Bristol City of Sanctuary Newsletter Dec 2023
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Dear Friends,
This will be our last newsletter of 2023, so we want to wish you all a happy new year, and look forward to your continued support in 2024, it means the world to all of us here at Bristol City of Sanctuary!
Since our last newsletter, we have celebrated a great victory for those seeking sanctuary with the Supreme Court’s decision declaring illegal the inhumane Rwanda plan. However, we have also witnessed the many ways in which the government has attempted to undermine this decision, launching harsher policy directed at those seeking sanctuary. We must continue our stand against these injustices, raising awareness and encouraging compassion.
We are excited to announce that there will be a screening of ‘The Old Oak’ by Ken Loach at the Watershed on the 17th of January. More details can be found below, but all money raised will be going to our Transport Fund, which continues to provide vital support to those seeking asylum within Bristol. We hope to see you all there!
Our Schools’ Work has continued to expand and we have appointed Tessa McNab as our Schools of Sanctuary Project Coordinator. She will be working with our excellent team of volunteers, aiming to confer the Award of Sanctuary to ten further schools by the end of the present academic year.
Please find below an update on what we have been working on, including local and national campaigns that deserve support.
As always, thank you for your continued support as we work towards our mission of creating a culture of welcome and inclusion for people seeking sanctuary in Bristol.
Best wishes,
Bristol City of Sanctuary
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Screening of ‘The Old Oak’ by Ken Loach
We are delighted to announce that the Watershed will be screening ‘The Old Oak’, the latest film directed by Ken Loach, at 17:40 on January the 17th. This screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Ken Loach himself who has very kindly agreed to attend this function.
This event has been organised by the Bristol City of Sanctuary with the generous support of Bristol Defend Asylum Seekers Campaign (BADSC) and the Watershed. All money raised will go towards our Transport Fund, which provides bus tickets to destitute asylum seekers. First Bus matches each donation, so coming along to this event will help our fundraising massively. Tickets can be purchased here.
‘The Old Oak’ is a critically acclaimed film, that highlights the power of humanity, and the importance of coming together to support those within our own communities. Here is a brief description of the film:
TJ Ballantyne is hanging on to his pub, The Old Oak, by his fingertips in a cash-strapped village in the North East. His predicament is further endangered when the pub becomes contested territory after the arrival of Syrian refugees who are placed in the village without any notice.
In an unlikely friendship TJ meets a curious young Syrian Yara (Ebla Mari) with her camera. Can they find a way for the two communities to understand each other?
This will be an amazing event, and with a Q&A from director Ken Loach, it is not one to miss. Tickets can be found here, and we look forward to seeing you all on the 17th of January!
If you are unable to make the screening but still wish to support this vital fund, we appreciate you immensely. If you wish to make online donations please click here, or if you would like to donate in other forms or learn more about our scheme please click here.
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Updates on the 'Illegal Migration Act' 2023
The long awaited Supreme Court decision has highlighted a huge victory for humanity, with Rwanda being deemed ‘unsafe’ on the 15th of November. We celebrate this decision, as it shows just how horrific this policy is to those seeking asylum and sanctuary.
However, the current Government have continued to push through this illegal act, showing their unwillingness to listen both to the Supreme Court and democracy. They have done this in two ways:
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Emergency passing of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration Bill). This Bill, which was passed through the House of Commons on the 7th of December, is emergency legislation that aims to bypass the Supreme Court’s decision. It aims to deem Rwanda as ‘safe’, and take away the Supreme Court;s power to challenge this ruling.
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Signing a Treaty with the Rwandan Government. This aims to, once again, sideline the Supreme Courts decision, and create separate legal systems to govern the plan.
Both of these tactics are not successful at the moment, with the Bill being held up in the House of Lords (at time of writing). That being said, it is clear the Government is refusing to listen to the Supreme Courts decision, highlighting huge problems both legally and democratically. For more information please click here.
We urge the Government to listen to the Supreme Court, and humanity, and abandon the ‘Illegal Migration Act’, and instead treat those seeking asylum with dignity, humanity and compassion. We will continue our campaigns against this Act, and all other hostile treatment of those seeking sanctuary.
For more information, please click here.
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The Government’s New ‘Five Point Plan’
The Home Secretary has announced a new five point plan in tackling immigration which is not only vague and confusing but also highlights a continuation to the hostile treatment of both migrants and those seeking sanctuary.
The Plan, which has no set date of implementation will make huge changes to the current immigration system:
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People arriving on the Heath and Social Care Visa will no longer be allowed to bring family dependants with them.
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The salary required to gain a Skilled Worker’s Visa will be increased from £26,000 to £38,000.
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The Shortage Occupation List will be removed. In its place a new list will emerge, likely with less occupations, reducing the number of people who are seeking asylum and are able to work.
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The Family Visa Salary will be increased from £18,600 to £38,700, matching that of the Skilled Worker’s Visa.
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Commitment to review ‘Graduate Visa’ in order to ‘prevent abuse’.
Whilst more information is said to be released in either February or March 2024, this policy highlights the hostility of the current attitude towards those seeking to immigrate to the UK as well as those seeking asylum. The increase to salary thresholds shows how the Governments attitudes to welcoming those are limited to the wealthy, and thus we urge the Government to rethink their 5 point plan. Instead, the Government should be welcoming all who are seeking sanctuary to the UK, making the system less hostile.
To find out more information, please click here.
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Patients not Passports
In 2017, changes were made to the Immigration Act 2014 to expand those who would receive overseas charges when gaining secondary care in the NHS. This places a duty on NHS trusts to check the eligibility of all patients before giving out secondary care. This policy ultimately impacts the lives of those seeking sanctuary.
Not only does this undermine the principle of the NHS, which is giving free care based on needs but also places an additional burden on NHS staff who are already under increased pressure.
The complex nature of the charging, and the large charges that can occur has created a lot of fear and confusion for the most vulnerable and most in need of healthcare. Fears of the charges impacts the willingness of people to come forward, even to primary healthcare which is not affected by these charges. Moreover, by asking about immigration status, the vital patient-healthcare provider relationship is undermined, impacting the ability to give out effective aid to those who need it.
We therefore support Patients not Passports, encouraging the focus to be on helping rather than creating a hostile environment to those who desperately need support.
If you would like to learn how to you can support this, please click
here.
Posted: December 2023