Support and community Care in Response to The Rwanda Act
We are completely distressed and appalled by the passing of the Safety of Rwanda Act last week. The legislation enables the government to disregard Human Rights and International Law, forcibly displacing people seeking asylum in the UK to a country where they risk further harm. Right to Remain’s blog explains what this Act means, you can read it here. The report “Cost, chaos and human misery – the impact of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 and the Rwanda Plan” from the Refugee Council looks at the impact of the plan, highlighting the inhumanity of the Acts and the huge associated costs.
This continues the UK’s recent history of mandated state racism, which doesn’t just affect those at immediate risk of detention and deportation but paves the way for a country that is intolerant of all marginalised people. The Act is purposefully designed to isolate and terrify people claiming asylum in the UK and their friends and family. As such, it is our duty to create a unified, tolerant, and welcoming local community. Below we have collated some resources that can be accessed in Glasgow for support and community care, as well as some actions we can be taking to resist the effects of the Act.
Support and Care
Scottish Refugee Council – offer a free and confidential helpline for information and advice on refugee and asylum issues.
Boloh Helpline - advice, mental health and practical support to adult asylum seekers across the UK.
The Well Multi-Cultural Resource Centre - offers free one-to-one Advice Consultations, social groups & activities to disadvantaged ethnic minority communities in South East Glasgow.
Amina MWRC – an organisation for Muslim and BME women, with a helpline for telephone befriending and casework & advocacy, a monthly immigration law clinic, and social groups and activities.
Maslow’s Community Hub (Govan) – a free space to meet, learn, have fun and make friends in a safe, warm space. They run a diverse range of group classes, workshops, advice sessions and tailored 1-2-1 help.
Govan Community Project - a community-based organisation supporting refugees and people seeking asylum all over Glasgow. They offer advice and advocacy, social groups, and a helpline with interpreters available.
MILK – A safe and welcoming place where women can come together, meet new friends, share ideas and learn from each other. You can read MILK’s “Reflections on the Rwanda Bill” here.
Ubuntu Women’s Shelter – provides unconditional practical support for destitute women and people of other marginalised genders who have no recourse to public funds and insecure immigration status in Scotland. They offer a trauma-informed wellbeing programme including one-to-one counselling, therapeutic group spaces and community activities.
Migrants Organising for Rights & Empowerment – a group of migrants and members of the community campaigning for the right to work, study, good housing and to be treated with dignity.
Refuweegee – a community-led charity that gives people a way to welcome and embrace those newest to arrive. They have a hang out space where anyone is welcome to pop in and make use of the wifi, meet other people or simply chill out.
Raid and Deportation Information
What to do if an immigration officer comes to your home or work – English, Arabic, Romanian.
Rwanda Deportation Information Overview (Including numbers for legal advice) – English.
What to do if you are reporting to the Home Office – English.
What to do if you see a raid – English, Arabic, Romanian. Further information from Right to Remain about immigration raids here.
Actions
Follow No Evictions Network Glasgow on Instagram and Twitter for updates on where support is needed.
Save No Eviction Network Glasgow’s response number to your phone to report immigration raids – 07438318003.
Sign Freedom from Torture’s petition telling Airtanker not to fly refugees to Rwanda here.
Take the time to understand and share this information with people in your community, and particularly those who are at risk of being detained.
Sign Refugee Council’s (England) campaign for a fair and humane asylum system here.
Sign Safe Passage’s petition demanding routes to safety for Refugees here.
Further Information
Legal information for people seeking asylum from Just Right Scotland.
Legal information for organisations supporting people seeking asylum from Just Right Scotland.
Legal representatives in Glasgow, from Scottish Refugee Council.
Freedom from torture’s timeline of how we got here, and what it means for survivors of torture.
Slides and the recording from Just Right Scotland’s webinar “The Rwanda Act: What Happens Now?”
Govan Community Project have compiled a very useful list of resources here.
Migrants Organise have put together useful resources and actions (not Scotland specific).
If you know of a service that would be useful for us to include, please contact us.