I love all the lights in the dark at this time of year!
Whether for Divali, Hannukah, Christmas or just shopping!
Come out of the cold to our December
Conversation Club
this Thursday 17th Dec
at a new venue:
Manchester Cathedral Visitor Centre.
It’s not difficult to find, at the back of the Arndale Centre, near the oldest pub, The Old Wellington.
(Note: It has bright coloured stripey windows!)
10 Cateaton Street M3 1SQ

Happy Christmas! Joyeux Noel! feliz Navidad! faraxsanahay christmas!
Urime Krishtlindjet! Craciun Fericit! Eid milad saeid!

from Zhila, Dianne, Maryam, Charles, Anita, David and Jane at Manchester City of Sanctuary

Twixmas Party is coming!
Bring a dish of your favourite food for the table.
Do you know of a sanctuary seeker who would like to come with you? (Children welcome)

Food will be served from 5pm. Dancing starts at 6-8pm. Our musicians are from the Beech Ceilidh Band.
Venue: 1st Floor Richmond House, 11 Richmond Grove, Longsight, M13 0LN

It’s the home of Command Prayer Church and has TRANSFORMATION COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE on the front.

Bus from Piccadilly Gardens: Bus 192 to Longsight Police Station

Come out of the Cold!
This Thursday 17th December, 6-8pm, is our December Conversation Club .
It is every 3rd Thursday of the month, for all sanctuary seekers in Manchester whether still waiting for a Home Office dceision or refugees beginning a new life here in the UK.
This Thursday is at a new venue in the City Centre:
Manchester Cathedral Visitor Centre.
10 Cateaton Street
M3 1SQ
near the Old Wellington pub at the back of the Arndale Shopping Centre.
See you there!

URGENT:
The new Immigration Bill is bad news for those of us seeking asylum in the UK.
The Bill will go to the House of Lords to be debated on 22nd December.
There is cross-bench support for the amendments proposed by many of the charities supporting asylum seekers
(ie from Labour/Lib Dems/Conservative/ independents and Bishops).
YOU CAN STILL influence the decision by writing about your concerns TODAY!

Check out the Regional Asylum Support Activists website link to a model letter:
http ://regionalasylumactivism . org/2015/12/15/urgent-call-to-action-as-immigration-bill-2015-heads-to-the-house-of-lords/

You can write a simple email by using the website ‘Writetothem’.

(The following members of the House of Lords, for example, WILL be interested to hear from YOU:
Lord Roberts, Lord Hussain, Baroness Hamwee, Baroness Lister, Baroness Manzoor, Baroness Smith, Earl of Leicester, Earl of Sandwich, Earl of Listowel.)

Here’s a simple example of a letter to help you :
[Your address] [date] [Member of the Lords] House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW

Dear

Re: 2nd Reading of the Immigration Bill to be debated on 22nd December

I’m writing to you because of my concerns about the effects of the latest Immigration Bill that you will debate on 22nd December.
I am a member of a grassroots organisation called Manchester City of Sanctuary, which tries to build a culture of welcome towards refugees and people seeking sanctuary from war and political persecution and threat to life.
City of Sanctuary brought asylum seekers to Parliament on 1st December to an event ‘Sanctuary in Parliament’. We were very disappointed to see all of the amendments  to the Bill rejected.

Please could you look again at this debate because the amendments were an honest attempt to advert human tragedy, to protect the rights of vulnerable children and reform the detention system that can lock innocent people up indefinitely?
The Immigration Bill 2015 will result in more asylum-related destitution. Removing section 4 support when so many initial decisions prove unreliable will leave more people on the street ‘without recourse to public funds’, unable to work to support themselves. This destitution will include children.
Asylum seekers sign monthly, always fearful of being detained indefinitely, though they are not criminals but deeply traumatised individuals who need to be heard. Over 50% of refused claims are eventually upheld with adequate legal assistance.

Please would you attend the debate and vote on behalf of destitue asylum seekers who cannot go home.

Yours sincerely,

Manchester City of Sanctuary is looking for people who know their area well and could be a ‘Buddy’ to a new arrival who is a refugee or to someone still waiting for a decision from the Home Office.
A City of Sanctuary Buddy could be an individual or a family who will be a good friend and introduce a newcomer to Manchester.
It maybe just meeting them for a drink  or helping them to find their way around. It maybe helping them to learn about catching buses, buying bus passes or understanding food labelling. it may be helping them register with a the doctor or dentist, or understanding equipment like washing machine, cooker, boiler, bin days and recycling!
The time commitment is up to you.
You may want to be a SHOPPING BUDDY to help an asylum seeker living on Section 4 support with only an Azure Card and no access to cash.
Contact Jane Graystone y emailing [email protected] for more details

Are you an Asylum Seeker living on Section 4 Support?
Would you like help that would enable you to buy a bus pass, use charity shops, shop at cheap shops and markets?
Contact Jane who works for City of Sanctuary by emailing[email protected]

“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