Dear inter-faith colleague
Whether or not you were able to attend our webinar about the Nationality and Borders Bill on 28 September, we invite you to explore how you can unite to protest the bill. Below you’ll find a wide range of options for you, or for you to share with colleagues and your faith community.
When should you take action?
A national Week of Action against the “anti-refugee bill” will take place from 18 to 24 October, as MPs return to Parliament after the party conferences and as the bill progresses to its next stage. By focusing our energies on this specific period, we hope to coordinate campaigning activity across the UK, joining our voices together to make the loudest noise possible. This will enable us to secure media opportunities and demonstrate to the British public and decision-makers that the UK stands with refugees and against this harmful legislation.
Please bookmark this page so you can come back later.
We are indebted to the campaigning charity Asylum Matters for their support with this webinar and resources.
Sign the inter-faith joint statement
The most important thing you can do is add your/your organisation’s name to a joint statement protesting the bill. This will allow the faith community to speak out with a single, united voice of moral authority against the punishment and criminalisation of refugees. Together, our voice is stronger and will be heard more clearly. We plan to use the statement to secure coverage in national print and broadcast media.
* JOINT STATEMENT TEXT & SIGN-UP COMING SOON *
Watch Colin Yeo’s legal assessment of the bill
Colin Yeo is an immigration-law barrister at Garden Court Chambers in London. He founded the excellent immigration blog Free Movement and wrote the book Welcome to Britain. As part of the video, he explains why the bill is ‘pointless’ legislation which isn’t even needed.
And from us, here’s why resettlement should never be all there is to our asylum system.
Take part in media interviews
When the statement is ready, we hope to secure media coverage in local and national broadcast media. Offering faith leaders for interview will really help. If you could take part in TV or radio interviews about your support for refugees and your concern about the bill, please register your interest here. With our partner, IMIX, we offer guidance and support for anyone taking part in media work.
Join in with constituency MP engagement
Campaigners in your local area will already be working hard to lobby their local MP, asking for a meeting to discuss the bill. As a faith/lay leader, your voice carries significant weight within your community and with your local political representatives. You could link up with local campaigners in your area to assist them with their approaches, joining them for private or public meetings with MPs (especially those who are difficult to secure meetings with).
Please register your interest in constituency engagement here and we can make sure we link you with campaigners in your area who are seeking to engage with their MP.
Engage with members of the House of Lords
As well as approaching local MPs, who will vote to pass or stop the legislation, it’s well worth approaching peers who will also debate and vote on the legislation. You may wish to reach out to the Lords Spiritual (bishops who sit in the House of Lords), or any lords who live and/or work in your area, or with whom you have a common interest or profession. There are many in the House of Lords who already have sympathy for our postion. i
Protest with us outside Parliament
As part of the national Week of Action, there will be a protest outside the Houses of Parliament on October 20th from 4:30-6:30pm. Can you or members of your community join us? If you think you can make it, please let us know as a photo opp would be good:
Inform and engage members of your faith community
Spreading the word about what this legislation aims to do to people seeking sanctuary is an important step towards protecting the right to seek asylum in the UK. Can you tell your community and colleagues? Please do get in touch if you would like support in doing this. We’re here to help.
The bill’s key points
Our webpage and the UN’s Q&A offer quick and easy explorations of the bill and why it’s a major cause for concern.
Send a letter to an MP
Our template letter can be downloaded, adapted and sent to your local MP or to the Home Secretary. If you can edit the letter to tailor it, it will have greater impact.
The webinar recording
The recording of our webinar on 28 Sept; you could play it back for congregations or colleagues. Couple of minor bandwidth issues, but overall it’s fine.
PowerPoint presentation
12 simple, unbranded slides about the bill to show in your own community or to colleagues. Please download it rather than just viewing it online.
Use our wording
Text to help with a blog, webpage, newsletter, article or letter, to explain the bill and spread the word. How about myth-busting?
Help for your team in engaging with local media
Extensive research shows that public opinion is shaped by local media, because it’s often seen as more trustworthy and relevant to communities than national media. You could contact your your local newspapers and radio stations about your support for refugees, or your participation in the joint statement, thereby providing the crucial local angle on a national story. There are a number of ways of doing this including sending a press release or a letter to the editor, or writing an opinion piece, or generating a ‘hook’ (such as an event, a stunt, an art display, a walk etc) that can inspire an interview or article.
Our guidelines & resources make it easy to contact local print, online & broadcast news.
Build a relationship with your local City of Sanctuary group
There are around 125 City of Sanctuary groups of all shapes and sizes across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Eire. They variously provide direct support to asylum-seekers and refugees; campaign; hold public events; work with schools; run food and clothing banks; teach ESOL; and much, much more. If they don’t know you already, they’d love you to get in touch.
Any questions or feedback?
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