right now the beginning of the end of homelessness. More info
- Open Letter To Local Authorities - More than a hundred charities, campaign groups, lawyers and local councillors have urged local councils not to evict homeless people with NRPF from emergency accommodation provided through the Covid-19 homelessness response. The open letter also asks councils not to share homeless people’s information with the Home Office without their consent and to lobby for an end to the ‘no recourse to public funds (NRPF)’ system. Read our open letter to local authorities here. Members of the public can sign here to show their support.
- Call from evidence from local authorities on 'no recourse to public funds' during the Covid-19 pandemic - During the pandemic local authorities across the UK have played an unprecedented role in supporting single homeless people with NRPF in addition to their existing responsibilities to children and families, and adults with care needs. We want to find out from council officers how local authorities have responded to this. What are the challenges and difficulties, and what are the emerging areas of good practice? Please circulate the survey far and wide: *Deadline is 6th July 2020. More info
 Unis Resist Border Controls survey - Complete the survey to allow URBC to better resist the blanket deployment of such technology for surveillance, monitoring and performance management purposes. Please share with university staff and students who may be affected or have knowledge of this. Deadline to participate in the study is by FRIDAY 24 JULY. Take the survey
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 Free School Meals Info Sheet - This information sheet will explain if you might be eligible for free school meals and how to apply. It includes information for families that receive welfare support and for families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF). More info Please help us spread the word about who is entitled to free school meals!
- Windrush- UK government to act on all 30 lessons learned recommendations-
Priti Patel has promised significant cultural and systemic reform of the Home Office, as she accepted all 30 recommendations of the independent review into the Windrush scandal. The home secretary’s announcement commits the government to undertaking a “scrupulous” evaluation of the risks and effectiveness of its controversial hostile environment legislation, and to ensure that all Home Office policies are “rooted in humanity”. More info
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- APPG on No Recourse to Public Funds: COVID-19 and NRPF - This event, hosted by the APPG on No Recourse to Public Funds will look at the issues that people with NRPF are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This event will be chaired by Kate Osamor MP, chair of the APPG on NRPF, and speakers include: Hackney Migrant Centre, women from WINGS (Praxis Community Projects), Andy Jolly, and the NRPF Network. More info
- Supporting Survivors: Adapting to the Challenges of Covid-19 (21 July) - Since transitioning to remote working, we have all developed new ways of working to ensure vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers continue to receive the support and the level of safeguarding they need. We want to take part in sharing new developments in best practice and continuing a dialogue within our sector so that we are all better equipped to support those who need our help. More info
- Workshop training "Introduction to Mental Health Support for Refugees & Asylum Seekers (27 July) - This course is being provided by the Refugee Council and would benefit anyone who works with refugees or asylum seekers, without a specific mental health responsibility, e.g. housing officers, education staff, police, voluntary and community organisation professionals and volunteers. More info
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- NEON - Head of Messaging - Neon is looking for a new lead for their strategic communications work across key topic areas, including migration, housing, and climate. More info
- Open Rights Group - Immigration Policy Manager - They will work with the Executive Director and policy team to build relationships with organisations in the immigration sector, improve these organisations’ capacity to respond to the challenges brought by the introduction of technology into immigration policy, and deliver impactful campaigns. Deadline 22nd July 2020. More info
- Indoamerican Refugee Migrant Organisation
Youth Worker and Coach – Latin American Youth Forum (LAYF) - This is an exciting opportunity to work with Latin American and other Spanish and Portuguese speaking young people (13-19 years old) and deliver a range of exciting activity programmes as well as a consistent mentoring service. You will outreach and deliver activities according to the diverse needs and experiences of the young people of LAYF. More info
Trustee recruitment (volunteer positions)- They are recruiting candidates to be part of IRMO’s Board of Trustees. The priority roles looking to recruit are: Community involvement (role description here), Growth and Sustainability (role description here), Corporate and Major Donors (role description here.
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If you have London-focused news, campaigns, events or notices that you would like us to share in this newsletter, please forward to
london@migrantsrights.org.uk.
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We fight for immigration policy and practice that is just and that upholds the humanity and dignity of all people.
We need YOUR help to make a difference
Please consider setting up a regular donation here or make a quick donation by texting ‘MIGRANTSRIGHTS’ to 70085 to donate £5 (This costs £5 plus a std rate message)
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