Members of the public have raised a total of £563.07 for a hardship fund for asylum seekers left destitute and hungry by the UK government’s asylum policy. The money was raised from sponsorship and donations at a Sleepout organised by Positive Action in housing on June 21 2007 in Glasgow’s George Square. Those taking part included members of the public, campaigners, refused asylum seekers and ’scots homeless’ people. Robina Qureshi, Director, Positive Action in Housing, said:
“We are dead grateful to everyone who came along to the sleepout to support it, sleepout and raise money. it was a symbolic action to highlight destitution amnongst refused asylum seekers and the fact that the government makes it its policy to starve people out of this country to stop them claiming refuge. Every week we are giving out hundreds of pounds of money donated to usto many refused asylum seekers who have no access to benefits, hostels or shelter of any kind and are forbidden to work or support themselves. We hope that the Scottish Executive will make it a priority to stop anyone being made destitute in Scotland. And we want that policy to extend to the rest of the UK.”
