Applications are now open for ‘Responding to Covid-19 Online Summer Leadership Programme: UK Migration & Refugee Sector’. The programme provides the tools, skills and development to overcome challenges, and to foster relationships that benefit organisations and the sector as a whole. It enables people to reach their leadership potential, build resilience and grow peer support networks during these challenging and uncertain times, through online learning and/or coaching and/or Action Learning Sets.
Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis, so please don’t delay sharing this email / sending your application. More details here bit.ly/3dterqq where you can also sign up for the Info and Q&A Webinar link on Eventbrite on Thurs 21 May, 2-3pm. The programme is co-designed and co-delivered by Clore Social Leadership and LEx Movement (Lived Experience Leaders Movement hosted by the Centre for Knowledge Equity).
The International Organization for Migration – UN Migration would like to invite you to attend our webinar “Engaging Migrant Communities in the Context of Covid-19: Lessons from the Field”. In this 90-minute webinar we will explore the importance of migrant community engagement, as learned in previous pandemic responses. This will include information on successful methodologies for engaging migrant communities during a pandemic, case studies detailing how culture informs pandemic responses, and further resources to help support the success of local COVID-19 response measures. To better facilitate a more interactive webinar, participation will be limited to 50 attendees per session. We will therefore be offering this webinar on a weekly basis to ensure all who are interested have an opportunity to attend. We have identified the first three dates available below, with additional dates subject to demand.
Dates and time and more information could be found here
Aviva have broadened the criteria of the Aviva Community Fund to include applications for projects that enable causes to adapt or continue their vital services by covering core running costs, so they can help their beneficiaries and communities during this time of need.
Applications are now open for the next round of the Aviva Community Fund until 5th May. Just click the link above to find out more, and to apply.
One Community Foundation for Kirklees has announced changes to their Coronavirus Fund. The grant making charity who is working with the National Emergency Trust to administer the fund, will now accept applications for up to £2,000 from Kirklees based charities and community groups who are responding to the Coronavirus crisis in Kirklees.
There is a new short form to complete, and applicants will need to supply a bank statement in the name of the group, and a copy of their constitution.
Previous applicants are welcome to apply again once they have completed a short evaluation form.
For example:
Organisations that support the on-going needs of vulnerable people to ensure that their health and wellbeing is maintained
Organisations in support of activities that relieve pressure on local statutory services, particularly emergency or health and social care provisions, or compliment their repose
Groups and activities that support vulnerable people self-isolating (the elderly, people with pre-existing medical conditions, etc.)
Support for food banks and organisations working to combat hardship caused by the pandemic, including child hunger
Community response co-ordination
Volunteer costs for new and existing organisations responding to the effects of the crisis
Additional costs of working remotely and adapting services delivered in the wider community
Additional support as required for emotional support, mental health and bereavement support
The fund is currently not accepting applications to counter the loss of income and fundraising.
In this post, we will keep you updated regarding the following services:
Health team, Education/children and young people team, voluntary sector, post decision, immigration advice, Mears, Migrant Help and Home Office.
Health
Whitehouse centre, NHS, TB and Health visiting team
Registered patients The practice is open but we are asking patients not to come to the practice. We are managing patients by phone. Anyone needing advice or assessment can call 03330436243 (8am to 6pm Monday to Friday). We are using telephone interpreters.
Asylum Seekers needing to register
Asylum seekers should continue to register. We have reduced the amount of paperwork required.
Ideally these could be completed by accommodation providers. In the email they could also alert us to any concerns and indicate if the client needs an urgent telephone call from us. Medication requests can be made by email (photograph boxes if not obvious what tablets are).
The crucial information we need is:
Name, DOB, Gender, Place of birth, Telephone number, Any previous address in the UK, Enough details of previous GP if there is one (so we do not create another record), Date of arrival in UK, Signature ideally (but not essentially given the situation if creates workload).
This form can be emailed to us at LCP.locala-WhitehouseCentre@nhs.net. If possible a scanned copy of any Home Office or Mears documentation is highly recommended. It will help us make sure we get the names and details correct.
Alternatively you can register on-line but we may also require supplementary information about medications etc
We will send the patient a text message when they have been registered to explain how to contact us.
Other queries Please feel free to email us if you have a question about a Kirklees asylum seeker and their health. Emergency matters can be assessed under ‘urgent and necessary care’ if the patient is not registered with us. This will be by phone initially.
NHS-CCG
“Appointments at your local doctors are now being held on the phone or online. If you have an appointment with a nurse or doctor they will contact you. Please do not walk into your doctors or health centre for any reason without being told to attend. If you have any health concerns you can use the NHS online tool which will help give advice https://111.nhs.uk/ before you call your doctors.”
Health Visiting: Business as usual. We continue to offer movement in visits, birth visits and Antenatal contacts face to face as long as the families are not self-isolating or showing any symptoms. We can skype the contact though. www.thrivingkirklees.org.uk/0-19-team T: 03033 309440
Free School Meals For pupils who are registered for free school meals their allocated school will have made their own arrangements which may include supermarket vouchers, food parcels or pre-prepared sandwiches.
Schools are now registering eligible pupils for the national supermarket voucher scheme and will be contacted by their schools and informed of their arrangements. Those families will be asked to register their children and they will receive £15 voucher per child per week to be used at their chosen supermarket from the list provided.
If there are any families who feel they are eligible for free school meals and are not registered or are having difficulties receiving the FSM vouchers please contact the International New Arrival team by email: Education.SafeguardingService@kirklees.gov.uk or telephoning 01484221919 requesting support. One of the team will contact with an interpreter if required therefore please give name of child, address and telephone number.
Kirklees College has been closed.
Voluntary Sector
In addition, some of the drop-in session of the voluntary sector organisation have been cancelled as well for now such as: 611, Reach and Connecting Opportunities.
However, there is a level of support available support locally specifically for asylum seekers via our fantastic Voluntary Sector:
DASH All drop-in session are now closed. Telephone service only. 07702 382 647 and 07926 457 599 Phone line open Mon – Fri, 9-5. Telephone appointments take place during usual drop-in hours: Tuesday mornings and Thursdays
Please note, the phone line is to triage and arrange appointments. Services: asylum casework, destitution support, welfare referrals. (Migrant Help, Mears, Post Decision, Welcome Centre, Whitehouse Centre)
For updates: Twitter @DASH_ASYLUM_UK Facebook @DestituteAsylumSeekersHuddersfield Acce
Volunteers Together Service: By telephone only 07804867564. When: 5 days a week Mon to Fri 10:00 till 16:00 Dated: 08/04/2020
Womens Centre:
Service: Over the phone only 01484 450866 When: Calls from 9 until 4 (answer machine available outside this time Offering emotional support over the phone and some online groups. New referrals accepted by email.
Service: Over the phone only 01484 450866 When: Calls from 9 until 4 (answer machine available outside this time Offering emotional support over the phone and some online groups. New referrals accepted by email. Dated: 21/04/2020
connecting opportunities offers 30 minutes, twice a week, ESOL classes.for more information please contact 07879636427
Welcome Mentors Are now providing a “Telephone Welcome Mentors” service. – Translating important information to people whose first language is not English. – Support – Befriending referrals assisting them by completing regular telephone communications to support the individuals wellbeing. This may also include text and Whats App.
Job Centre Service: Customers advised not to attend face to face appointments for 3 months. You could find their updates on https://twitter.com/@dwp Dated: 08/04/2020
Post Decision Team: Please do not come to the Customer Service centre’s instead please call the team on 01484 221000 and ask for “Housing Solutions”.
The Post Decision cases need to make a claim for mainstream benefits. They will continue to receive financial support until their benefits have come through. However, once they have received their first payment they must inform the Home Office, to avoid any overpayments being made. Dated: 20/04/2020
Refugee Council has been calling on the government to protect people seeking asylum and refugees at risk due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. We are particularly concerned for people who are unable to access accommodation or support, those on limited support and those in shared accommodation who may be unable to self-isolate.
This page provides a summary of the government’s response to date, noting key temporary changes to asylum and resettlement policy and practice. Information will be updated on a daily basis. Last updated at 12:30, on 14th April 2020
a. Pause in face to face substantive asylum interviews:
In an update circulated on 18 March 2020, the Home Office have confirmed that they are temporarily suspending face to face substantive asylum interviews.
In the meantime, we are exploring other ways to find the information we need to make our decisions; digitally, by telephone and by post/ email, for example. We can already interview people digitally from our offices or onsite in other location in some circumstances and are looking for support from digital colleagues to do that in a different way that doesn’t involve us being in one of our offices. On that basis, we hope – availability of staff and applicants allowing – to be conducting those substantive asylum interviews again soon
b. Further Submissions to Liverpool Temporarily Suspended
It has now been confirmed that applicants wanting to make further submissions in support of a fresh claim for asylum no longer have to travel to Liverpool to hand them in. Instead, application can be sent in via post, or via e-mail (details below). This new process will be a temporary measure due to the Coronavirus. A message will be sent to all applicants who have already booked an appointment.
Postal address: FSU, The Capital Building, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9PP
UKLGIG and the Red Cross have set up two Google groups to facilitate communications in the refugee and migration sector on coronavirus. The COVID-19 operations group will focus on service delivery, support and sustaining organisations. The COVID-19 policy group will discuss policy and advocacy efforts around migrants and refugees and COVID-19
Mears updates Business as usual Food Packs are available to vulnerable Asylum Seekers. Asylum Seekers need to contact Mears directly. Dated: 08/04/2020
Migrant Help A lot of staff members are working from home, however, We ask for support from our sector and the community to help direct our clients appropriately, particularly in encouraging clients to use our free national telephone line (0808 8010 503) for asylum queries. Dated: 08/04/2020
Kirklees Council events postponed
Kirklees Welcomes Briefing sessions: 20 March 2020 – Dewsbury library – Dewsbury 23 April 2020 – The Mission – Huddersfield
Introduction to Migration: 26 March 2020 – Howlands Centre – Dewsbury 30 April 2020 – The Mission – Huddersfield
Please be aware that if any service users are self-isolating during the grace period when their support is due to end, whether following positive or negative decision, please raise with Migrant Help to request an extension and email us all details too and we will escalate on.
Abed.Moubayed@kirklees.gov.uk or MigrationAndResettlement@kirklees.gov.uk
Martin Lewis has set up a grant application for small registered charities, or local arms of bigger charities, across the UK to apply for grants from between £5k – £20k provided by Martin Lewis.
There is a total of £1,000,000 in the pot and charities just need to fill out the form before Wednesday 25th March.
There can be no charge made to an overseas visitor for the diagnosis or treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19).
All overseas visitors, including anyone living in the UK without permission, should be aware that:
1. No charges apply to testing for COVID-19, even if the result is negative, or to any treatment provided for COVID-19 if the result is positive or up to the point that it is negatively diagnosed. The same is true of most other infectious diseases. 2. NHS trusts have been advised that no immigration checks are required for overseas visitors that are known to be only undergoing testing or treatment for COVID-19.
Alongside ongoing work exploring the integration of refugees in Yorkshire and the Humber the School of Human and Health Sciences (University of Huddersfield) and Migration Yorkshire invite you to a very different way of understanding and thinking about refugee integration in the UK through Legislative Theatre.
We are assembling an audience that will represent a variety of sectors, experiences and characteristics to be part of a special performance of Legislative Theatre which will address refugee integration strategies. Legislative Theatre brings community members, advocates, and policymakers together into creative dialogue about the rules and laws that affect communities facing oppression. Katy Rubin, the founder of Theatre of the Oppressed in New York, has been working in the region with a number of refugee actors to help connect real-world experiences to policy making.
It is well known that the social, economic and cultural integration of refugees is a multidimensional process in which individuals, statutory institutions, voluntary and community groups and all of social all have a role. However, it is also known that achieving and enacting integration can be complex, challenging and, in some cases, misunderstood. All too often to focus is on the newcomer to change without adequate understanding of the daily lives people lead in the UK.
At the region’s inaugural Legislative Theatre event, you will watch original plays based on the actors’ lived experiences of challenges as refugees in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Members of the audience can then volunteer to act onstage alongside the actors to offer alternative responses to these systemic problems on an individual, institutional, or policy level. The audience will then submit ideas to specially selected key representatives across the policy sphere within Yorkshire and Humber, and then vote on which ideas should be taken forward and acted on.
The event will be engaging, powerful and fun. It will make all who attend question what they think they know, what they do and how we can all contribute to change in some way. The event is free to attend, refreshments will be provided. Please feel free to share amongst your networks.
If you have any questions about the event please contact ; Professor Philip Brown, PhD, CPsychol, AFBPsS Professor of Housing and Communities
Kirklees continues to be a welcoming community, understanding and building on the benefits migration brings. Working together we want ensure that those who are vulnerable/seeking sanctuary can access the support that is available to them and importantly from our partners in the voluntary and faith sector.
We are inviting staff and volunteers from across Kirklees to attend two learning sessions: Kirklees Welcomes briefing session and an Introduction to Migration.
Kirklees Welcomes – briefing sessions
The aim of this sessions is to inform attendees about what support is available for new arrivals in Kirklees.
Outcomes: • Learn more about the #KW programme • Learn something new about the work going on across Kirklees • Get chance to meet the fantastic Kirklees Welcomes team!
North Kirklees Friday 20 March, 1pm – 4:30pm, Dewsbury Library. Full address – Dewsbury library, Railway Street, Dewsbury, WF12 8EQ Book your place via Eventbrite. Password = kw2020
South Kirklees Thursday 23 April, 10am – 1:30pm, The Mission, Huddersfield. Full address – The Mission, Huddersfield, 3-13 Lord Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1QA. Book your place via Eventbrite. Password = #KW3
Introduction to Migration (in collaboration with Migration Yorkshire)
The aim of this session is to provide attendees with in-depth information and awareness about the journey and experiences of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.
Outcomes: • Understand the patterns of migration in Kirklees and Yorkshire • Understand some of the issues and challenges that can affect migrants • Learn about successful migrants and the benefit the brought to the country
North Kirklees Thursday 26 March, 09:30am – 1pm, Howlands Centre. Full address – Howlands Centre, School Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1LD. Book your place via Eventbrite. Password = #KW2
South Kirklees Thursday 30 April, 10am – 1:30pm, The Mission, Huddersfield. Full address – The Mission, Huddersfield, 3-13 Lord Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1QA. Book your place via Eventbrite. Password = #KW3
