Cardiff Sleepout

Frances Ballin, a member of CAP's Council of Management, is helping to organise the sleepout. She says:

"Five people from different Cardiff churches have committed to take part , though of course more supporters will be very welcome, whether to sleep or to come and encourage us! Refugee Voice Wales will also be coming along to join us and some of them may stay the night.

"We will be highlighting the 'Living Ghosts' and 'Still Human, Still Here' campaigns and also seeking sponsorship for our charity 'Home4U', which covers the costs for two homeless and destitute asylum-seekers to have a home and enough to live on."

Julie Morgan MP has promised to come along on Thursday evening to show her support. Other people have sent messages of support:

"Well done for this initiative. It is important to keep public and political attention focused on the human realities behind much public policy making and implementation.
"Of course this is a difficult issue strategically and not the only one on peoples��� minds at the moment. Even more important that symbolic actions of this kind focus our attention on particular cases and needs.
"I hope you get good press coverage and that this might lead to conversations with the right people in LAs, WAG and the Home Office."
Robin Morrison, Church in Wales

"There are people living on our streets, or sleeping on borrowed floors, terrified of being returned to countries which they have fled hoping to find freedom. Some have been traumatised by war, or endured the horror of torture. They know tat their lives will be in danger if they are sent home. But their claims for asylum have been rejected. Now only the support of friends and caring strangers saves them from complete destitution.
"The local people sleeping out this week know they can never enter fully into the experience of the frightened asylum-seeker - they have warm beds, secure homes and supportive communities to return to.  But their one chilly night will be worthwhile if it reminds us of some very vulnerable people living among us.  It will achieve even more if it shocks us into demanding that these people are treated with humanity, compassion and justice. I hope it achieves exactly that."
Roy Jenkins, well-known broadcaster, Baptist minister and Chair of Christians Against Torture

"I regret that I am unable to be with you tonight. Like yourselves, I feel very strongly about asylum-seeker destitution and homelessness. No one should be allowed to live without food or shelter in such a rich part of the world. The right to food and shelter are basic human rights and the fact that government policy is leading to such destitution is an outrage. The government's actions, coupled with tabloid scare stories, have created the political climate where many people feel that such policies are acceptable. We should do all we can to change this attitude, and the policies which result in the demonisation and destitution of our fellow human beings.
"Congratulations to all of you who are sleeping out tonight to draw attention to the issue. I hope your actions get lots of attention and challenges attitudes. I also hope you don't get too cold!"
Leanne Wood, Welsh Assembly Member