Hi All,

There are some things we as individulas can do to make people seeking sanctuary welcome but sometimes it’s only the legislators who can really make the difference. Please ask your MP to vote for the amendments to the Immigration Bill that have been recommended in the Lords. Many of the Bill’s restrictions will affect sanctuary seekers experience of the asylum system very gravely.

Meanwhile, these bikes make a big difference to 12 asylum seekers’ daily living: (You can support our attempts to give cycle training and bikes to many more asylum seekers by clicking here gofundme . com/mcos-ride-free)

A big thank you to Eve Holt for pulling the project together – and to all the other volunteers from Whalley Range on Wheels, CycleUK and TfGM. Thanks to Tony Lloyd, Cllr Kate Chappell and Cllr.Angeliki Stogia for jumping on a bike with us and promising practical support.
See us on Manchester TV on the Youtube link. Click HERE
On Sunday there was April’s Community Meal at TCRC, Longsight, where we heard about a new project for our MCoS young people, and a holiday club for our MCoS children. See below for more details.

Each of these events is an attempt to rehumanise the Asylum process and change statistics into real people, each with a history, who need a future, too.

We look forward to meeting you at the next Conversation Club or working with you make your pledges   into a real gift.

Greetings!
from Nadine, Jane, Dianne, Charles, Jila, Anita, Mayam, David Fay, & Jeff,

PopUK and MCoS are teaming up to run a unique singing and recording project for children from families seeking asylum from war and persecution, together with local British children who are willing to offer a hand of friendship.

If you would like to know more contact [email protected]  or Andy Silver at [email protected]
If you wanta reccommendation ask the children of St Stephen’s school, Backburn: CLICK HERE 

Maternity Stream Launch

Launch of Manchester City of Sanctuary’s Maternity Stream
 Thursday May 5th
10am-12.30pm
Transformation Community Resource Centre, Richmond Grove, M13 0LN,
behind Longsight Police Station.
The event is for everyone interested in increasing levels of support for sanctuary seekers.
We hope to bring together pregnant and nursing mothers who are in the asylum process, with local midwives and health visitors, midwives, NCT members, doulas, breastfeeding support, befrienders and anyone else interested in supporting these women during and after pregnancy.
https://maternity . cityofsanctuary . org/about

Please contact becca@cityofsanctuary . org if you would like an invitation to the event

Please share #MCoSmaternitystream
 

We have just completed a survey of our Shopping Buddy Pilot scheme and the response has been very positive.
We are nearly ready to launch the scheme for a wider group of Sanctuary Seekers.

Could you be a Shopping Buddy too?

The Shopping Buddy Scheme pairs up local supporters with sanctuary seekers, who receive limited financial support from the Home Office on a voucher called an ‘Azure’ Card. By shopping together at the supermarkets involved in the scheme, supporters can really make a difference to the lives of sanctuary seekers.
It is very difficult to live without access to cash, especially if you have children. There are many things that can’t be bought in the big supermarkets: Bus tickets, bargains, ethnic foods and secondhand clothes.

If you would like to know more about the scheme or you know someone who needs a Shopping Buddy, please email [email protected]

The Growing Together Allotment project at the end of Highfield Rd, Levenshulme is looking for more gardening enthusiasts to volunteer and share their knowledge with Asylum Seekers. The difference the project makes to the lives of more than 30 people is incalcuable. The chance to dig and make, plant and water vegetables, fruit, salad and flowers together is therapeutic and healing, restoring connection with the land.
Anyone interested can contact me on j[email protected], or  ring Jaqui on 07891 485066. The facebook page is https://www . facebook . com/theHeapmanchester/.

Also, Volunteers are needed for REVIVE’s women’s craft session on Mondays. Please contact Pat Okekearu at pat.o@revive-uk-org

Can you help?

Manchester City of Sanctuary runs on the generosity of its supporters.
People fleeing persecution and war usually arrive alone. They have left everything to find a place of safety. After a period of time in detention, and several addresses later, they may be moved to a street near you.
Please help us to connect new asylum seekers with people who can welcome and help them.

We need small amounts of money to use to pay bus fares.
Each Conversation Club needs 60-70 bus fares, each English Class, bike session, theatre ticket, planning group session needs 10-12 bus fares to make it possible for asylum seekers to take part.

We need larger amounts of money to fund our worker after September and to develop many more integration activities.

You can now sign up for a direct debit form on our website https://manchester . cityofsanctuary . org. There will be donation boxes and direct debit forms available at each Conversation Club. Please contact Anita if you can help [email protected] or [email protected]

The next Conversation Club will be on Thursday 19th May 6-8pm at Cross Street Chapel, M2 1NL. The theme is ‘ ‘ and is being organised by MCoS Volunteers.

The next Community Meal is on Sunday 24th April 1-3pm. We’ll be hearing from Women Asylum Seekers Together about their new performance ‘Still We Rise’, which they will be taking on tour to Newcastle. We’ll be hearing about Jeff’s Magical Mystery Tour taking place on Wednesday 27th April 5pm for young people aged 17-21; and about our special PopUK Making Music, Making Friends Holiday Club at Whitsun half-term 31st May-3rd June for Asylum children at Primary School and local children who would like to come and make friends.

Conversation Club is a chance for people of the same nationality or who speak the same language to meet and encourage each other and pass on news and advice on surviving in the asylum system.
It’s a chance for British people to share local knowledge and help sanctuary seekers integrate in their new society.

“The objective of the City of Sanctuary movement is to create a culture of welcome and hospitality for those seeking Sanctuary, Refugees and other vulnerable migrants amongst us” – Inderjit Bhogal, founder of City of Sanctuary