Living Ghosts

CAP is campaigning to change the Government policies that make people seeking asylum destitute.

Living Ghosts

So why is CAP campaigning on this issue?
The Living Ghosts campaign is different to previous CAP campaigns, which have focused on UK citizens. This short history explains why CAP started to campaign to change the Government policies that make people seeking asylum destitute.
Hear the voices
In our Voicebox section, you can listen to the stories of people who have been made destitute by Government asylum policy.
Other campaigns
CAP works in partnership with various other campaigns relating to asylum policy. Find out more here.

Sign up for enews updates
If you want to be regularly updated on the progress of the campaign, and how you can help the campaign , please sign up for our monthly Living Ghosts enews.
Support Living Ghosts on Facebook.
Get the Destitution Action Pack
This includes guidance on writing to your MP, the Endurance Challenge and practical ways to alleviate destitution. Download it or read it online.
Donate
Help us put an end to asylum destitution, by making a donation towards the campaign using our secure online donation facility.

Take the Endurance Challenge
Stand in solidarity with people made destitute by spending a week - in Lent or at another time - living on a food parcel. Find out more about the Challenge here.
Read about the experiences of others who've taken the Challenge: Revd Canon Nick Sagovsky and Judy Midgley.
Show a short film to your church, group or MP
There are a few short films now that lucidly tells of the urgency for action to end the destitution of people refused asylum. "Welcome" has been updated with "Take Action", and the Amnesty International-produced "Still Human Still Here" have both been used across the UK. You can also order CAP's own Just Church DVD, which includes a clip about asylum destitution called "Destitute and Desperate".
They are really excellent resources to help you convince your MP of the need for change.
Hold a Poverty Hearing
Poverty Hearings provide the opportunity for people with direct experience of poverty to speak out for themselves while encouraging those with power, authority and different experiences to listen. You can download our helpful guide (65k PDF) which outlines what you need to think about if you are considering organising one.
Reflect on the plight of people seeking asylum in worship and prayer
Download our "Stories that need to be heard" worship resources.

Who Is My Neighbour?
A Justice & Peace group in Newcastle organised an excellent event in February 2009, to raise public awareness about issues relating to refugees and asylum seekers and to help people to decide what ought to be done to remedy injustices. You can download their Who Is My Neighbour? report here.
Independent report calls for an end to destitution
In December 2008, a thinktank linked to the Conservative party released a report recommending reform of the asylum system. You can download the report here, and read CAP's response to it here.
Asylum-seekers sleeping on the street in Leicester
A report published in 2006 showed alarming levels of destitution amongst asylum-seekers in Leicester.
People made destitute before their asylum claim is heard
This article explains how so many asylum-seekers become destitute, sometimes whilst still waiting for their case to be heard.

Living Ghosts campaign meets Government minister
A small delegation met the (now former) Immigration Minister, Tony McNulty. He was clearly under a lot of pressure from other directions, but he did acknowledge our concerns.
45 church leaders challenge government to end the destitution of asylum seekers
Church leaders from different denominations showed their outrage at the Government system that leaves some asylum seekers totally destitute in the UK by signing a statement in support of the campaign by Church Action on Poverty.
Datganiad am roi stop ar amddifadu ceiswyr lloches
Credwn ei fod yn greulon ac yn annerbyniol fod rhai ceiswyr lloches yn cael eu gwneud yn ddigartref neu’n amddifad gan bolisïau’r llywodraeth. Mae gan pob dinas bobl amddifaid neu rai sy’n byw ar barseli bwyd am eu bod heb fodd i fyw. Rhown ein cefnogaeth i alwad 'Church Action on Poverty' am weld newid yn y polisïau sy’n achosi i geiswyr lloches gwrthodedig fod yn amddifad.