16 June 2021
Summary:This Refugee Week (14 – 18 June), MTVH is calling for a better approach to supporting refugees that is more effective, fair and humane.
How we treat people seeking sanctuary is about #WhoWeAre
This Refugee Week (14 – 18 June), MTVH is calling for a better approach to supporting refugees that is more effective, fair and humane. As an organisation founded to provide homes for the Windrush generation, supporting new migrants to the UK to have secure and sustainable lives where they can play a full part in wider society has been central to our work from the beginning. We continue to support newly arrived migrants to the UK through our Migration Foundation, which recognises the particular challenges faced by the UK’s migrant population and offers practical solutions through supporting access to justice and supporting migrant integration.
Together with 250 other organisations, MTVH has joined the Together With Refugees campaign. Convened by the Asylum Reform Initiative (ARI) as part of its strategy for long-term and deep change in Britain’s refugee and asylum system, the coalition is centred on the founding principle of showing compassion to people fleeing war and persecution. This means standing up for people’s ability to seek safety in the UK, no matter how they came here, and ensuring people can live in dignity while they wait for a decision on their asylum application. It means empowering refugees to rebuild their lives and make valuable contributions to our communities.
As a key partner and founding funder of the Asylum Reform Initiative, we are proud to be joining with organisations such as Asylum Matters, the British Red Cross, Freedom from Torture, Refugee Action, Refugee Council and Scottish Refugee Council to stand up for our shared principles of respect and tolerance to ensure:
- People can seek safety in the UK, no matter how they came here
- People can live in dignity while they wait to hear if they will be granted protection
- A fairer, faster and more efficient system to decide whether people will be granted protection
- Refugees and their local communities can build better futures together, with proper support for local councils to do this
In the wake of the government’s proposed reforms to the UK asylum system, it is more important now than ever that we advocate for the rights of migrants and asylum seekers. How we treat refugees is about who we are. At our best, we are welcoming and kind to those facing difficult times. If any one of us feared for our lives or the lives of our loved ones, we’d want to know that others would help us to safety.
Jane Long, MTVH’s Executive Director of Corporate Services and acting Chair of the Migration Foundation, said:
“At MTVH, we have a long history of supporting migrant communities to secure settled futures. We are delighted to be partnering with the Asylum Reform Initiative to continue our work to support asylum seekers and refugees access the support they need. Showing compassion to those facing difficult times is something we passionately believe in at MTVH and we are proud to be part of this shared movement for change”.
Sabir Zazai, Chair of the Asylum Reform Initiative and Chief Executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, said:
“We’re delighted that Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing has joined the Together With Refugees campaign. They stand alongside grassroots, community, national, international and refugee-led groups united in our belief in showing compassion for people fleeing war and persecution. Together we can make change happen.”
If you are an organisation who believes in a kinder, fairer and more effective approach to supporting refugees in the UK, join the coalition today: https://togetherwithrefugees.org.uk/get-involved/join-the-coalition/