October, 2015

James 2:14-18 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

Pope Francis “Faced with the tragedy of thousands of refugees fleeing from death from war or hunger, heading for the hope of a life, the Gospel is calling us and asking us to be "neighbours" to the littlest ones, the most abandoned ones. To give them real hope. Not just to say, "Be strong, be patient...!" Christian hope fights with the tenacity of someone aiming for a definite goal.... I am appealing to the parishes, religious communities, monasteries and shrines of the whole of Europe to show how real the Gospel is by welcoming a family of refugees.... Every parish, every religious community, every monastery and every sanctuary in Europe ought to host a family...”

“Practically, we are working to ensure, as far as possible, that every diocese has a contact nominated to co-ordinate your parish/individual response; they will liaise with the local authority and other faith groups to match offers of time, talents and accommodation with the pressing humanitarian needs of the local area.” cbcew

TERMINOLOGY ASYLUM SEEKER REFUGEE FAILED ASYLUM SEEKER DESTITUTE ASYLUM SEEKER

TERMINOLOGY CAMPS... On borders of Syria CAMPS... In Calais, Boulogne, Dunkirk. UNHCR: United Nations High Commission For Refugees VPRS: Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme JRS: Jesuit Refugee Service

ANALYSIS 1. SYRIANS IN CAMPS Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. The government will accept 20,000 over 5 years; coming in with refugee status; given ‘Leave to remain’ for 5 years; fully funded for 1 year; needing local support.

ANALYSIS 2. SYRIANS IN CAMPS Additional to 20,000: PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. Coming in with refugee status; given ‘Leave to remain’ for 5 years; No funding. Dependant on local support. Programme recommended by JRS Co-ordinated nationally by CITIZENS UK First costing suggests around £800 pm per family

ANALYSIS 3. CAMPS in EUROPE Only 1 in 4 are trying to get to the UK. The rest are waiting for housing in France. No safe way to enter UK. No legal way to enter UK

ANALYSIS 4. IN THE UK In the Asylum Seeker process Registered in Croydon Dispersed across the UK Majority in north west Dispersal areas being increased eg 8 in Skelmersdale in September

ANALYSIS 5. REFUSED STATUS Destitute, failed asylum seekers Bill going through Parliament to remove support from the children of these families. No support given for return to country of origin. These people go underground.

RESPONSE 1.VPRS: Indicate willingness to offer pastoral support, liaise with local authority 2. Private Sponsorship: Endorse scheme and look for pilot parish 3. In camps: Offer financial support via CSAN 4. In UK: Encourage more support for local organisations eg ALM, SWAP, LASAR 5. Failed: Support as above

ACTION National: shared practice, coordination from cbcew Diocesan: J&P sub group (ecumenical) Pastoral Areas: Call meetings, form small teams, mapping of resources, ecumenical links, council links, MP Parishes As above Ecumenical Work together, share resources, etc Local Authorities Work alongside, offer assistance, keep informed

‘Ownership’ of project Each group that becomes involved must be encouraged to carry out its own analysis of the need and local responses.

ACCOMMODATIONEmpty parish properties Housing Associations Spare rooms in people’s houses TRANSLATIONArabic speakers ESOL teachersTigrinya speakers MONEYRentReady cashAccess to benefits EDUCATIONAccess to schools Adult educationChild care GOODSFurniture Cooking equipment FoodBedding MEDICALAccess to doctors Access to dentists Access to opticians Access to psychological services INTEGRATIONFriendshipUK cultureJobsTransport LEGAL SERVICES