ASYLUM DESTITUTION SUPPORT NETWORK NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2007 HAPPY NEW YEAR?
As cold winter weather arrives, our thoughts are with the growing number of asylum seekers left without support. We are particularly disturbed by reports of ever worsening mental health of asylum seekers and of some women asylum seekers turning to prostitution. During 2007 the Asylum Destitution Support Network will be carrying out a range of activities, campaigns and training events to raise awareness of the growing destitution crisis and to help co-ordinate humanitarian aid, advice and information resources. To do this, we need your help. Our monthly e-mail newsletter will keep you informed as to developments and give you ideas how you can help. Please feel free to circulate this newsletter far and wide!
DESTITUTE ASYLUM SEEKERS & COMMUNITY CARE: Around 40 people attended our last meeting in November. Presentations were given by Maryhill CAB and Glasgow City Council to explain when destitute asylum seekers may be entitled to support under community care legislation. The case of a destitute asylum seeker who was refused support and who subsequently committed suicide was highlighted. Consensus was reached that there is an urgent need for test cases to be brought to the Scottish Courts, as although there have been many cases brought to interpret English Legislation – there is a real lack of cases in Scotland. We urgently need to hear from lawyers who may be interested in bring such cases to court Maryhill CAB are happy to provide consultancy and keen to identify possible test cases. So if you know destitute asylum seekers suffering from mental health, physical disability, HIV/AIDS, who have had difficulty accessing community care support contact Tim Cowen or Zhila Faraji on 0141 576 5104 for further information.
WEBSITE DESIGNER – VOLUNTEER WANTED: The Asylum Destitution Support Network receives no funding and is reliant on individuals and organisations sharing resources, time and expertise. We urgently need someone to assist us to create a website template which will enable us to better share information and reach out to a wider audience. If you know someone who could give up their time and expertise, please email us at info@destitution.net or contact Michael Collins on 0141 586 8035. In the meantime our current website www.destitution.net will continue to keep you informed as to what’s happening.
POSITIVE ACTION IN HOUSING:
PAIH continue to provide advice to large numbers of destitute asylum seekers and are keen to promote their new outreach advice surgeries, which makes it easier for people who cannot afford to travel to their city centre offices to get advice. Check out their website http://www.paih.org/housingproblems.html or telephone 0141 353 2220 for more details
DESTITUTION NETWORK - FORTHCOMING MEETINGS: There won’t be an Asylum Destitution Support Network Meeting in February, as our steering group will be using the time to reflect on our first six months of activities and plan for the next few months. Our next meeting will be held in early March and will be hosted by Eastwood Church in south Glasgow. It will give members of our network a chance to find out first-hand how a local church is responding to the destitution crisis and discuss ways of co-ordinating humanitarian aid across the city. The provisional date is Monday 12th March from 11.30 – 2.00pm, so keep this free if you can. We will let you know more details soon.
IDEAS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS:
We’d like to hear from you as to suggestions for future meetings and training events. So far we’ve identified FRESH ASYLUM CLAIMS as a priority topic, but want to know what would help you most. We also want to find out more about what is happening in different parts of the city, please email your ideas to info@destitution.net or contact
Tim Cowen on 0141 576 5104 David Reilly 0141 353 220 or
Angela Gardiner 0141 445 5100
see www.destitution.net for further info.
