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Aspen card crisis continues, the anti refugee bill and more

Help us keep a clean mailing list: update or unsubscribe. Donate Latest update from Positive Action in Housing - July 2021 We are recruiting for a Finance Officer (21 hours) . Closing date August 9th 2021. More info here Syrian Family Reunited! A Syrian family was emotionally reunited after being separated for a year after they fled their home country. Abdulrahman Al Haj Ali, Safa Al Abdullah and their three children Ibrahim, 10, Mohammed, seven, and Fuad, three, fled Syria after their family home was attacked and destroyed by an airstrike.Abdulrahman and two of his sons, Mohammed and Ibrahim, became separated from their mother and youngest brother Fuad. The family ended up in the UK, making a new home in the south side of Glasgow. After a year of searching for his wife Safa and youngest child, Abdulrahman discovered they were in Germany. An application was made to bring mother and younger child from Germany to the UK, with Safa represented by Maguire Solicitors - a leading firm in asylum and immigration law. Click on the photo to watch the video. Footage shows the emotional moment Safa reunited with her two eldest children in the airport after her arrival in the UK. The Aspen Card Crisis More than six weeks on, the Home Office admits that 7% of asylum seekers have still not received their debit card (Aspen). The Home Office would not give the actual figure, but we believe this translates to roughly 4,500 asylum seeking men, women and children across the U.K. still affected by the Aspen card crisis. Complaints are coming in to our office at the rate of 25 to 30 cases per week and we expect this to continue. This is on top of the current caseload of 83 asylum-seeking families (including 16 children and babies) left without money for food. Contrary to what Home Office ministers imply, those who live in private accommodation or hotels do not receive Emergency Crisis Payments. And many people report that they have received random amounts without back payments.  To increase capacity, we have teamed up with Latta & Co Solicitors in Glasgow and Duncan Lewis in London to take up some of the most urgent cases that are not getting sorted. This means using Pre Action Protocols and Judicial Review, if necessary. To minimise unnecessary delays we are liaising directly with the Home Office, instead of going through MigrantHelp. This approach means we get a quicker response. Below are testimonies from some of those affected: The Aspen Card Crisis Continues 6 year old Rahima* plays outside the Glasgow hotel where she and her family are currently living. The family are seeking asylum from Iraq, and arrived here a month ago.  The little girl's father, Gabriel, 52, said: "I am a trained electrician, we have been here a month and they have still not given us a payment card. It is hard when the children ask for something, we can't give them snacks or juice. We asked for clothes for the children but they keep saying next week or the week after. So we wash what we have every day and wait for it to dry before going out. Truthfully, I would rather work." Positive Action in Housing has asked the Home Office to urgently issue a payment card to the family. They are supposed to receive £8.00 a week each. They are amongst  many families who are left penniless because of the failed payment card switch. Read more below. Farhad*, 48, from Iran: "I lost my three children two years ago when we got separated at the Turkish border. The smugglers forced me the go with them, and I promised the children I would return. But they are alone. I asked the Red Cross to help me find them. It causes me a lot of mental stress and I have been in hospital because of it. At the moment, I have no money at all.  My accommodation provider did not bring me any cash. I called MigrantHelp but they told me to wait. My new card doesn't work; and I have no money for food for 21 days. I need help urgently. I am worried that charities will not be able give me food. My mental health is very bad. This is making me much worse." Positive Action in Housing has taken up Farhad's case as a matter of urgency with the Home Office.  Serena, 30, from Eritrea Serena lives with her baby daughter in a hotel. She has not received her Aspen card.  "I have been in the hotel for one year with my daughter without an Aspen card. I am in stress because my daughter is eaten 3 times in a day but the gave me one times in a day. Please provide me with a payment card so we can live." We arranged for a crisis payment for Serena and asked the Home Office to send her her Aspen card. Yassar*, 30, from Palestine Yassar is a business graduate. He shares a small flat in Glasgow with three other asylum seekers. On 5 June, Yassar tested positive for Covid-19. He was taken to hospital for almost three weeks and put on oxygen. "That time, during my stay in hospital, Mears stopped my financial support. The housing officer said that this was Home Office policy, that as long as I am in hospital, I am receiving food and shelter so I do not need money. It was heartless. I was struggling to breathe. Many bad things happened. But this was the worst.  I was unable to purchase the simplest of items such as tissues or drinks. I cannot walk far. I am suffering from lung inflammation. I am on medicine and steroids. It makes my immune system very weak and vulnerable. The other three people are smokers and cook a lot inside the flat. It is also damp. I complained several times to the housing officer. When I told her about the fights, she said and did nothing. I have left hospital now but still not receive my payment card. Mears gave me £40 cash after more than three weeks but nothing since. This for me is just further evidence of the lack of humanity. After I contacted Positive Action in Housing, they sent volunteers to deliver halal meals and wrote to Mears to ask that I be moved near to the hospital as I have several appointments due to lung damage but there is no urgency about this. My doctor asked for £100 to write a medical letter to be rehoused. So I can't even provide evidence of my condition." Ali*, 21, from Syria Ali lives with his 14 year old brother in a hotel. They lost both their parents. He contacted us on 8 June because his Aspen card was not working. "I have been in this hotel around two months as I said that I have a children which is my younger brother 14 years old and I afraid from the other people they start talking with him in crime things and drugs and I don't want him to learn that from Them and the food in this hotel is too bad my brother because he is a young person he don't listen to me he don't want to eat this food he just asked me to cook for him but I can't in this hotel and I literally need to move to the private house to can help my brother, my personal problem that I have a tooth problem and I can't eat and I need a doctor to fix my Problem, please if you can help me as soon as possible" *we have changed some names and images to protect identities. Patel's Anti Refugee Bill On Monday, the Home Office published the Nationality and Borders Bill. Its central aim is to criminalise anyone arriving in the UK to claim asylum through "irregular routes" – for instance on a dinghy or the back of a lorry.  Most asylum seekers do not come to Europe, and those that do want to come here, do so because of language familiarity or for existing support networks such as family members.  With this Bill, the UK is torching its international human rights obligations under the 1951 refugee convention. We are in danger of committing crimes against humanity by turning back those in need of safety and treating them as criminals. Human beings will be judged by how they entered the UK, rather than the dangers they face from countries they fled. You can read our complete response here. Share Tweet Forward Support our humanitarian work Donate via CAF, JustGiving or PayPal Giving. Alternatively, post a cheque to: Destitution Appeal, Positive Action in Housing, 98 West George St Glasgow G2 1PJ. For other ways to give, visit our donate page Our mailing address is: Positive Action in Housing 98 W George Street Glasgow, G2 1PJ United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Donate via CAF, JustGiving or PayPal Giving. Or visit our donate page

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https://positiveactionh.us15.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=251f65ba8f51e64abbb6d9529&id=ca1250e516&e=5aa457791e&c=8ac5597cb4 Latest Jobs Bulletin Latest Jobs Bulletin Publishing vacancies in the non profit sector and targets people from BME, refugee and migrant backgrounds and those already working within the non profit sector. Sign up for mailings. The next bulletin will go out in August. To advertise, send an email.  The following posts have become available with The Mental Health Foundation and Positive Action in Housing. See below for details. Positive Action in Housing is an independent, anti-racist homelessness and human rights charity (SC027577) dedicated to supporting women, children and men from refugee and migrant backgrounds to rebuild their lives. We believe in a society where everyone has the right to live safe and dignified lives, free from poverty, homelessness or inequality. The following vacancy has become available. Finance Officer Salary: 21 hours per week (over 4 days) £23,145 – £25,186 pro-rata + 4% Pension Based in and working from our Glasgow Office We are looking for a well-organised, self-motivated person with strong bookkeeping skills. You will assist with the finances of a small, but busy charity based in and working from our offices in the centre of Glasgow. You will enjoy working as part of a small, diverse team to maintain and develop the charity's finance systems. You will be responsible for undertaking accurate and timely recording of income and expenditure, bank reconciliation, purchase ledger, donor's database, payment of invoices and reclamation of Gift Aid. You will ensure all income and expenditure is accurately named and documentation filed immediately. You will prepare and post general ledger journals and provide regular reports as requested. You will have the skills and aptitude to accurately maintain our computer-based finance records. You will have excellent IT skills, and are familiar with spreadsheets, word processing, email and MS Office. You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as excellent numeracy skills. You are honest, hard working, self-motivated and know how to work as part of a team. You have a positive outlook and are able to maintain clear communications with colleagues and take the initiative when required. You know how to plan, manage and prioritise a varied workload, meet deadlines and respond flexibly to unforeseen events. An ability to carry out tasks with minimum supervision is essential. You will pay meticulous attention to detail and have the aptitude and skills to learn on the job. CVs are not accepted. Successful candidates will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and Disclosures. Click here for the job details Download the job application form Email your completed application to home@positiveactionh.org by the closing date: 10 am, Monday 9 August 2021 Charity registration. no. SC027577 Voices of Experience (VOX), Scotland's lived experience members led charity is recruiting for a Membership Development Officer. The Mental Health Foundation, the UK's leading charity for everyone's mental health host VOX and as such will be the employer of the Membership Development Officer. Membership Development Officer Starting salary £30,000 rising to £33,857 pro rata, 21 hours per week Location – Glasgow    VOX is Scotland's members led charity for people with lived experience of mental distress. We represent our members' views to Scotland's politicians and health professionals to make sure Scotland's laws and mental health services reflect our members needs and interests.  This exciting Membership Development Officer role will focus on reigniting the membership of VOX to ensure we are hearing from a broad range of people who have lived experience of mental health problems/mental distress. We want to ensure we can represent the voice of lived experience across Scotland and to develop good practice ways to capture members experiences and views around mental health and related issues.   To recruit a large pool of members who can become part of the "snapshot of members views" mechanism we want to develop to inform policy To work with a range of stakeholders to arrange and facilitate conferences and events to build and develop our membership, and raise VOX's profile To create and edit content for external communications on several platforms, ranging from website articles, press releases, editorial and newsletters We are looking for an individual who has a wide-ranging understanding of human rights, social justice issues and the inequalities encountered by those who have experienced mental health problems/distress. We require an individual who understands how to grow membership, plan events and build an organisations profile effectively. Experience within marketing or communications is crucial as well as two years' experience within a mental health or related field.   The post holder will be employed by the Mental Health Foundation, the UK's leading charity for everyone's mental health, which focusses on the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.   Why should you apply for this role? 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 27 after 5 years' service 3 closure days between Christmas and New Year Up to 3 wellbeing days per annum Employee Assistance Programme Generous non-contributory pension scheme, 8% at 3 months service, rising to 10% at 6 months service employer contribution Life Assurance Scheme at four times annual salary  Flexible working Season Ticket Loan Cycle to work scheme Please note that for safeguarding purposes, all our roles require a DBS check.  Also, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.     How to apply If you think your skills match and you'd like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete via www.mentalhealth.org.uk/jobs and send your application form to vacancies@mentalhealth.org.uk / vacancies-scotland@mentalhealth.org.uk (along with a completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form).  Please note that all sections of the application form should be completed as CVs will not be accepted.  Applications will close at 5pm on Friday 16th July 2021.  Interviews are planned for Wednesday 4th August 2021.    Diversity is greatly valued at the Foundation.  Applications from all sections of the community are actively encouraged.  If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us at vacancies@mentalhealth.org.uk / vacancies-scotland@mentalhealth.org.uk.   Due to Covid-19 and until further notice, we are operating digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing) and on-boarding processes.  We are blending office and homeworking until further notice.   We look forward to hearing from you! Voices of Experience (VOX), Scotland's lived experience members led charity is recruiting for a Volunteer Engagement Officer. The Mental Health Foundation, the UK's leading charity for everyone's mental health host VOX and as such will be the employer of the Volunteer Engagement Officer.   Volunteer Engagement Officer Starting salary £30,000 rising to £33,857 pro rata, 21 hours per week. Location – Glasgow    VOX is Scotland's members led charity for people with lived experience of mental distress. We represent our members' views to Scotland's politicians and health professionals to make sure Scotland's laws and mental health services reflect our members needs and interests.  This exciting Volunteer Engagement Officer role will focus on empowering people with lived experience of mental health problems to utilise their expertise to improve the way mental health services and society develop.    This will involve developing programmes of work using co-production or community development approaches in order to ensure VOX's work is driven by its members. The Volunteer Engagement Officer shall identify individuals who can become actively engaged in key programmes of work, and sustain, build and manage this involvement to ensure co-production becomes embedded in how VOX facilitates change.    To embrace innovative and flexible ways of engaging with people with lived experience of mental health problems that are meaningful to them e.g. visual arts, drama, podcasts. To utilise a range of approaches to increase involvement within VOX, and encourage volunteering in our programmes of work. To develop work with volunteers on creating "mentally healthy safe spaces", and "good practice guidelines around engaging with members" and to review volunteering policies currently being used. Engage with external stakeholders to work collaboratively with our programmes, and in-line with co-production/members led principles.   We are looking for an individual who has a wide-ranging understanding of human rights, social justice issues and the inequalities encountered by those who have experienced mental health problems/distress.   We require an individual who understands emancipatory approaches to working with volunteers - to foster ownership and commitment to the work of the project is of primary importance. A demonstrable ability toinspire, engage and build trust with individuals, and experience of how to plan and deliver members led programmes of work.    The post holder will be employed by the Mental Health Foundation, the UK's leading charity for everyone's mental health, which focusses on the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.   Why should you apply for this role? 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 27 after 5 years' service 3 closure days between Christmas and New Year Up to 3 wellbeing days per annum Employee Assistance Programme Generous non-contributory pension scheme, 8% at 3 months service, rising to 10% at 6 months service employer contribution Life Assurance Scheme at four times annual salary  Flexible working Season Ticket Loan Cycle to work scheme   Please note that for safeguarding purposes, all our roles require a DBS check.  Also, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.     How to apply If you think your skills match and you'd like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete via www.mentalhealth.org.uk/jobs and send your application form to vacancies@mentalhealth.org.uk / vacancies-scotland@mentalhealth.org.uk (along with a completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form).  Please note that all sections of the application form should be completed as CVs will not be accepted.  Applications will close at 5pm on Friday 16th July 2021.  Interviews are planned for Thursday 5th August 2021.     Diversity is greatly valued at the Foundation.  Applications from all sections of the community are actively encouraged.  If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us at vacancies@mentalhealth.org.uk / vacancies-scotland@mentalhealth.org.uk.   Due to Covid-19 and until further notice, we are operating digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing) and on-boarding processes.  We are blending office and homeworking until further notice.   We look forward to hearing from you! Share Tweet Forward   Positive Action in Housing Working together to rebuild lives   Scottish Registered Charity SC027577 www.positiveactionh.org  www.roomforrefugees.com

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