Winter Refugee Crisis Appeal 2021 | | | A Christmas Appeal by the refugee and migrant homelessness charity Positive Action in Housing (SC027577) | | | An urgent appeal for financial donations to provide direct humanitarian relief for families, individuals and young people from refugee and asylum seeking backgrounds who are struggling with poverty and isolation in Glasgow over the Christmas/Winter period. | | Dear Friend,
An opportunity to support this Christmas Refugee Appeal and/or ask your company to give a donation in the spirit of giving.
As we write this appeal, the news has reported that at least 27 refugees - not migrants - drowned in the English Channel after their dinghy capsized while trying to cross the English Channel from France to the UK earlier today.
Governments should know by now the lessons of the Second World War. Europe and the U.K. have abjectly failed to create safe corridors for the sliver of a fraction of the world's refugees who risk their lives on dangerous journeys to arrive on our shores. The more that governments try to stop refugees arriving, the more they fuel the human trafficking trade, and the more refugees who will risk death by drowning in order to take a chance at fleeing persecution, in order to reach family already here and saving loved ones back home. The people who died after their boats sank in the English Channel are refugees NOT migrants. They ARE men, women and children fleeing persecution from countries like Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen and elsewhere. People fleeing these countries are refugees, not migrants.
With regards to this winter appeal, throughout December and January, this charity's staff and volunteers from Humans of Glasgow is running extensive winter surgeries to distribute essential crisis support for up to 500 refugee and asylum seeking families and individuals, with priority given to those who are newly arrived or newly moved. This includes asylum seekers left destitute in hotels with no money whatsoever, and forbidden to work. It ialso ncludes the elderly, families with children/babies, young people on their own and those suffering long term debilitating illness.
Hundreds of asylum seekers continue to be housed in budget hotels by Home Office contractor Mears - denied the £1.14 per day that the high court in England said they are entitled to. New asylum seekers are being brought to the city with only the clothes they are wearing. Asylum seekers inside hotels are reluctant to complain about their treatment, which suits the Home Office private accommodation contractors. Conditions have been described as dehumanising and oppressive. The accommodation provider Mears is in charge of asylum seekers' access to money, food, WiFi and shelter and is contracted by the Home Office, which decides on whether people stay here or are returned to the persecution they fled. Additionally, when asylum seekers are moved to shared flats in unknown parts of the city they have no access to internet connection phone data or food, or cleaning materials, and are given very little money. People need help to resurrect their asylum cases in order to secure the right to remain and begin to rebuild their lives.
Throughout Winter, our Homelessness and Destitution team will be providing advice, information and practical support to enable people to resolve their legal, housing or financial crisis. We will also be working to provide safe shelter through Room for Refugees and Emergency Relief Fund.
Supported by a team of volunteers we will distribute emergency support , travel passes, food vouchers, essential winter gear, winter clothes, walking shoes, hygiene packs, PPE, digital tech (mobiles/laptops) selection boxes, books and craft packs for children aged 3 to 15 years old. This support is designed to give hope and relief from hardship and poverty that almost all refugees and asylum seekers are forced to endure as they try to build safe, happy and productive lives.
Thank you for your support, please read on to see how you can contribute to this appeal.
Best wishes,
Robina Qureshi
Director
Positive Action in Housing
| | Give a financial donation
Donate using CAF, JustGiving or PayPal
Give a regular donation
via Charities Aid Foundation or post a cheque made payable to Positive Action in Housing to: Positive Action in Housing ,98 West George Street, Glasgow G2 1PJ
Donate via internet banking Name of Account: Positive Action in Housing | | | | Donate any of the following: New or Nearly new smart phones, laptops. New thermals, winter shoes, winter jackets. Packets of Rice, Pasta, Noodles, fresh Bread, soup tins (vegetarian), apples, tangerines, oranges, tea, coffee, sugar, female hygiene products, tooth paste/toothbrush, razors/shaving foam, Anti bacterial Hand Wash, Soap, deodorants etc., Selection boxes for children, Books for children (Roald Dahl, David Walliams), Children's craft packs. To drop off please email home@positiveactionh.org. | | |
Background to this appeal
In 2020/21 Positive Action in Housing assisted 1,621 refugees & asylum seekers from 80 countries including Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Palestine and Yemen. Our Homelessness and Destitution Teams provided advice, representation, practical support, shelter, and crisis funds at crucial stages in the asylum process. We provided 46K nights of shelter (www.roomforrefugees.com) and distributed £168K through our Emergency Relief Fund – providing a genuine lifeline. We worked to resolve a crisis and help people rebuild their lives.
Our Lifeline Service provides an advice service and ensures that service users have access to active legal representation. This approach has produced life-transforming outcomes for people who felt they had no hope of change.
| | | Donate Today
Your donation will support those who have fled war and persecution in their own countries, risking their lives on dangerous journeys, to find sanctuary here, leaving loved ones, friends and all that they know.
Whatever you give, no matter how modest, is greatly appreciated. Regular monthly donations are especially welcome as we can plan the support we give.
Finally, please forward this email to your friends, family or coworkers, and encourage them to give generously. | | | Positive Action in Housing
Working together to rebuild lives
Scottish Registered Charity SC027577
www.positiveactionh.org
www.roomforrefugees.com | | | | |
