ASYLUM LINK MERSEYSIDE
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Mission Statement
Asylum Link Merseyside’s twin objectives are to provide assistance to Asylum Seekers and Refugees in need or distress and to educate the wider public on Asylum issues. We assist Asylum Seekers in as many ways as possible but at our heart remain the principles of Equality and Fairness and the need to provide a warm welcome. In 2021 we were given the Queen's Award for volunteering, with a special commendation for our work during the pandemic.
About This Cause
Short Description Asylum Link Merseyside is best described as a safe space for Asylum Seekers and Refugees, to meet, relax and find out about the community they have been dropped into. We provide our services because we believe that fundamentally, all humans are equal, and that Asylum Seekers need our help to overcome the barriers preventing them from living in our community as equals. In 2021, ALM was given the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services, with a special commendation for our work during the pandemic. Ranked 4th nationally, Liverpool has a larger proportion of neighbourhoods in the highest deprivation percentile than any other Core City. With a few exceptions, these are the areas where refugees and asylum seekers are housed. Asylum Seekers face multiple disadvantage. Frequently they have fled war, persecution, rape, torture, genocide, homophobia or racism. Their journey here is often traumatic soon after arrival, the Home office begins to question their integrity, generally disbelieving them. Isolated by a lack of knowledge of language, culture and a sense of place, usually separated from family and friends, even the weather is unfamiliar. Not permitted to work or access mainstream education, people have only £39.50 a week. Housed in areas already suffering from long-term deprivation, they face media and public resentment, compounded by the Governments ‘Hostile Environment.’ When it cannot possibly get any worse, people are refused and made homeless. Services provided are: • Advocacy and advice across a broad area and Immigration advice (OISC2) and support, including student placements • Alleviation of destitution through the provision of food, clothing and housing. Complex Needs Social Workers assist asylum seekers with needs additional to destitution. • A small team works on Further Asylum Submissions • 100 places for English classes across the week (inc Women only classes) • Access to 2nd hand clothing, shoes, kitchen-ware and other donated items, daily from 12 (except Wednesday.) • Encouragement to asylum seekers and refugees to become volunteers and to engage with their new community, especially through the Action Asylum programme, volunteering with organisations outside the sector. • Social events to encourage integration and friendship - Refugee Week, Christmas, Eid; trips and visits to other venues, cycle programmes and hill walks, Allotments, and several football initiatives. • Well-being projects: bicycle repair, gardening and allotments, cooking demonstrations with other local groups, A Women’s group and a community Choir run on separate days. • Input from other agencies including the NHS Social Inclusion Team giving access to GPs and dentists, CDW mental health workers, HIV Testing and advice, Smoking Cessation and Refugee Council advice to Unaccompanied Minors. The Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, Merseyside Refugee Support Network deliver advice from our centre. Nordoff Robbins provide music therapy 1 day each week. • Information and Research opportunities include working with Liverpool University on a Mental Health feasibility study and surveys for the NHS. • The Destitution Roadshow and Social Work Training – these are wide ranging presentations to schools, voluntary sector groups, universities, local authorities, seminars and conferences Asylum Link is much more than just a collection of services. We engage with many other groups, providing active guidance and support to statutory bodies like the Council’s strategic group, other councils in the Liverpool City Region, the Inclusive Cities Task Group, or the Police Community Advisory Group. There are currently 10 staff, 5 full-time, 5 part time part-time, and 130 volunteers who run the centre. We are open to the public Monday to Friday, 9 to 4.