3. Practical Support

Donate to organisations helping destitute asylum seekers

There are thousands of people refused asylum who have nothing. Across the country there are some amazing projects rising to the challenge of meeting people’s basic needs – food, shelter, and clothes. The refugee centres below run hardship or destitution funds which are always oversubscribed. Financial support like this could make a big difference to how warm a destitute person is and whether they get to eat.

Voices in Exile, Brighton - 01273 328598

London Churches Refugee Fund - c/o Regent Square United Reformed Church, 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT

Welsh Refugee Council Hardship Fund - 029 2048 9800

Suffolk Destitution Fund - 01394 448576

Birmingham Law Centre - 0121 766 7466

Nottingham & Notts Refugee Forum - 0115 941 5599

Boaz Trust (Greater Manchester) - 0161 202 1056

Asylum Link (Merseyside) 0151 709 1713

West End Refugee Service (Newcastle upon Tyne) - 0191 273 7482

Positive Action in Housing (Glasgow) - 0141 353 2220

Make regular donations

Are you able to give a small but regular donation? Why not set up a standing order so that you can help people every month?  As little as £5 per month, will make a real difference. Just complete the standing order mandate on page 15.

 

What you donation will mean

£5 food for one day, £15 one night in a hostel, £25 food for five days, £75 a week in a hostel.

Raise funds

As well as making an individual donation, you could raise funds to help organisations who are supporting destitute people refused asylum. This doesn’t have to be too complicated and we would be happy to discuss and help with any ideas you have.

Here are just a few possibilities:

*     Organise a collection in your church, place of worship, workplace

*     Get your school or university involved, eg. get students to bring in loose change and foreign currency that often lies around the house

*     Get sponsorship, eg. fast for 24 hours

*     Get work colleagues to donate a percentage of their day’s wages

*     Talk to your trade union about what they could do

*     Ask your family not to buy anything for 24 hours and donate money saved

*     Organise a fundraising event, eg. Friends of Ayrshire Refugees organised a music night and raised several hundred pounds 

Offer somewhere to stay

Can you, or someone you know prevent a destitute person refused asylum from sleeping rough? Can you offer shelter to someone who, by sleeping rough, is at risk of racial violence or sexual exploitation? Do you have a spare room, even a spare bed - anything, so long as it's safe and warm?

Destitution projects are in urgent need of more people to join the register of housing volunteers.

Positive Action in Housing (Glasgow) -  0141 353 2220

Open Door (Newcastle upon Tyne & Tees Valley) -  0191 273 7482

Green Pastures (Southport) - 01704 501690

Asylum Link (Merseyside) - 0151 709 1713

Blackburn - 07885 595189

Boaz Trust (Manchester) -  0161 202 1056

BEACON (Bradford) -  01274 727525

Abigail (Leeds)  0113 261 8055

ASSIST (Sheffield) -  0114 275 4960

Arimathea Trust (Nottingham) -  0115 970 1855

Leicester - 07716073403

Hope Housing (Birmingham) - 0121 766 7466

Homes4U (Cardiff) - 07930 160748

Peace House (Coventry) -  02476 664616

Southampton & Winchester Visitors Group - 05601 791621

Please email livingghosts@church-poverty.org.uk to tell us about others for the next edition of this pack. If there is not a hosting or voluntary housing scheme in your area the NACCOM Network can give you advice on starting one – contact the Boaz Trust on 0161 202 1056.

Offer other practical support

There are a number of churches and community organisations who give out clothes, hygiene packs or food parcels to people who are destitute. So if you cannot afford to make a monetary donation, then why not help out by donating unwanted clothes or organise a collection where you work, study or at your place of worship.