Simple Acts > 20 Acts > 15. Join a big action campaign in support of refugees
15. Join a big action campaign in support of refugees
Does size matter to you?
Our simple actions just aren’t big enough? In that case, how about you join a campaign that encourages you to write a letter to your MP; or to buy food-vouchers from asylum seekers; or to sleep out in the cold for a night; or to befriend a refugee; or to live on £35 a week…
Check out some of these BIG campaigns
Refugee Action Destitution campaign
The UK government is forcing refused asylum seekers into destitution to try to make them return to terrifying situations. It’s inhumane, and it’s ineffective. Thousands of refused asylum seekers are trapped between a life of homelessness and abject poverty with no right to work or access to medical care, or the terrible choice of returning to dangerous places like Zimbabwe and Darfur.
Refugee Action are calling for the government to give protection to those who cannot return home; and advice and support to all those who are refused asylum, to make the best decision for their future.
To find out more and to get involved, see www.refugee-action.org.uk
Red Cross Refugee Unit
In true spirit of the Simple Acts drive, the British Red Cross encourages you to lend a helping hand as a refugee services volunteer.
An easy start to offering support is as simple as befriending a refugee or asylum seeker, helping them access local amenities, healthcare and clothing services. As a Red Cross volunteer, you will be provided with simple training programmes to enhance your interpersonal skills and to be sympathetic to people of different backgrounds, ages, physical and psychological needs.
For more on our refugee services simply go to www.redcross.org.uk/refugee
Sign the Let Them Work pledge
Asylum seekers are not allowed to work while they wait for a decision on their claim. Nor are they allowed to work if they are not able to return home. The Refugee Council believes this is wrong.
If asylum seekers were able to work it would:
- Combat destitution
- Benefit the economy
- Benefit communities
- Help integration
- Re-skill refugees to offer them a better future
Together with a number of partner organisations, the Refugee Council is calling on the government to let asylum seekers work. You can help, by signing our pledge, lobbying your MP or simply spreading the word to your friends.
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/letthemwork
OutCry!
Every year around 2,000 children in the UK are detained for the purposes of immigration control. Detention can have a devastating impact on children who have little understanding of what they have done to deserve being locked up.
The Children's Society and Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID) believe detaining children is damaging, expensive and unnecessary and are campaigning under the banner OutCry! for the government to change its policy so that children are no longer locked up in detention centres.
If you think detaining children is unacceptable please add your voice to the campaign by signing up at www.biduk.org or
www.outcrycampaign.org.uk
Here are a few other campaigns you can get your teeth into:
