Latest News from Positive Action in Housing

Editorial Comment
Hello, hope everything is going well. I am going to Italy in 2 weeks, the first time I have went this year. I will be away for 3 weeks, so we are looking for someone to write Quickmail whilst I am away. A few people have already been nominated for the job and I will let you know the name of the New, Temporary, (of course) Quickmail Editor next week.

Thanks to everyone who raised money from sponsorship and selling things at the sleep out, check out this link for more info on it. £563.07 has been raised as a result.

If anyone from Glasgow got ‘the grid’ magazine from Glasgow Young Scot, I would suggest you read it and let me know what you think. They asked me and Amal (Glasgow Girls) to write an article about issues affecting young asylum seekers living in Glasgow. They also gave £100 to PAIH Destitution Fund as a thank you - that was nice of them. Take care, Jamie

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Hey, Sleep out went well last week, I was relieved when so many people turned up. You can read a few accounts of what the sleep out was like by clicking these links; Robina’s Account and Brodie’s Account! I have also stuck up some photos from the event, see them here! Thanks to everyone who attended the sleepout, raised money and volunteered on the night. It was a massive team effort and I am glad we pulled it off!

This morning I got a phone call from a boy who was worried because he had seen two Immigration Vans drive into his estate in Kingsway. I was surprised for two reasons; firstly, it was 8.30am and I had never heard of a raid being carried out this late before and secondly, there has not been a raid in Kingsway since October 2006. The young boy I was speaking to was clearly worried and had counted all his mates on the school bus a few times, just to make sure they were all there. After a few phone calls, I found out that more than 10 Immigration and police officers raided the flat, but no one was there. Is this what is to replace Dawn Raids? Perhaps next we will see lunchtime or tea time raids.

On Saturday, a family who I know well were detained when they went to sign at the reporting centre in Glasgow. Problem is, the 20 year old and 15 year old sons were not with them and if the Home Office has it’s way, the family will be returned on Thursday without them. More details here! The past few weeks have seen many families detained, The Unity Centre has asked for people to show their support by attending a vigil outside Brand Street, Immigration Offices at 11am on Friday 29th.

Thanks for your attention, Jamie

Editorial Comment - 12th June 2007
Halò, A bheil Gàidhlig agat? Gabh mo leisgeul! I have a confession to make. My Scottish Gaelic is really bad and last week I sat a mock, online ‘Britishness Test’ and failed it! Having said that, I do have a passport in my pocket, but fear that Ruth Kelly or Liam Byrne may turn up to take it off me. Maybe we could make a ‘Glasgowness test’ to see if I could pass that… I feel the urge to at least belong somewhere.

This one time (at band camp), I think I was 14 or something and met a boy who had just arrived from Turkey. He could only say hello in English and I felt kind of bad that no one was speaking to him, so I started to learn some words in Turkish. It was only simple things like, how are you? How is the weather and stuff, but it gave him someone to talk to and I was learning too. Eventually, his English became really good and last year he passed his Higher English Exam. The Point I am trying to make is that if you put a little effort in and make someone feel good about learning English, they will learn well. So I cannot think of any reason why the government would cut back on ESOL classes or translation services that encourage people to go out into their community in the first place. What to do you think?

Moving on, we are still on the go with the planning of our sleep out in George’s Square on the 21st June. If you have any experience about organising things like this, or want to help us in anyway, then email home@paih.org. We have also created sponsorship forms that people can use to help us generate some money for our destitution fund. Until next time folks… Jamie. (Càite bheil an taigh beag?)

Editorial Comment - 5th June 2007
Good Afternoon, Refugee week is coming up, so if you have anything you want everyone, and I mean everyone, to know about, email 100 words or less to me and I might decide to send it out.

You may, or not, have received an email from the boss inviting you to attend a ’sleep out’ on Thursday 21 June 2007 from 8pm. If you are interested in raising awareness of the issues many destitute asylum seekers face, then contact us. We have already had a lot of interest from people from all walks of life willing to take part and I am really looking forward to it.

Whilst we are on the subject of Bosses and Invites, the boss got a letter from Buckingham Palace, inviting her to attend the Queen’s Garden Party (She told me not to tell anyone). I think she should go, but “I wouldn’t be seen dead at that Garden Party” was her reply. Just to add, I have it on good authority that HRH is one of our subscribers. Keep it real people… Jamie

Editorial Comment - 29th May 2007
Look it’s nearly June! That’s all I was going to say this week, but think you deserve a little bit more than that.

I went to see ‘The Magicians’ on Friday, then that Pirate Movie on Saturday, then went to an advance screening of ‘The Hitcher’ yesterday. If you have the unlimited Movie card, then go see them all, but if you don’t and you are heading to the cinema, I would only go see the Pirate one if I were you. I ain’t a qualified movie critic or anything; just don’t want you throwing your money away.

There’s lots in Quickmail again, so if you are looking for a new job, find one here, if you are bored and don’t fancy the cinema, check out the events and if you are super-cool, visit http://www.paihnews.wordpress.com and comment on our latest news stories.

Send your NEWS, JOBS ‘N’ EVENTS to quickmail@paih.org and have a nice day! Jamie

Editorial Comment - 17th May 2007
Hey folks, I went to the Scotland United GIG last week. There was a really good turnout and the organisers raised £600 in donations for our Destitution fund (Thanks!). There were a few awesome performers too; Mickey (Fugees United), Big Taj and Tigerstyle were a few of my favourites.

Every donation we get helps as we have been extremely tight over the past few months in terms of giving people, who have been made destitute, small amounts of money for food and shelter. We are currently giving up to £1000 per month from our hardship/destitution fund. Our volunteers have also helped by taking people into their homes for a few nights, this means the money can be spent on food, rather than shelter. If you can help in anyway, drop us an email - home@paih.org .

I won’t do this all the time and I ain’t sponsored by youtube or anything, but this is my favourite video this week - click here to see it. Send me links to your best. Okay, my bus is down stairs, enjoy quickmail, Jamie