We are holding a day of activity at Hay castle in support of Together with Refugees on February 14th between 9.30 and 4pm . All are welcome to join us for as long or as short a time as they want. There will be a number of heart related crafts and activities to participate in. We have several crafts people coming who will supervise willow woven hearts, badge making,paper plane making, card making, possibly flag decorating and possibly contribute messages of welcome to a sheet that maybe we can display somewhere in Hay school.
We will present to Hay Castle our lovely handmade book of Parliamentary bills that was hand bound by Rebound Books) using copies of some of the 2019-2024 Conservative government’s immigration Bills- The Illegal Migration Act and the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and immigration) Bill.
Starting on 13th February 2024 we began overwriting each page with messages of empathy, humanity and welcome, turning documents that were designed to continue a hostile environment into a thing of beauty and love. Signatures and messages were added at Welcome days and events organised by HBTSR. The pages were folded into a heart shape by Heather Dixon.
Together with Refugees is a national coalition of over. 600 organisations big and small who believe in showing compassion for people fleeing war, persecution or violence and who want a kinder, fairer and more effective approach to supporting refugees in the UK. Coalition members include grassroots, community and refugee led groups, international development charities, trade unions and faith groups. Along with our partners we promote the use of the orange heart 🧡 as a symbol to represent compassion for people fleeing war and persecution. Inspired by the refugee nation flag and the colours of a lifebelt, the heart symbolises hope and kindness. By re-creating and displaying the heart in the local community and on social media, you can show your support for refugees.
Read more on the Together With Refugees website.
Fair Begins Here is a campaign from Together With Refugees. It puts the theme of fairness at its heart – because now is the moment for a fairer and more compassionate approach towards refugees in the UK. Fair Begins Here aims to show that there is overwhelming support across society for a fair new plan for refugees, one that’s rooted in fairness, justice and compassion – a positive alternative to the current uncaring, costly and chaotic refugee system.
The fair new plan for refugees has three key asks:
● Protection for all people seeking safety in the UK by restoring the right to asylum and upholding our commitments under international law.
● An integrated welcome strategy for refugees, ensuring they have their asylum claims heard fairly and effectively and can rebuild their lives with fair welfare support, a decent home in the community, the right to work and language skills.
● Stronger international collaboration to forge positive, proactive responses to the global drivers of forced migration, increased responsibility-sharing and providing
complementary safe routes for people fleeing war and persecution.
From Together with Refugees
‘in 2024 we stood side by side with refugees across the country to call for something better – a kinder, fairer and more compassionate asylum system in the UK. In December 2023 we launched the Fair Begins Here campaign, calling for a commitment to a fair new plan for refugees from the new government taking office after the election. Over the last 12 months we have done much to grow this call, from showing the love for refugees on Valentines Day to hundreds of organisations – including trade unions, schools, faith groups and businesses – signing the Fair Begins Here Promise. Together we ensured politicians from all parties heard from diverse and powerful voices calling for a fair new plan for refugees in the media and stood up for refugee rights during the General Election. Now, with a new Parliament we are asking MPs to sign the Fair Begins Here Parliamentary Promise, and commit to take action to secure a better approach for refugees in the UK. Thank you for doing so much this year.
With a new Government and Parliament we are now starting to see the impact of all this work. Thanks to your collective pressure and effort, the Rwanda scheme was scrapped and the Government is taking some steps to improve the system. From discontinuing the Bibby Stockholm barge and creating a new pathway for family reunion for Afghan evacuees, to extending the move-on period and admitting people to the asylum system who had been left in limbo by the Illegal Migration Act, they have begun to listen to our demands.
As the year draws to a close and we reflect on our work, we can be proud of what we have achieved. But we can not lose sight that much more is needed. The current asylum system is still too uncaring, unfair and harmful and the Government, some politicians and much of the media continues to focus on border security, returns and the use of detention centres rather than the deep systemic change we all know is needed. This isn’t good enough. But determined, united campaigning can change this. ‘
During our day of activity we hope that we will be joined by David Chadwick MP and Jane Dodds MS who will sign the Parliamentary Pledge,.
The Fair Begins Here Parliamentary Promise states
I am proud that in the area I represent, people go the extra mile to welcome refugees – opening their homes, volunteering, speaking up, donating. However, the UK’s asylum system is not working. It’s not working for refugees and it’s not working for local communities.
Along with the majority of people across the country and hundreds of local and national civil society organisations, I want an approach to the asylum system that is well managed, fair and compassionate. We need a system that represents who we are and that works for everyone. I am calling for a fair new plan for refugees that:
*Ensures protection for people fleeing war and persecution by upholding the UK’s commitment under international law to the right to claim asylum.
* Provides a proper strategy for welcoming refugees, who do so much to enrich our society, by ensuring fair, rapid decisions on their application for asylum, and the chance to rebuild their lives through settling in a community.
* Forges stronger global cooperation to tackle the root causes that force people to flee their homes and provides positive solutions when they do, including through safe routes to refugee protection.
I commit to do all I can to make this happen and promise to:
*Stand together with refugees in my constituency and Parliament.
*Take action to win a fair new plan for refugees for our country.
*Support local groups in my community that welcome and support refugees.
And I call on MPs from all parts of the country and all parties to join me and sign this Promise. Because fair begins here, with all of us.