Campaign wth us
Let them work
Still Human Still Here is calling on MPs to sign a Declaration which supports giving asylum seekers permission to work. The declaration calls for asylum seekers who have been waiting for more than six months for their cases to be concluded, or have been refused asylum but cannot be returned through no fault of their own, to be allowed to work.
The right to work would prevent vulnerable people being left in a state of limbo, reduce the burden on the taxpayer and allow asylum seekers to support themselves and their families while contributing to the economy.
The Still Human Still Here campaign is dedicated to highlighting the plight of tens of thousands of refused asylum seekers who are destitute in the UK. Scottish Refugee Council is one of the many supporters of this campaign.
38 Degrees is also promoting this action and we want to get as many MPs as possible to sign the declaration to show the Government that there is substantial cross-party support for this policy. 38 Degrees brings together a variety of campaigning organisations in the belief that together we are stronger.
You can ask your MP to sign the declaration by visiting the 38 degrees website and sending a pre-written email.
Visit the 38 Degrees website here
Additional information supporting permission to work can be found in the following research reports which can all be found on the Still Human Still Here website.
Visit the Still Human Still Here website here
At the end of the line (Still Human Still Here, 2010)
Chance or choice (Refugee Council, 2010)
I Hate being Idle (Refugee Council and Zimbabwe Association, 2009)
Major party leaders have signed the pledge
April 29, 2010
In this election year, campaigning organisation Liberty is calling on all MPs and parliamentary candidates to sign its asylum election pledge. We, along with Refugee Council in England, are supporting this.
We are pleased to announce that all five major party leaders have now signed the pledge. More than 900 other candidates have also signed up.
Please visit the Liberty website for a full list of candidates who have signed.
If your candidates are not on the list, it is not to late to ask them to sign. Simply visit Liberty’s website for an automated email which you can fill in with your own words and send to your MP. You can also find out who your MP is on their site.
The pledge states: “There is no place for racism or xenophobia in modern British politics. Nor is democratic debate advanced by the denigration of the most vulnerable in our country, including children and asylum seekers who do not enjoy the right to participate in elections.
"I promise to remember the importance of refugee protection, even in free and wide-ranging debates about immigration policy. I will never play fast and loose with the proud tradition of a nation that must always offer succour to those in genuine fear of persecution.”
Visit the Liberty website here.
Campaign success: UKBA makes minor concession as asylum support rates increased by 1.1%
March 2010
Crucial support for people seeking asylum will see a small increase for 2010/11. As of April 12 people seeking asylum will see a 1.1% increase in the financial assistance the receive from the Home Office.
While this is only a small rise in line with inflation, and will still see those seeking asylum facing hardship, we believe it demonstrates that UK Border Agency is listening to us, our partners and supporters who backed this call.
Thank you to all those who acted on this crucial issue. We need to keep up the pressure. We are concerned that this rate leaves vulnerable people seeking asylum well below the poverty line.
Background
As you may remember, in October 2009 the government cut support to single asylum seekers from £42.16 to just £35.13 a week. This was a mere 55 per cent of Income Support or job seekers allowance. Lone parent's support was cut to just 66 per cent of Income Support.
In January of this year we asked you to speak out as levels of asylum support were about to be set for this financial year, 2010/2011. Scottish Refugee Council, along with our sister organisations in England and Wales and the Still Human Still Here coalition, asked you to contact your MP on this issue.
Read our full press release about the support increase here