action on asylum and refugees
action on asylum and refugees
churches' refugee network
The Churches' Refugee Network aims to provide a collective and ecumenical voice on issues of asylum and immigration.
Here you'll find a range of resources that we hope will be helpful in your work. We'd also like to hear from you about your work, your concerns and your achievements.
Contact us by email
For issues relating to migration, please see our Migration Theme which includes a page of Resources.
News
Divided Families: All Party Parliamentary Group on Migration submission
Prof Kofman and Dr Wray of Middlesex University present demographic details that demonstrate new government rules on family migration make it much more difficult for spouses or children to join their UK based partner or parent.
More
EU figures show UK receives 8% of asylum applications in Europe
In 2012, there were 332 000 asylum applicants in Europe, of which the UK received 28,200 - the same as Belgium. Germany received 23% of total applcations and France 18%.
Europa 
March 2013
London Legal Walk 2013 - Monday 20 May 2013
This walk supports law centres and legal advice agencies in London and the South East to help provide access to justice for all. Lead walkers include Lord Judge (the Lord Chief Justice), Lord Dyson (The Master of the Rolls), Lucy Scott-Moncrieff (The President of the Law Society), Maura McGowan QC (The Chairman of the Bar Council) and Keir Starmer QC (Director of Public Prosecutions).
The London Legal Walk
Asylum Justice & Release - Team Building & Training
Sun 28 April, 12.30-4pm, Leeds
This event for volunteers and anyone interested in finding out more about the work of AJAR, includes a talk by Puck de Raadt, from the Churches' Refugee Network, on issues around the new Family Rules in (non-asylum) immigration and trauma related to detention.
AJAR Team Building April 2013 flyer (PDF)
AJAR - General information (PDF)
AJAR News Update - Feb 2013 (PDF)
CRN at the Hertfordshire Justice & Peace Network Day
Sat 23 March 2013, 10am-3.30pm, Welwyn Garden City
Puck de Raadt, from the Churches' Refugee Network, will be talking at this event on family reunion rules, asylum detention, asylum destitution and legal changes/ Legal Aid.
Hertfordshire Justice & Peace Network Day - poster (PDF)
Hertfordshire Justice & Peace Network Day - Programme & registration form (Doc)
Also Human - Who gets included in Britain today?
CRN Conference 2013, Saturday 18 May 2013, London
Book now for this year's Churches' Refugee Network conference.
More
December 2012
Scots urged to "be lights of hope in the lives of our neighbours"
In his Christmas message, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, refers to the plight of asylum seekers and urges "all those in positions of civil authority to ease the burden of suffering of these people, to allow them the basic human requirements of shelter and sustenance and to engage with them so that they might make their contribution to the common good".
Scottish Catholic Media Office
Government changes family migration rules
Migrants' Rights Network (MRN) is concerned that the new rules will prevent many thousands of people from exercising their right to a family life in the UK.
MRN briefing
UK Border Agency - statement by the Home Office (PDF)
May 2012
Border Force Britain - rebranding of the UK Border Agency
Frances Webber, Vice-chair of the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) Council of Management, analyses Britain's approach to immigration control which treats migrants as potential criminals, and its economic consequences.
Institute of Race Relations
Quaker statement on immigration detention
Quakers in Britain have made a public statement about indefinite detention that begins: 'That which is morally wrong cannot be politically right'
Quakers in Britain
All Change - Preventing Trafficking in the UK
Follow-up of a 2010 report by the Anti Trafficking Monitoring Group on the EU Convention on Action against Trafficking and on the (lack of) measures for prevention, protection and prosecution for trafficked victims in the UK.
More >>
Report: Children without a voice
Harrowing report looking at the psychological effects of asylum refusal on children in Sweden.
More >>
Feb 2012
New Migrant Voice paper launched
The relaunched Migrant Voice paper celebrates the success and contribution of migrants and their role in influencing life and culture in the UK.
Migrant Voice Issue 1 2012 (PDF)
Migrant Voice article - Keeping the Faith
Puck de Raadt explains the churches' practical, under-the-radar work for asylum-seekers in this article, first published in Migrant Voice.
More >>
May 2011
Day of intercession for those who have died at EU borders
26 June 2011
Information, intercessions and ideas from the Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) and the German Ecumenical Committee on Church Asylum.
Day of intercession in memory of those who have died at EU borders 2011 (PDF)
April 2011
Tearing down the bridge to inclusion for young asylum seekers
How funding cuts are affecting young asylum-seeking students, removing access to legal representation and education.
openDemocracy
April 2011
Finding your life after losing it - the moving story of a refugee family
Sergei's story highlights the plight of many refugees and the work of CRN.
More >>
April 2011
CRN responds to the UK Government's consultation on legal aid reform
Read CRN's detailed response. More >>
March 2011
Update to 2010 CRN Conference sponsorship of refugee family reunion
See Sava's blog on Churches Together Connect
March 2011
Befriender Training & Supervision Days
Medical Justice is running training days throughout the year with contributions from medical and legal experts. More >>
Asylum seekers cannot be forced to lie
The Court of Appeal has ruled that asylum seekers cannot be forced to lie about not holding political beliefs when returning to their home country.
UK Human Rights Blog
Full judgement on BAILII
November 2010
Asylum, Immigration and the Big Society: theological perspectives
Monday 29 November, 6.30-9pm, Southwark Cathedral, London
Talk by Dr Anna Rowlands, Director of Pastorial Studies, Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge.
Asylum, Immigration and the Big Society flyer (PDF)
July 2010
'Zero notice' removals stopped
Fast-track deportation of failed asylum-seekers has been ruled unlawful by the High Court in a case initiated by Medical Justice. More >>
July 2010
Churches Refugee Network conference report 2010
Caged Kids - Caged Minds looked at the harmful effects of detaining children during immigration. More
June 2010
Campaign to save Refugee and Migrant Justice fails
Legal charity Refugee and Migrant Justice went into administration on 16 June 2010, victim to the new Ministry of Justice contract regulations. More >>
April 2010
Asylum and Immigration: Scripture, theology, and Catholic social teaching
Thursday 20 May 2010, London.
An opportunity to consider issues related to Asylum, Immigration and Migration from three perspectives.
Asylum and Immigration conference - information (PDF)
March 2010
New guidance and application forms for migrant workers and students
The UK Border Agency has published revised guidance and application forms for migrants under Tiers 2 and 4 of the points-based system.
UK Border Agency
February 2010
Seeking Sanctuary - A Civil Response
A public forum with: Chris Cleave, Journalist and author; Jonathan Cox, Director, Citizens for Sanctuary; and Revd Canon Ruth Worsley, Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. Thursday 4 February, 7.00pm-8.30pm, The Garry Weston Library, Southwark Cathedral, London SE1.
Seeking Sanctuary - A Civil Response (PDF)
January 2010
From Destitution to Empowerment: an EU agenda for change
One day conference looking at the treatment of asylum seekers in the UK and Europe. 10am - 4pm, 20 February 2010, Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, London WC2H 8EP.
From Destitution to Empowerment conference (PDF)
Archived news >>
Details and how to book for this year's conference - 'Also Human: Who gets included in Britain today?'
Download the revised edition of Asylum in Britain by Revd Canon Anthony Harvey, plus Bible study