The New Londoners
www.thenewlondoners.co.uk Interview
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Winter 2013
Ade Adepitan
Basketball player and Paralympics TV presenter
Leigh Daynes, Doctors of the World
Social
"Sport helps you to become more confident about who you are, and it teaches you to surprise yourself"
Saint Mungo´s
People
page 5 Migrant Mums
Picture by Garry Knight
Community
Social Media brings power My Turkish London
Film
Wadjda
to the Turkish people?
by Gary Buswell Social media has played an important role in reversing a government decision in Turkey. Due to the protests organized via social media, the Turkish government has scrapped plans to transform an Istanbul square into a shopping mall.
On 1 June this year, a blog began circulating around social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Called 'What Is Happening In Istanbul?', it gave an account of Turkish police trying to forcefully disperse a growing group of
protesters who had gathered over the past week in the city's Taksim Square. The blog post was addressed 'To my friends who live outside of Turkey' and went on to ask for support because 'most of the media Continued on page 3 >>
www.thenewlondoners.co.uk
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The New Londoners
Editor-in-Chief: Ros Lucas Editorial Team: Sara Wickert Sylvia Velasquez Vivienne Francis Dimple Patel Caroline Hyland Donna Acott Emily Churchill Zaraa Production & Communications: Sylvia Velasquez Creative Director & layout: Pablo Monteagudo Contributors: Helena Argyle Gary Buswell N. N. Dee Tania Farias Georgie Knaggs Gianna Mula Michela Sechi Sara Wickert
Letter from Editor-in-Chief
Dear Readers, Is the tide turning in London on the negative rhetoric around immigration? Are leaders in London getting concerned that more restrictions on immigration to the capital city will have a detrimental impact on businesses? It would seem so if recent statements from key policymakers are to be believed. At an event in Westminster, attended by the New Londoners, Mark Boleat from the Corporation of London, Professor Tony Travers from the London School of Economics and Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor of London, were all positive about the contribution that migrants make to the London economy and why it is one of the leading global cities. Both Mark Boleat and Professor Travers published articles recently in the Evening Standard to support this view. It seems that there are concerns in “The City� that further restrictions on immigration will harm the capital. The New Londoners continues to focus on different communities that make up this vibrant, diverse city and, in this issue, we focus on the Turkish community and how it contributes to all aspects of life in London, including our cuisine. London is now one of the top culinary cities in the world which is a testament to the influences of many different cultures and cuisines and a flourishing tourism and visitor hub. Do you have a great story about how you, or someone you know, came to London and made a success of life here? Let us know and join us on Facebook and Twitter. Ros Lucas MRC Executive Director
Photographers: Pablo Monteagudo Marina Uzcategui Ilustrators: Ian Drummond Comic Strip: Rhiannon Hughes Poetry: Hasani Hasani Produced by: Migrants Resource Centre 24 Churton Street London SW1 V 2LP 02078342505 www.migrantsresourcecentre.org.uk info@migrants.org.uk With thanks to all the volunteer journalists and contributors who took part in the production of the magazine www.thenewlondoners.co.uk
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The New Londoners
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Social Media brings power
to the Turkish people?
>> Continued from page 1
sources are shut down by the government and word of mouth and the internet are the only ways left for us to explain ourselves'. The post contained a disturbing account of police forces using tear gas and water cannons and driving vehicles into crowds, killing at least three people. The protesters had gathered to prevent the Square's Gezi Park from being demolished to make way for a shopping mall, and in the wake of news spreading via social media, reports started to appear internationally in newspapers and on TV.
The Gezi Park demonstrations triggered a wave of nationwide protests across the summer with a much wider focus
'My Only Gun Is My Marauder Heart', picture by Ozan Dikerler
However, it soon became apparent that this was no small single-issue protest. The Gezi Park demonstrations triggered a wave of nationwide protests across the summer with a much wider focus. In addition to responding to police heavyhandedness in the initial protests, people took to the streets to campaign against increasing government authoritarianism and declining life standards. People from both ends of the political spectrum were involved, with 70% of those asked having no strong political affiliation. Oktay Cinlopat, a youth development worker with London-based Day-Mer Turkish and Kurdish Community Centre, was part of a delegation of trade unionists that visited Turkey in June to observe the situation.
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The New Londoners messages via Facebook and Twitter. Within 12 hours over two million tweets had been sent about the situation in Taksim Square, echoing the speed at which social media was utilised regarding Tunisia 2010 and Egypt 2011. One reason for this is that people feel they can't trust mainstream media, which is often seen as a tool of the state. 'Mainstream media in Turkey censored any coverage of unrest', said Mr Cinlopat. 'As for the international media, reports were mainly concerned with the Gezi Park issue'. Social media has provided an effective and valuable alternative. As the musician and veteran activist Jello Biafra once remarked, 'Don't hate the media, become the media'. These resources have helped strengthen and create global communities of activists and
concerned citizens, which is of vital importance to migrant communities in global cities like London who now maybe feel a little less helpless when such things happen in their homelands. They can spread messages globally and organise support events easier locally. Following the Turkish protests, a Taksim Solidarity Campaign was formed in London which has organised many rallies and three big protests that have attracted between 1,000 and 5,000 people. Aware of the international as well as national protests and perhaps fearing an Arab Springstyle conclusion, the Turkish government has already scrapped plans to transform Gezi Park. As Mr Cinlopat says, 'This is a small step but it's an important one'. With pressure continuing for further reforms, it may well yet be the first of many.
Don't hate the media, Become the media
Jello Biafra
>> Continues from page 3
'Over the last decade under the AKP government, many people have seen their quality of life reduced or had rights taken away. Government is interfering in many areas, including banning alcohol and restricting women's rights', he said. 'As we observed, there has been a history of events that have accumulated'. Taking this into account, similarities can be seen between the situation in Turkey and those in the countries involved in the Arab Spring events of 2011. With many of those countries, too, there was an event that acted as a tipping point that triggered general unrest about government authoritarianism, lack of rights and use of excessive state force. A greater similarity, though, has been the role played by social media channels as a way of relaying information and gathering support. Both the blog post and an Amnesty news report published the same day called for people to spread
The New Londoners
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From shopping trolley to the world stage by Georgie Knaggs
Picture by DFID
Ade Adepitan:
The Paralympian and media professional whose personality and perseverance have melted prejudice around the world and raised awareness of the continuing problem of polio in Africa Continued overleaf >>
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The New Londoners
Forty years ago, on March 27 1973, a little boy called Adedoyin Adepitan was born in Lagos University teaching hospital in Nigeria. His parents didn’t know it then, but Polio was about to change the course of his life forever. By the time Ade was three, the disease had infected his young body and turned his world upside-down. The virus left him unable to use his left leg and forced him and his parents to move to England in search of treatment and a better life for their disabled child.
Iron calipers (leg braces) were a start, but they could only do so much for a boy on the hunt for excitement. Shopping trolleys and a couple of mates to push him around sped things up a little. The trick caught the attention of Owen McGhee and Kay Owen, two physiotherapists with a passion for disability sport. They took twelve-year-old Ade to Stoke Mandeville to show him wheelchair basketball, and he was instantly hooked. Ditching his calipers for a wheelchair, basketball became his life, offering the skills, speed, adrenalin and
I think I've done more things with my disability than most able bodied people would dream of doing
Picture by Nick Webb
The New Londoners
eb b Pi cture by Ni ck W
confidence he had been searching for. Ade went on to become a professional wheelchair basketball player and, fifteen years after his trip to Stoke Mandeville, he was selected for the British men’s wheelchair basketball team in the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney. It was the start of five years of intense international competition for him and the team, at European, World Championship and Paralympic level. By 2006 Ade had been capped 90 times and had won fistfuls of medals including bronze at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens and gold from the 2005 Paralympic World Cup in Manchester. But he was also heading into his mid-thirties and in need of a new career. Ade, who was awarded an MBE in 2005 for services to disability sport, decided to retire and focus on his work in media and broadcasting. Thanks to his years as an ambassador for London’s Olympic and Paralympic bid, alongside Tanni GreyThompson and others, Ade was already well-known in the media. He developed this work further and in 2012 topped it off by joining Clare Balding to present Channel 4’s Paralympics. The coverage went on to earn Channel 4 a Bafta in May this year. Since the Olympics, Ade has turned his
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attention to less developed countries, where people with disabilities face enormous barriers. Ade has visited Uganda to meet disabled people there. Travelling to Mexico for Channel 4’s Unreported World, he faced his own preconceptions about mental illness when he met a collective of people with psychiatric disabilities fighting for their rights. Most poignantly perhaps he has been back to Nigeria, the land of his birth, to raise awareness of the needless suffering caused by polio and to touch the lives that could easily have been his. The reports make difficult viewing, but Ade’s engaging personality offers a bridge that lets the viewer in. The warmth in his voice, ease in front of a camera and humour, which is born from his own experiences, spark the reactions that touch so many with hope. In a recent interview, Ade Adepitan was asked what ambitions he had. His reply was that he wanted see the day when the complete eradication of polio was announced to the world. Polio clearly has a problem. The young boy it infected in Lagos, now a British Paralympic medallist and television presenter, has an old score to settle, and he doesn’t like to lose.
The New Londoners
Pictures courtesy of Doctors of The World
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Leigh
by N. N. Dee
In conversation with Leigh Daynes, Doctors of the World UK, on migrants’ access to health Leigh Daynes, Executive Director, Doctors of the World UK shares with N. N. Dee his perspective on the impact that proposed changes to the NHS will have on migrants. Leigh’s previous posts include Director of Advocacy, Campaigns and Communications for Plan UK and Head of Corporate External Affairs for the British Red Cross. 1.What is Doctors of the World and what is its role? Doctors of the World UK is part of the global Médecins du Monde network, which delivers over 300 projects in more than 70 countries through 3,000 volunteers. We run a clinic and advocacy programme in east London that provides medical care, information and practical support to
vulnerable people, helping them access healthcare. The clinic is staffed by volunteer doctors, nurses and support workers who provide information and basic short-term healthcare to excluded people across the UK, such as vulnerable migrants, sex workers and people with no fixed address. We believe that every person has the right to medical care, and we advocate for those facing barriers to receive it. 2.What is your organisation’s stance on the UK Government’s consultation proposals to restrict access to health care for people from outside the European Economic Area and which of these restrictions give most cause for concern?
The Government is consulting on proposals to remove access to NHS services for visitors and migrants and is seeking to ensure that anyone who is not eligible for free treatment is charged for the care they receive. Good public health benefits us all and we at Doctors of the World believe limiting access to primary care for visitors and migrants present in the UK would be damaging for wider public health and would drive up costs in secondary and emergency care. 3.What will be the effect of these restrictions on potential patients? Individuals denied access to primary care will eventually present to emergency health services with advanced illnesses which are
The New Londoners more complicated and take longer, and cost much more to treat. Emergency services are already under considerable strain and must be provided to everyone. And the longer someone has an untreated infection, the greater the likelihood that they may unwittingly pass it to others. Altogether, these proposals might affect up to 1 million people in England, even though the number of people for whom the NHS bears an unrecoverable cost is actually relatively small. In order to avoid charges of discrimination, everyone in England seeking any free service from NHS schemes will have to prove eligibility, though in reality only a few of these people will be ineligible. However, this need to prove eligibility will likely turn at least some people away. It will also increase bureaucracy and extend waiting times for treatment. Any new bureaucracy is likely to be costly to the NHS; as is the impact of people presenting later with harder to treat conditions at A&E Departments because they
have encountered barriers to getting a GP. 4.Responding to publication of the consultation, you said: ‘Discriminating between patients goes against medical ethics and violates the Oath doctors take.’ How so? The Hippocratic Oath basically says that doctors should act in the best interests of their patients, and denying healthcare is obviously not in a patient’s best interests. Doctors should not be forced to act as immigration officials; their first duty is to all of their patients, without discrimination and irrespective of residence status. Trust between doctor and patient is crucial for the effective delivery of health services. 5.What impact will such consequences have on society in general? Exclusion and poverty cause ill health. Inequalities in access to healthcare have serious implications for vulnerable populations as well as for society more broadly.
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While new migrants to England are typically young and healthy, they often face difficult economic circumstances and labour conditions in the UK which put them at risk of poor health. Investing in public health for everyone present in England will support young migrants to be economically productive while they are here. The Marmot Review reported that health inequalities may cost the NHS more than £5.5 billion per year, not including the broader economic costs to society.
See “Access to healthcare in Europe in times of crisis and rising xenophobia” (Doctors of the World International Network, 2013) – the full report including all UK statistics can be downloaded at www.mdm-international.org
Daynes a chat with
Doctors should not be forced to act as immigration officials
The New Londoners All pictures by Ryoko Uyama
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Becoming a mother is a very special moment within a woman’s life. Most of the time family and friends gather together to enjoy this event and everybody focuses on the new born. But what about the mother? What does it mean for a woman to become a mother? What happens when a woman becomes a mother abroad? Furthermore, what does it mean to be a mother far away from everything that is familiar? In brief, what does it mean to be a migrant mum? Exploring these and other questions, a year and a half ago the photographer Ryoko Uyama and the writer Yuka Igarashi started a project called “Migrant Mums” – a project inspired by the American photographer, Dorothea Lange’s photograph “Migrant Mother”, taken in 1936. “Migrant Mums” aims to portray and tell the stories of women from very different backgrounds, ages, nationalities and experiences, but what they all have in common is the fact that they are foreigners, who were not born in Britain and have parents with very different outlooks. As Uyama states: "We are not looking for amazing stories; on the contrary, we are just looking for normal mums with a story to tell." She continues: "We wanted to focus more on the mum rather than on the child because when you become a mum, someone calls you “mum” and others call you by your real name, so you have two identities. Furthermore, if you are a foreigner you already have two identities." Up until now, they have only interviewed and photographed 14 women: “It’s really difficult to find mums [for the project]. We approached 15 organisations but even then it has been very difficult. There are hundreds, thousands of mums out there with amazing stories, but we have realized how much these mums and their stories are hidden. It has been challenging to find subjects and to connect with them”, claims Uyama. At the moment the creators of “Migrant Mums” are considering getting a portion of their photos and stories published. If you are interested in following the progress of this project or you would like to read some articles related to migration you can visit http://migrantmumlondon.tumblr.com/
Migr Mum
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by Tania Farias
rant ms
The New Londoners
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The New Londoners
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Myth: Mass immigration has harmed UK, was voters’ claim. According to a major survey commissioned by Lord Ashcroft, the former Conservative party deputy chairman, “A SIGNIFICANT majority of people believe immigration has done Britain more harm than good”. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/426249/Massimmigration-has-harmed-UK-say-voters
ed in C aiciroty. in the to ante d her ers her face ) Wafwa bhegan an e wit th e in g in o rk d marriedghan her dau te r,
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Fact: The International Migration Outlook 2013 report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development at the end of May of this year showed that immigration makes a positive contribution to the public finances of many countries, including the UK. According to the report, ‘Immigrants contribute to through taxes and social security contributions. The also benefit from public services, social benefits and pensions.” Factoring all of this in, the report concludes that immigrants in the UK make a net contribution of 0.46% of GDP. http://www.oecd.org/els/mig/imo2013.htm
myt h fact Myth: New Family Migration Rules are designed to avoid spouses or partners coming to the UK becoming a burden on the taxpayer. Fact: According to the analysis of the Fiscal Implications of New Family Migration Rules published recently by Middlesex University “Government’s own data suggests that non-EEA partners, who have the right to work in the UK but not claim most benefits, were never a burden on the welfare state. Evidence in fact suggests that, by preventing up to 17,800 migrant partners from coming to the UK every year, the new income requirement may be costing the public purse rather than saving it money”. http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk/files/news/Family_migra tion_costs_briefing-9-7-2013.pdf
There are hundreds, thousands of mums out there with amazing stories
Myth: “Many of the Syrian immigrants attempting to come here could have gone to other, closer countries. But in Britain the lure of free health care, housing and endless benefits means that our country is always the first choice” Leo McKinstry, columnist. http://www.express.co.uk/comment/expresscomment/434 938/Immigration-Bill-sends-a-clear-message-to-the-world Fact: According to the International Migration Institute of Oxford University in his research Towards a New Agenda for International Migration “Although migration is commonly seen as the product of poverty and oppression, it is not the poorest who tend to migrate most; the countries with the highest rates of out-migration are typically upper-lower and lower middle income countries rather than the lowest income countries”. http://www.imi.ox.ac.uk/projects/pdfs/a4-imi-researchagenda.pdf
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The New Londoners
Picture by Sara Biljana
St Mungo's Shaping the future
Voluntary Projects in London by Michela Sechi Started in the late sixties in Battersea as a house run by a few volunteers offering food and shelter for a handful of rough sleepers, St Mungo’s is now a well-established charity able to help thousands of homeless people every year. According to Judith Higgin, from the charity, those seeking refuge arrive with a multitude of complex problems. Most are lonely, often suffering from physical or mental health problems. Drug and alcohol abuse is common, and many have also experienced childhood traumas. St Mungo’s broad aim is to offer hostel places, semi independent and supported housing as temporary accommodation as a way of helping the clients to start improving their lives so they can eventually become independent. Forty-year-old Thomas* is just one of many eastern European migrants who have been forced to turn to St. Mungo’s for help after falling on hard times in the UK. In fluent English, he reflects on the complexity of his troubled life that began in his home country, the Czech Republic. A picture emerges from memories of despair and degradation. He and his sisters were terrorised by their alcoholic, aggressive mother and were forced to witness unspeakable acts, as Thomas’ mother had sex with his stepfather in front of the children. Eventually rejected by his family, Thomas was left to fend for himself and spent most of his teenage years in care. When he was 18, he became homeless. It was while he was living in a park that his drug addition took hold. “When drugs enter your life, you lose your interest for anything else,” he now reflects.
Although he tried many times to have a normal life, coming to the UK to take up offers of employment, drugs dominated his life for more than 30 years. “The problem was that I only met people related to drugs. It is hard to change habits and your life when you are surrounded by a negative environment,” he says. Thomas was locked into blaming his troubled adulthood on his traumatic childhood. This feeling was compounded by the death of his youngest
St Mungo's helps prepare the residents for the challenges they will face in the real world sister at the hands of her violent husband – again he believed the blame was rooted in their upbringing. After a period in prison, Thomas was introduced to St Mungo’s. Due to the complex needs of service users like Thomas, the charity runs combined health, housing and skills projects. A core element of their approach is education and training. According to the charity, a lack of educational opportunities is a significant cause of being in the homelessness trap.
After living through drug addiction, homelessness and prison, Thomas was losing hope. But when he walked through the doors of St Mungo’s, he found people who truly wanted to listen Training programmes are fundamental for helping the homeless to build up self-esteem and plan for a new future. Graham Burton, Skills and Employment team manager at the charity, says that many clients are keen to work and start a better life but do not have a realistic or pragmatic understanding of society. For instance, some do not know that after finding a job, it is necessary to open a bank account, which involves having identification documents and an address. Others get confused by the complexity of the benefits system, so do not realise they are eligible for support with their rent. Setbacks like these can help reinforce the negative view that nothing will change in their lives. St Mungo’s helps prepare the residents for the challenges they will face in the real world. They aim to help develop existing skills and identify new ones, also insisting on the importance of good networking and relationships, especially for male clients. With the help of St Mungo’s, Thomas successfully went through rehab, and now lives in a positive environment. He would like to use his life experience and natural aptitude for languages to work as a volunteer. With gratitude to the charity, he says St Mungo’s is the first environment where he was properly listened to, especially now that he has to confront a new battle: a lymphoma. “London is not a place, but a great opportunity. Willpower is the key that can open any door,” says Thomas. *This name has been changed in order to protect the interviewee’s privacy
The New Londoners Yurdakul Celebi is 37 year old software test analyst from Istanbul. He came to the UK in 2001 knowing only a handful of people, unable to speak English fluently and with a visa that only allowed him to work part time. Twelve years on he has a successful career, a rewarding social life and has become the president of a Westminster based Rotary Club.
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A Day in the Life Yurdakul Celebi
by Michela Sechi
“If I could choose three words which best describe my life over the last decade, I would probably say: visa, speaking and adaptability. When I gained my degree in mechanical engineering in Istanbul, the economic crisis had already consumed my country. After spending months searching for a job unsuccessfully, I decided to move to the UK. I was a bit scared about coming to the UK because it was my first time going abroad. I did not know what to expect. In 2001 I arrived to stay with a friend in Reading. My student visa only allowed me to work part time. I enrolled on an ESOL course, but that was not enough. I was very unconfident in learning the language. It was a struggle as I was 25 years old and not young enough to learn a language easily. I wanted to learn to speak English proficiently - I was able only to say: “Hello, my name is… I’m from...” I needed to find other places where I could socialise without speaking Turkish and at the language course I was unable to speak to native speakers as the course was for international students. The first opportunity came up with a salsa course. My English quickly improved as well as my communication skills and confidence. A few years after coming to the UK, I discovered a special agreement through which the European Union was giving people the opportunity to develop a business project. As a result, I ran my first business, selling textiles between the UK and Turkey. The opportunity to establish myself into business was exciting. Then I got used to the life in the UK, and stayed. It was not all straight forward - I had to deal with the Home Office’s bureaucracy several times before becoming a British citizen in 2009. The hardest one was in 2005 when I wanted to obtain an emergency visa to see my ill father before he passed away. A couple of years after starting the textile business, I felt there was a more viable business idea – selling properties in Turkey rather than selling textiles. It was a hard job because this business visa neither allowed me to have employees, nor to work as an employee. I was forced to learn new skills, including managing my company’s website. I found this aroused my curiosity and interest in the software field, which soon became a passion. I trained myself to master this new skill. With the help of a friend, I was introduced to software companies, first of all Vyre in 2010 and then to Rightmove, an online property company, where I have worked since 2011. I work as a software test analyst. My job is to test software and ensure it meets a certain level of quality. My official job title is Quality Assurance Analyst. I consider my job as a kind of metaphor of life: to analyze a system-situation, find the problem, in order to make the system work again. It’s quite a bit challenging like being a Rotarian. Rotary International (also known as the Rotary Club) is an international service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. The first Rotarian I met was while I was a student
in Istanbul. He inspired me tremendously. The Rotary Club has also been my support in London. As a social club, it has helped me to meet many wise people. In the club, diversity is considered more than a resource. It’s the core of Rotary’s values. I have gained a lot from Rotary such as: friendship (making a lot of friends in London and abroad); developing my leadership skills; and developing my public speaking skills. Through the Rotary I have also been involved in community activities. In 2012, I was appointed the president of the Rotary Club of Westminster East based in the Charing Cross Hotel. I held this position for a year. Sometimes I feel like going back to Turkey and trying to set up my life there. But I do not see this happening any time soon. Even though I have had difficulties, I am now pleased about my job and life in the UK. My advice to new migrants? Learn English, and learn English well! Language is the key you can use to open doors.”
© Picture by Alexandru Calca
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The New Londoners
My Tu
Not only doner kebabs: the long con by Helena Argyle There are an estimated 500,000 Turkish immigrants living in England today, with the vast majority settled in London. The migration of Turkish people to London does not only span recent decades, but dates back hundreds of years; shaping our culture, philosophy and politics alike. Historically, England has seen Turks crossing the border since as early as the 16th century. Records show that Henry VIII had Turkish mercenary troops in his foreign heavy army and by the mid-17th century there were hundreds of Turkish migrants living in the United Kingdom, most of whom were freed slaves from Spanish ships during the conflict between England and Spain. Following their release, many chose to settle in England and convert to Christianity, whilst others set up businesses dealing with English merchants in North Africa. London’s first Turkish coffee house was opened by a Greek merchant named Pasqua Rose. He had teamed up with The Levant Company, which was an English company set up in 1581 to regulate trade with Turkey. The popularity of the Turkish Coffee House venture soon spread, as 80 more establishments opened in London within the decade. Nowadays, the Turkish influence on British
urkish London The New Londoners
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ntribution of Turks to life in the UK
culture is as strong as it was when the first coffee shops sprung up hundreds of years ago. In more recent decades, the first significant wave of Turkish immigrants was during the 1970s, when there was an influx of predominantly young, educated Turkish men who were willing to travel to improve their English and meet the demand for workers within the UK textiles industry. By 1987, out of the 2000 textile workshops in London, 1500 were owned or controlled by Turkish speaking immigrants. During this time, Turkish kebab shops began to pop up all over London and beyond, with the shish and doner kebab becoming a staple of every hungry man’s diet - especially after a few beverages. As well as economic migration, there were also political reasons for Turks to settle in the United Kingdom. The 1970s was marred by political tension back in Turkey, where right and left wing ideological clashes escalated into unprecedented violence, resulting in a military coup in 1980. During this time, many left wing and liberal Turkish nationals fled their country, seeking political asylum in England. Today, we have second and third generation Turks who have settled into the colder, windier climate of the British Isles. Through strong family ties, London has become home for many Turks, in areas including Stoke Newington, Hackney and Islington to the North of the river, and Croydon, Lewisham and Southwark to the South. Whether it’s through the presence of the many Turkish restaurants and shops, or the beautiful mosques, the Turkish influence on London is plain to see. Pictures by Claude Attard Bezzina
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The New Londoners
Turkish Culture Tradition by Helena Argyle
Turkish tradition has evolved in a land that joins the European west with the Arabic east and has over the years spread through migration to even London itself, reinventing itself along the way. From dance to food to the festivals they celebrate; Turkish culture is alive. The international art of belly dancing, or Oryantal Tansi, is a wellknown traditional dance popular in Turkey. Finger cymbals or zils are seen as a gauge of quality in the dance. Yet Turkey also has a wide range of folk dances that change regionally and evoke a sense of story or emotion. They are usually performed at weddings and other social events. Bar is a line dance specific to Eastern Turkey performed by groups of male and female dancers. Commercially speaking though belly dancing is a popular international dance performed in Turkish restaurants and taught in many classes across London. There are plenty of Turkish restaurants around London and the world. Arguably the most popular of Turkish culinary influences is the kebab although many other dishes have sprung from this land rich with
gastronomical experience. Turkish mezze combines bite size pieces similar to Spanish tapas or Greek mezze and shares names and influences with these cuisines. Typical of Turkish mezze is Borek; thin layers of dough layered with cheese, meat and vegetables; dolma (stuffed vine leaves), hummus and kofte. For those with a sweet tooth there is baklava; layers of filo pastry with chopped fine nuts and honey. Nutcase in Shepherds Bush houses some of the best Middle Eastern treats including baklava. More than 1000 Turkish festivals are held in Turkey every year spanning from film and dance to religious festivals. Since 1993 the London Turkish Film Festival, offers Londoners the chance to appreciate Turkish film over two weeks in February or March. For the many Turkish Muslims an important festival that takes place every year at the end of Ramadan is Eid al-Fitr or the “festival of the breaking of the fast� or Ramazan Bayrami. The festival includes religious mosque music and prayer. Eid al-Fitr was held on Thursday 8th August this year and is annually celebrated in London in Trafalgar Square.
Picture by Lale Cizmeci
Picture by Quinn Dombrowski
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Imam Bayildi (Stuffed Aubergines In Olive Oil) Here comes one of the most famous olive oil dishes in Turkish cuisine: Imam Bayildi, literally means “the Muslim cleric fainted”. There is a dozen of stories surrounding the name of this meze, some claim that the imam in the tale fainted because he was so overcome with the flavor of this dish, some other accounts focus on the cost of the ingredients. Imam bayildi has also been an inspiration to the confit byaldi dish in modern French cuisine. Nowadays people have no time to cook such classic dishes and follow the original recipes religiously. Imam bayildi would still taste good even if you skip adding pine nuts or nutmeg, but IMHO we should pay our respects to the cooks of the Ottoman palace by sticking to the original recipe as much as we could, trust me, there is a reason for every ingredient to be there in the recipe. I think, cooking is about great attention to detail, picking the finest ingredients and treating them the way they deserve to be treated. But then again, I am always up for some improvement. For instance, the original recipe of the “imam bayildi” calls for deep frying the aubergines in olive oil prior to stuffing. As much as I love fried imam bayildi, some people find it a bit too rich and avoid the dish completely. Again, I think the main mistake is using sunflower oil or any other oil for that matter to fry the eggplant. Olive oil is a must and so is high heat. Apart from that, you can still skip the frying and make imam bayildi by pre-cooking the aubergines in the oven sprayed on with some olive oil.
Ingredients
• 7-8 small eggplants, try to pick the freshest ones without any seeds. • 1 cup of virgin olive oil. • 3 medium size onions chopped finely • A handful of pine nuts • 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped • 3 medium size tomatoes, peeled and chopped • 2 tablespoon of lemon juice • 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest • 2-3 teaspoons of sugar • 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley leaves • 1/4 cup of water • 1 teaspoon of salt (reduce or increase to your taste) • A pinch of black pepper • A pinch of grated nutmeg
Imam Bayildi Preparation
Picture by Joan Nova
• Peel the aubergines, remove the green bits around the stems but leave the hard stalk on top, just like you see in the picture, this helps hold them intact through the whole process. Make a deep lengthwise slit along each eggplant, 1 inch apart from both the top and the bottom. Make the slit on the inside of the curve if the eggplants are curved. Soak them into salted water for about 15 minutes and then rinse, drain and squeeze to remove any excess water. Dry with paper towels. Heat some olive oil on high heat in a wide skillet and fry the aubergines on both sides until soft. Remove from the skillet and place them into a baking tray, slit sides on top. Sprinkle with grated nutmeg, making sure that the flesh of the eggplants comes into contact with the glorious flavor of nutmeg. • Put onions and pine nuts into a deep pan and sauté with about a tablespoon of olive oil at medium low heat until they become really soft and pinkish yellow in color. Add tomatoes, water and garlic, increase the heat and let the tomatoes cook off until you can see the oil separating, that is when it loses all its water and starts to caramelize. Now season to taste with salt, black pepper and lemon zest. Remove from the heat, add in the parsley and the lemon juice. Fill up the aubergines with this sauce. • Finally place it in the 180ºC oven for about 40 minutes. Check at 30 minutes to make sure the tops are not too brown. And that’s it! Remove from the oven, cover and let it rest on the kitchen counter overnight. Serve the next day, garnished with some parsley leaves.
Source: http://ottomancuisine.com
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The New Londoners
Restaurant review
Fez Mangal
Review by Sara Wickert
P ictu re s b
y
rt S a ra Wicke
Book review
A large charcoal grill takes centre stage at this traditional Turkish BBQ restaurant on Ladbroke Grove. 'Mangal' is Turkish for barbecue and the smoking grill set behind glass combined with traditional Turkish decor - carpets and colourful mosaic lamps - certainly sets the scene. Customers can choose from fresh meat, vegetable or fish dishes displayed in a large glass fridge or the doner kebabs featured at the front of the restaurant. Aubergine Salata, an olive oil dish that melts in your mouth is a tasty starter or side dish. Cacik, a yoghurt dip with cucumber, mint, garlic and a hint of salt had just the right balance of flavours. And while the falafel were not cooked fresh to order, losing them points on texture, the spicing, with a touch of chilli, was spot on. For mains, Yoghurtlu Lamb Beyti, a richly flavoured dish, was made with delicately spiced ground lamb barbecued on the grill, served with a fresh tomato sauce and topped with thick yoghurt. Flavourful and juicy Chicken Doner was accompanied by fresh red cabbage, carrot and rocket salad, a welcome change from the standard lifeless garnish served at many other restaurants. Baklava and Turkish apple tea made for a tasty finish to an enjoyable meal. With all the tables full even on a Sunday evening, it is pretty clear that Fez Mangal is a popular favourite amongst local residents. 104 Ladbroke Grove - London W11 1PY Transport Ladbroke Grove - tube Telephone 020 7229 3010 Opening time from 12:00 am to 11:30 pm www.fezmangal.com
Honour (by Elif Shafak, 2012)
As its name implies, “Honour” is a book where the author explores the meaning of this word that has received so much media attention in the UK during the last decade. In the name of honour - so many crimes have been committed. To defend the reputation of a family - violent crimes are often committed and include such actions as: acid attacks, abductions, mutilations, beatings and even murder. The figures speak for themselves: in 2010 alone, almost 3000 honour attacks were recorded by the police in England. “Honour” is the eighth novel of the much acclaimed Turkish novelist Elif Shafak and was first published in 2012. In this novel Shafak takes us into the centre of the Kurdish community; exploring a variety of subjects such as: pain, love, loyalty, superstitions and migration. Through the Toprak family story, we are able to observe the traditions, beliefs, fears and perceptions of a community;
Review by Tania Farias
confronted and challenged by completely time also jumps and spans a period of different cultures that do not share their time from the 1960’s to the end 1970’s and way of understanding the world. beginning of 1990’s. In the 1970’s, Pembe and Adem Toprik along with their children Iskender and Esma arrive in London looking for a better life. However, mistakes from their past come back to haunt them and the fate of every member of the Toprak family, including Yunus the youngest son; is transformed by a terrifying and disturbing event, an honour crime. Narrated by Pemba’s daughter Esma, “Honour” is a compelling novel that goes deep inside a community with an evocative storytelling that catches you from the first line: “My mother died twice…” right up until the end of the book. Written from the perspective of an insider, this book allows the reader to understand what honour The narrative switches between a village means for some communities; the near the Euphrates in Turkey, the mythic importance and the power that this word city of Istanbul and then to London and has for them.
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Photostory
Let's talk Turkish Text by Emily Churchill Zaraa Pictures by Pablo Monteagudo
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II
t may be famous for providing tasty snacks to clubbers after closing time, but the Turkish community has far more to offer London’s taste buds than just kebabs. Known across the city for its mouth-watering, wallet-friendly treats, Yasar Halim bakery sells a delicious range of Turkish and continental breads, cakes, sweets and savoury pastries. Mr Halim founded the shop on Haringey’s Green Lanes, a hub of the capital’s Turkish community, in 1981, because he felt no-one was selling the kind of food he could get back home. Over 30 years later, the bakery is a hit with Londoners of all nationalities – including, apparently, the cast of Eastenders.
A A
s afternoon turns into evening you may want to take the five minute walk from Yasar Halim’s to Rakka’s, a Turkish- Mediterranean restaurant and bar. Here you can choose between seafood linguini or imam bayaldi (see p.19), all under the watchful eye of the barely-dressed ladies that adorn the bare-brick walls. It’s atmospheric, especially if you happen to catch one of their live music nights. Oh yes, and there’s shisha.
T T A A
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he deco is slightly toned-down but the tastes are just as explosive at Gökyüzü, which neighbours Yasar Halim’s. Much more than just a kebab shop, this place keeps its regulars happy with lahmacun (thin Turkish pizza) and fresh meze starters, as well as what at least one online reviewer claims to be “the best lamb shish I have ever had”.
s well as being somewhere Londoners from all communities can go for a taste of Turkish culture, Green Lanes is a place where Turkish traditions are catered for. The shop window below (right) displays traditional circumcision ceremony costumes. Below left, a hallmark of Turkish influence hangs outside Green Lanes overground station.
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The New Londoners
Film review
Wadjda (Haifaa al Mansour, 2012) Screening: ODEON Panton Street 11/18 Panton Street, London 0871 224 4007 (check where it is screening at time of publication)
by
Rhiannon H ughes
C omic S trip
Wadjda is the story of a 10 year old girl who dreams of owning a bike to challenge her friend Abdullah. She is ready to work hard to get what she wants, and she achieves her goal with determination. It may seem like the simple story of a small battle, but if we zoom back we realize that this little girl lives in Saudi Arabia, and her desire clashes with the whole culture and tradition of her country. Saudi women are not allowed to drive a car, and owning and using a bicycle is considered bad and dangerous to their fertility. The bicycle becomes the symbol of a desire for freedom; owning a vehicle and being able to move around with it. Wadjda, the young heroine, is brave and knows the world in which she lives. She knows how to bend tradition to her advantage, and experiences the contradictions of her society intensely. Her mother, on the other hand, is deeply conservative. She is what she is expected to be; a devoted wife to God, and to her husband. In turn, the other characters represent other facets of this culture. Wadjda’s Father is resolute in seeking a new wife who can give him the male heir that is
expected of him. Abdullah, her young friend, is of her generation and is a good sidekick. He supports Wadjda, perhaps not always understanding her, but imagines his future with the ‘normal’ ending; marriage with her. Into constant balance between tradition and innovation, Wadjda uses all her resources to get her bike; from the small business of handmade bracelets, up to the religious contest offering big prize money needed for her dream. Meanwhile, she must face the daily difficulties and disappointments; the absence of her father, the strict rules of the school, the prospect of adolescence that will make her a woman - with the obligation to wear the veil and get married. The importance of this film is that a woman could write and direct this tale of emancipation. Haifaa al Mansour is the first Saudi woman to direct a movie and film it entirely in her country. The film thus offers a snapshot of the lives of women and men in Saudi Arabia today, a country that is changing, and making compromises with its cultural tradition.
Review by Gianna Mula
The New Londoners
What's on
London Events Jameel Prize Victoria & Albert Museum, free entry 11 December 21 April International award exploring the relationship between Islamic traditions of art and design and contemporary work. www.vam.ac.uk
by Emily Churchill Zaraa
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Trans Siberian March Band Xmas Party Rich Mix, free entry. 18 December 7.30pm Flamboyant 13-piece Balkan brass band presents a “borderless bag” of musical treats. Also featuring Pest, DJ Kobayashi and a presentation on how to make a music video on a budget. International Migrants Day Various venues 18 December Talks, protests and celebrations across the country in recognition of migrant rights. www.migrantsrights.org.uk/events The Alternative London Tour East London, free £20 Until Dec 20 2014, Bike, walk or drink your way around East London, discovering the history and culture of Brick Lane and the area’s notorious street art. www.alternativeldn.co.uk
Thirty Six Pounds 13 The Gallery, free entry Private viewing 12 December, runs until 23 December A collection of artwork by survivors of torture seeking asylum and refuge in the UK. www.freedomfromtorture.org/events Re staging Revolutions: Alternative Theatre in Lambeth + Camden 1968 88 Ovalhouse, free entry 11 November 21 December, Tues Sat 3 8pm An exhibition on the alternative theatre movement of the 1960s-80s, which featured street and political theatre, gay, lesbian, black, Asian, disabled and women’s companies. www.ovalhouse.com/whatson Foreign Bodies, Common Ground Wellcome Collection, free entry. 14 November – 9 February 2014 What happens when you set up six artist residencies in different medical research centres throughout the world? This,apparently. www.wellcomecollection.org
Top Cats & more Hootananny Brixton, free before 10pm, then £3 17 January 9pm – 3pm Eleven-piece “sultans of ska” is joined by Josephine & The Artizans, DJ Natty Bo and Wrong Tom for a big night of eclectic sounds. www.hootanannybrixton.co.uk The France Show Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre, £13/ £10 advance 17 – 19 January Promises the best in French food, travel, and entertainment, including wine tasting, language theatre and the chance to play pétanque. www.thefranceshow.com
Pictures by Julien Morlon (center), Andre Thiel (right), John Perivolaris and Sean Granann (above this lines)
Beyond El Dorado: power and gold in ancient Colombia British Museum, £10/ £8 Until 23rd March Exhibition exploring the rich and diverse cultures of Colombia before the arrival of the Spanish. www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on
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The New Londoners
Voices from No Man' s La
The Poems, published on this space are by re asylum seekers and migrants living in One thousand lizards
by Hasani Hasani
One thousand lizards Basking in the African sun In winter Under deep blue skies On a big granite rock In a thick forest Where the nearest human dwelling is a thousand miles away As I pass Kennington Park From Brixton to London Bridge, on foot One thousand people basking in the sun In summer Lying on their backs, some on their stomachs With nothing on but bras and pants, or even boxer shorts On the green grass of Kennington Park Next to Oval station Deep in London, SE5 One thousand lizards Lying on their stomachs Can't face the sky, lying on their backs like the humans do in Kennington Park They can only see the rough surface of the rock, Not the beautiful deep blue (sky) above. They are fighting, some are even mating in the open, on the surface of the hot rock Others are chewing Maybe an unlucky locust whose legs stick out of the lizard's mouth Still twitching as it tries to free itself Some have to make their meal of flies In Kennington Park, people do not eat locusts, nor Do they eat flies They have brought with them Home-made sandwiches with tuna or A salad of greens And bottles of mineral water They are not fighting or mating
Drawings by Ian Drummond
Land
efugees, n London
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Maybe they are farting from the sandwiches It's not a crime, but fighting and mating in public are. The heat of the Sun has warmed their blood and organs They can only dream of mating in public They have their sun screens and shades Lizards do not need sun screens or shades They have scales and are cold-blooded – cold-hearted For eating unlucky insects alive In the park the sunbathers can smell the green grass I can't stand the smell of grass It makes me sneeze and my nose starts running After I pass Kennington Park My swollen feet take me to London Bridge Where like a criminal on bail I am supposed to report at the immigration office I can only stand on these feet in the queue waiting for my turn To be ticked off the list A thousand people are in the queue The man or woman basking in the sun in Kennington Park has only to fear The wisp of a cloud that might just Block the sun for a few seconds To cause unwelcome chill Under the African sun The fear of the lizards is that predator Soaring in the sky Ready to swoop and dip its talons In one of the thousand Mating, eating or fighting below At the reporting centre My fear is that man or woman behind the glass counter Whose word might make the surly security guards Detain me, and whisk me to Yarlswood or that citadel in Dover Which always reminds me of a line from Dante 'Abandon hope, all ye who enter here' Then they might send me on a flight Like a Christmas present, to that place Under the African sun Where on arrival I will be met by a different kind of lizard Whose only intention is to chew me up Exercising his truncheon on my twitching feet And send me to that place Locked away from the African sun Where the only light is the darkness before me Where I will wish I was smelling green grass In Kennington Park, or Hyde Park (even if it made me sneeze) Not this muck and urine And the sweat of two, or four or even A thousand others, in the (smelly) stinking cell
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The New Londoners
Exiled dreams and imaginings at Poetry Café
Poetry Cafe, in London’s Covent Garden, in August featured poetry readings from “Write to Life” a therapeutic creative writing group from Freedom from Torture. As is the norm every month at the event, the theme was “Exiled Dreams and Imaginings” and was aptly captured in the poetry and music read on the night. The event was hosted by Exiled Writers Ink, which gives a platform to writers from across the globe to showcase their talents. Every first Monday of the month, except on bank holidays, published and unpublished writers meet to read their work. The writers for the recent event came from Uganda, Zimbabwe and Iran. Jade from Uganda read her short story “Crocodile”, which she said was inspired by Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”. From Zimbabwe, Yamikani read the poem “Souvenirs” which talks about scars on her body, the work of a despotic regime. “Souvenirs”, which is also the title of Write to Life’s verbatim theatre production, premiered at this year’s Independent Bath Literature Festival. To cap a successful night was Khayke Wiegand, Lector in Yiddish at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish studies. She read from her anthology “Have you seen my goat? And other poems”. Supporting the poetry readings was Takudzwa Mukiwa from Zimbabwe who played the mbira, a traditional music instrument from Zimbabwe.
by Hasani Hasani
The New Londoners Can I get financial advice and support for my college or vocational courses? Further education can be expensive once you’ve added up tuition and exam fees as well as the cost of study materials. If you are looking for help paying for your course, the first place to look is the college or institution where you are studying. Colleges usually offer advice on financing your course, including with loans. Some even have student hardship funds to help learners in need. Depending on your circumstances, like immigration or employment status or whether you have the right to work, it might be worth asking if the college would consider reducing your fees. Are there grants available to help me pay for the course? Charitable trusts might be able to help you with some or all of the funding you require. Family Action http://www.familyaction.org.uk has a grants search on their website. Just enter your details in their online form and you’ll be provided with a list of trusts and how to contact them. The form takes about 15 minutes to complete, but you then need to spend some time reading through the guidelines to check whether you are eligible for a grant. Some of the application guidelines are so long. Do I really have to read them? Reading those guidelines is a must. It is essential to find out what the charity expects so that you provide the correct information. That way, you will be more likely to receive the funds you need. Most charitable trusts want to know about my financial situation. What do I need to do to show them I need the money? Always explain your financial situation in detail. Are you a single parent? Are you on
Benefits Advice
Universal credit This information has been provided by an adviser from the Westminster Advice Services Partnership (WASP). For Westminster residents in need of generalist advice across a range of subjects such as benefits, debt, housing, employment and immigration call the WASP Gateway Helpline on 08444 771 611
benefits? Have you got any income at all and, if so, how much? What are your monthly bills? And if you are only applying for a proportion of the money you need, then how do you plan to pay for the rest? If the charity asks for any paperwork, make sure to include it. If I am planning to apply to several different charities, should I mention this on the application form? Yes, you should let each of the charities know about your intentions to apply for other funding. It makes you look proactive and means that if the charity can only provide part of the course fees, then they can rest assured that you will still be able to take the course. The application asks for a reference letter. What is this and how do I get one? A reference letter is a letter from a former or current course tutor or an advisor who knows you well. It states what kind of person and student you are, whether you are hardworking, reliable and likely to pass your course. It might include information about extracurricular activities or volunteering that you are involved in. The letter must be on headed paper and you should include the original hard copy with your application. Are there any trusts which give specifically to migrants? Yes. One example of a trust which gives specifically to migrants and refugees is the Ruth Hayman Trust. Education grants are given to those who have come to settle in the UK and whose first language is not English. Grants of up to £500 are awarded 5 times a year. Further information and application forms can be found at:
www.ruthhaymantrust.com
What is Universal Credit? It’s a new benefit which will gradually replace working-age benefits and Tax Credits for working-age people who are unemployed or on a low income. When will it come into force? The government has planned a phased roll out which already started in some locations in the North West of England in April 2013. The next phase, which began in October sees the inclusion of the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Other claimants will be moved onto Universal Credit sometime between April 2014 and October 2017. Which benefits is Universal Credit replacing? It will replace Income Support, incomebased Jobseeker’s Allowance, incomerelated Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. How much will I receive and how often?
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Education Advice
Further education funding
Picture by Angelo Amboldi
Universal Credit is means tested which means your income and assets are taken into account to find out if you qualify. If you qualify, your monthly payment will cover everyone in your family who qualifies for support. 'Family' could mean just you, or you might also be claiming for a partner and/or children. Your payment will be higher if you have a disability, caring responsibilities, housing costs, children and/or childcare costs. The payments will be made monthly. I’m self employed. How will the government make a decision on how much I’m owed? Those who are self-employed and eligible for Universal Credit will have to report their earnings to HMRC every month to ensure the payment is made. How and when can I apply? You won’t need to do anything until the Tax Credit Office tells you to. When you are asked to make an application for Universal Credit, you’ll be expected to complete a form online. There may be help available to get the form filled in, but this will vary from council to council.