The New Londoners Magazine October 11 issue

Autumn 2011

www.thenewlondoners.co.uk

Politics

Government cuts

People

Interview

Ellen Banda Penguin prize winner for African fiction 2010 p. 8

A Day in the Life

Comment

Immigration cap

Community

Brixton photostory

Events

My Latin American London

Cutting the Talent Juan Camilo explains why restricting settlement for skilled migrant workers might not be a wise idea The pledge to bring down net migration to tens of thousands has turned out to be a headache for the Conservative party leading the coalition government. Because net migration reflects the difference between the number of people moving into Britain and those moving out, the Government faces significant chal-

lenges in its attempt to bring it down to a fixed target.

First, the Government cannot restrict the movement of EU citizens, so it has to focus exclusively on non-EU migrants in order to achieve its goal. Yet changes in migration patterns of EU citizens can significantly alter the figures in unexpected ways, scuppering the efforts made on other fronts.

Second, if the number of people leaving the UK goes down, net migration figures can go up even if the number of arrivals remains the same.

This seems to be precisely what is happening: fewer British people are leaving the UK than in previous years and the number of East European migrants returning to their countries has been lower than expected. continued on page 3 Âť

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Editor -in –Chief: Ros Lucas Editor: Maria Teresa Sette Communications: Sylvia Velasquez Contributors: Ellen Alan Anna Bowsher Gary Buswell Juan Camilo Cook Ambra Caruso Laura Cowan Julian Cheyne Nadine Carle-Edgar Amanda Epe Azita Jabbari Arabzadeh Indira Kartallozi Laura Marziale Carolina Ramirez Eva Sanchis Reinaldo Sevilla Handsen Chikowore Hasani Hasini Bart Wolffe Ian Drummond Carlos Lavayen

Letter from Editor-in-Chief In this, and previous issues of The New Londoners, we have highlighted the benefits of migrants to the economy in London against a predominantly negative press. But, have we seen a tide change? Did David Cameron go too far in his recent speech at the conservative party conference when attacking immigration into the UK so that now the media is beginning to wake up to the negative impact of an immigration cap? Recently, the need for skilled migrants to be able to enter the workforce in London was highlighted in articles in The Evening Standard and the Independent.

In this issue, Juan Camilo, discusses how an immigration cap would be disastrous for the economy, particularly in London. There also seems to be little talk now about The Big Society and Gary Buswell queries whether the idea of the Big Society has been torn to shreds now that the funding cuts have begun to bite and have hit the voluntary sector.

With the Arab Spring turning into autumn without resolution for many, we feature Jaffar al-Hasabi’s treatment in Bahrain for distributing leaflets which called for democratic reform.

We welcome your letters, comments and tweets on any of our articles.

Ros Lucas MRC Executive Director Contact us or comment in many ways:

empowerment@migrants.org.uk Visit our website:

www.thenewlondoners.co.uk

Creative Drector and layout: Ellen Davis Grefberg Photographers: Magali Blanchant Pablo Molllenhuer Carolina Ramirez Martin Carmona Produced by: Migrants Resource Centre 24 Churton Street London SW1V 2LP 02078342505 www.migrantsresourcecentre.org.uk With thanks to all the volunteer journalists, contributors and media group members who took part in the production of the paper.

Special Thanks to: Migrants and Refugee Social Media Group www.thenewlondoners.co.uk

Follow us and join in debate on:

Supported by:

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Cutting the talent:

Is restricting settlement for skilled workers a wise idea?

« continued from page 1 Therefore, the net migration figure actually went up in 2010 despite tighter immigration rules imposed through the interim cap on non-EU migrant workers.

The net migration figure for 2010 stands at more than double the Conservative party’s aim, at 239,000. So in order to stand a chance of achieving its goal by 2015 the coalition government has to look at the full range of options for reducing the numbers of non-EU people coming to the UK and increasing the numbers leaving the country.

Part of this drive has been capping

the number of highly skilled workers (Tiers 1 and 2 of the Points Based System). However, reducing the number of non-EU migrants entering the UK will not be enough to reach the target and the Government is now looking at increasing the number of migrants leaving the UK by restricting settlement rights. Specifically, the Government has laid out plans to restrict the options for skilled migrants to settle in the UK. The restrictions focus on Tier 2 of the Points Based System, i.e. skilled migrants who come to the UK with a job offer. For 2011/12 the limit

of Tier 2 (General) visas was set at 20,700. In summary, Government is proposing to categorise all Tier 2 migrants as ‘temporary’, making exceptions for a very limited number who would become eligible to switch into a permanent visa once in the UK. The majority of Tier 2 workers would be expected to leave after five years, driving the net migration number down. But is it really sensible to target this group of migrants by restricting their ability to settle?

The proposals to withdraw the option of settlement from Tier 2 workers seems unfair to prospective

migrants. Government argues that it will make clear to applicants that their stay is temporary and they will be expected to leave once it is finished. Migrants will be expected to come to the UK on the understanding that their stay will be temporary.

However, five years is a significant period in time in which personal and family plans can change significantly.

In this period of time people can settle down and become attached to the new place. Their children may grow up with a sense of belonging to the UK and may be affected by a

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break in their education, making parents reluctant to move out. Skilled migrant workers will be contributing to their employers and therefore the British economy; they will be paying taxes and into pension pots, and yet they will be expected to leave without being able to access some of the benefits accrued from these contributions. Workers with a good track record within a business and with a career ahead will see their progress trumped as they have to leave the country. Peoples’ lives and career prospects will therefore be undermined by immigration policy even if their performance is good. Removing the flexibility to have the option to settle is failing to acknowledge that personal plans can change significantly in a lapse of five years and that what was expected to be a temporary sojourn can be transformed into a desire for a more permanent stay.

In the present context, however, these arguments have little purchase with Government or the wider public.

The overriding concern is reducing immigration, not the circumstances of individual migrants. So what about the economic argument? Does it make economic sense for the UK to introduce these changes?

The first point is that Tier 2 migrants are, by definition, workers that the UK economy labour market needs and does not have. They are either qualified in professions with a

short supply of workers or recruited after an employer can show they have been unable to recruit within the EU. Second, because of the nature of their work, skilled workers tend to be net fiscal contributors and therefore pay more in taxes

that they were planning to recruit migrant workers (continuing an upward trend in the proportion of those planning to do so) but the private sector is the main driver of recruitment of foreign nationals doubling the public sector (32%

Skilled migrant workers will be contributing to their employers and therefore the British economy; they will be paying taxes and into pension pots, and yet they will be expected to leave without being able to access some of the benefits than they take in services. These are, therefore, workers that are needed and that make a positive economic contribution.

The private sector, on which the hopes of an economic recovery are pinned, is particularly reliant on the skills of these workers: in the most recent quarterly labour market outlook survey 25% of employers stated

vs. 15%). Regionally London has the highest proportion of employers planning to hire from abroad (40%) confirming the demand for migrant workers within London´s private sector economy, itself the economic powerhouse of the country.

So these workers are clearly needed by the British economy. Government argues that they can still come but

will be in-country only for a limited time-period. However, UK-based businesses are competing for international workers with businesses from across the world and the attractiveness and barriers of moving to the UK will be a factor in the decisions of workers on where to move.

As emerging economies become stronger they are joining the traditional world economic centres in this competition for global talent. In future China, India and the Middle East will be increasingly aiming to attract skilled labour from the same pool of international workers as the UK. States have often sought to restrict the rights of low-skilled migrants, frequently giving them only temporary leave, while seeking to attract high-value migrants by making their migration easier. With the new proposals the UK seems to be going the other way and actually putting restrictions on skilled migrant workers. The key question becomes what weight do skilled workers give to restrictions such as the opportunity to settle when deciding between working in one country or another?

If the UK becomes less attractive for skilled workers at the same time that other countries are competing for that pool of labour then in the future there is a risk that the current set of regulations will end up harming the economic potential of the UK.

The New Londoners

Myth Busting

Myth: “60% of domestic workers who enter the UK stay after their first visa and 6,000 each year can be counted as net migrants.

Fact: Domestic workers’ visas will have to be renewed yearly for the first five years. UKBA figures for renewals in 2009 are for 5,050 domestic workers in private households or 5,285 if you include those working for diplomats. Therefore, the net migration figure for domestic workers in 2009 was closer to 1000. http://www.prb.org

Myth: “20% increase in immigrants coming to the UK” Fact: There has been an increase of just over 20% in net migration to the UK. Not as many Brits emigrated last year because of a lack of jobs in Europe and the economic crisis. http://www.ft.com

Myth: “Meeting the social housing needs of new immigrants will cost the tax payer £1 billion a year for the next 25 years” Fact: Few if any new migrants will qualify for these [new] homes, only 7% of new social housing lettings go to foreign nationals in any one year. The vast majority of these are likely to be people who have lived in the UK for many years. http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk

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Opportunities to contribute

Jimmy Bell was a refugee child when he arrived to the UK in the 70s. In this interview with Azita Jabbari Arabzadeh, Professor Bell explained how he was given the opportunity to become a research scientist and why welcoming immigrants to this country is an investment for the future of the UK Jimmy Bell was just a teenager when he fled in the UK as a political refugee from Chile along with his brother and two sisters. They were escaping the brutal regime instituted by General Augusto Pinochet following the 1973 coup that removed the freely elected socialist president Salvador Allende from office.

In the aftermath of the coup, Jimmy’s father Santiago and his brother Ernesto, were arrested and tortured. Ernesto was made to disappear and has not been seen since.

After the secret police came to the family home looking for his sister Myriam, who was in hiding, his mother sent Jimmy and his siblings out of the country to the UK. They arrived in London in 1974 and were placed in foster families. In the years that followed, Jimmy and his siblings studied in local comprehensive schools and universities, getting access to free education and health care. Eventually his father was released from prison and the family was able to reunite in London.

Jimmy is now a respected research scientist at Imperial College London, the father of two children, both university students.

He also works hard to preserve the memory of the victims of human rights violations during the almost two decades of military rule under the Pinochet regime. His brother and sisters are all professionals working in the UK and EU. His sister Myriam currently works at LAWRS (Latin American Women’s Rights Service).

In an interview with the New Londoners, Professor Bell explained why welcoming immigrants to this country is an investment for the future of the UK. What was your experience as a refugee in the UK in the 70s?

As political refugees we were given access to everything that

The New Londoners

any family in the UK would have.

All we were expected to do was to study, which we did. There weren’t that many refugees in this country at the time, especially from Latin America. In general, refugees were treated very well and welcomed by the local communities.

There was also an opportunity for people to work and more importantly to learn English.

What do you think has been your contribution to UK society?

Everybody contributes to the society they live in, either economically or/and culturally. You come to a country and you study/ work and that it itself is a contribution. I am a scientist and I contribute as such to the society that gave me refuge. I think Latin American culture has enriched British culture, the same way that British culture has enriched Latin American culture.

Do you think conditions have changed for refugees in this country?

Absolutely, it is clear that conditions for refugees nowadays are made unnecessarily tougher than it was when we arrived. Refugees are not provided with much help, so it makes it harder for them to integrate into British society and contribute to its growth and development. In the 70’s and the

80’s refugees were provided with the tools that allowed them to do both. These tools are not there anymore. For example, students will now have to pay a lot of money to go to University. In my family all five of us went to university. There is no way that my father could have afforded to send us all to university in the current educational climate.

What impact do you think the government cuts on refugees are having?

If you allow people to come to this country and you do not provide them with the facilities to learn English, then you are creating an underclass, a group of marginalised persons who, although they want to contribute to society, are excluded by the very same action of those that demand their integration and contribution to this country. I find this incredibly short-sighted, especially in this country, where time and again we see the contribution of refugees coming from either Europe or other parts of the world.

What do you think about the cap on immigration that was implemented last April?

Very short-sighted: a society is always enriched by the entry of other cultures and by the contribution that new people make to that society. These newcomers also bring a diversity of ideas and different ways of looking at the world.

There is no way that father could have afforded to send us all to University in the current educational climate

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Do you think the current limits on immigration are having an impact on scientific research and your students?

The intake of foreign students has decreased considerably due to the amount of paperwork that needs to be done to get them a visa and invite them over. I think British science is losing out; science in general is losing out, especially science in the third world. Students do not get the opportunity to come to some of the top universities in the world to learn the skills that would help them go back to their countries and improve the quality of research there. The great majority of people want to stay in their own countries, but they need the economic opportunities to do so and this can only be achieved through the exchange of ideas and students.

Do you think the contribution of refugees to society is underestimated in this country?

This government and the previous one have been very short-sighted with regards to refugees and their contributions. They see the money that is spent on community centres or English classes. They never see what refugees contribute, directly and indirectly, to the UK. This is a shame because refugees have enriched and will continue to contribute to the development of this country .

Ecomemoria project September is a month that all Chileans exiled and living in London keep in their heart.

On the morning of Tuesday 11 September 1973, two jets launched a deadly attack on the Presidential Palace of La Moneda, in the heart of Santiago, Chile. During the violent takeover, Pinochet’s military heavily bombed the capital city of Santiago and installed a brutal military regime that controlled Chile until 1990. With the involvement and support of local and exiled communities,

human rights and ecological groups, Londoners involved in the Ecomemoria project (www.ecomemoria.cl) want to create all over the world , a “living memorial”, “ a “virtual forest” of native trees in memory of the victims of the Chilean dictatorship.

Ecomemoria aims to give a platform, a voice for those who still seek justice for their loved ones and to culminate in a forest in Chile with a native tree planted for each victim.

A tree for every memory...

A life in every tree...

Reforesting the planet...

Sowing the seeds of a new conscience

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The New Londoners

A chat with

Ellen Banda A

A seasoned writer and winner of several literary awards, Ellen is the inaugural Penguin Prize winner for African Fiction 2010. Her novel Patchwork was launched at SOAS University this summer. She talks to Amanda Epe about migration, multiculturalism and literacy

Ellen tell us about your background relating to migration, being born in and relocating back to the UK after living in various African countries.

Although I was born in the UK, my parents - my father worked for the Zambian High Commission in the UK - went back to Zambia soon after my birth so I grew up in Zambia. I only came back to the UK as an adult after I had obtained my first degree from the University of Zambia.

In your novel Patchwork, the protago-

nist as a child was envied by Zambian children for her father’s international travel and later for her life as a student abroad, yet as an adult returning to Africa she was scorned for the loss of her culture. In your experience, and in general, do you think migrating has overall positive effects in terms of identity and belonging?

Exposure to other cultures is always positive as it makes one understand and become more tolerant to other ways of life. For me, it has been very positive, perhaps because I came to

the UK as an adult so my foundation as to who I am in terms of identity and belonging was already laid. For this reason I was able to integrate in the UK without losing who I am. If my parents had stayed on in the UK I think it would have been very hard for them to raise me as a Zambian, remember it was the 1960’s so the UK was not as multicultural as it is today.

Having lived in multi-cultural countries like South Africa and the UK, do you view multiculturalism in a positive light or do you agree with the controversial statement “state

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Aaku

About Zambia The Republic of Zambia is a country in south-central Africa. The region was colonised in the 1800s and ruled by Britain as Nothern Rhodesia until 1964, when it declared independence from the UK. Kenneth Kaunda became the first head of state, he introduced central planning into the economy and nationalised key sectors. The country’s economic fortunes began to change in the late 1990s when the privatisation of the mining sector began to draw in foreign investment and improve output.

President Kaunda imposed single-party socialism, in which his United National Independence Party was the only legal political party within a ‘’one-party participatory democracy’’. Constitutional change was introduced in 1991 under popular pressure, allowing a multi-party system and a change of leadership.

However, social conditions are tough. Poverty is widespread. Life expectancy is among the lowest in the world and the death rate is one of the highest largely due to the prevalence of HIV/Aids.

It is up to individual families and communities to instill a sense of culture and identity in their children

multiculturalism has failed”?

As the world becomes more global, multiculturalism now exists in most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Most of these cities have not gone up in f lames or ceased to exist, on the contrary they are becoming more and more multicultural.

I think it is a positive thing as it enriches us as people when we live with and learn about other cultures.

With the recent riots across Eng-

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land escalating to community grievances i.e. English Defence League and the Black and Asian gang warfare, and ref lecting on the history of Asians and Europeans living amongst Black Zambian’s, what do you suggest for a harmonious multi-cultural society?

It is up to individual families and communities to instil a sense of culture and identity in their children. This could be through ensuring the children learn the language, the customs, the food etc. of their culture. However, I believe that if one chooses to migrate one should be prepared to integrate, and also appreciate that by settling in another country they are accepting that they will inevitably assume some of the culture that exists in the place they have

migrated to. It is this acceptance or acknowledgement that fosters a harmonious multi-cultural society.

With cuts to public services and as a mother and children’s story writer, how do you address ways to empower young people through literary programmes, particularly in the face of the issue of social exclusion of disenfranchised youth and declining literacy rates?

There is no way round it, to improve literacy rates and empower our youth, money and investment is needed.

More literary programmes, not only for children, but for the many adults who have fallen through the cracks are essential.

There is a need to invest in public services for well-equipped schools and public libraries. We need to encourage society to ‘value’ education and literacy and not just send children off to school to get them out of the house.

What writing tips can you recommend to young people with creative talent, and are you running or planning any programmes for targeted communities in the UK? I would encourage young people to read a lot and to find the time and space to write. I think a lot of aspiring writers don’t get around to writing because they don’t make the time for it. So it is important to make time, ideally, on a daily basis to write something creative. Also, to keep a journal as it’s a good way to practise putting ones thoughts into words.

What can we expect from your future work, more children’s stories, adult novels or another genre?

I am working on a play and plan to start working on a book for young teens later this year.

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The Big Society torn to shreds?

The voluntary sector cuts risk undermining the very idea of the Big Society, as reduced services will affect London poorest areas and its most vulnerable communities. Gary Buswell reports Following the heavy cuts in spending to the public sector back in the spring, the government’s axe has now fallen on the very sector we were led to believe would be picking up the slack as the state rolled itself back: the third sector consisting of voluntary and community organisations that make up the so-called Big Society.

Research published by False Economy has shown that over 2,000 charity groups in England have had government funding slashed, with many losing the full 100 per cent of their funding. A hefty 110 mil-

lion has been sliced from the voluntary sector budget. With data still to be collected from several local councils, the final figure will be even higher.

These cuts shed some light on the government’s commitment to the “Big Society”. When the plan to reduce public spending was announced, David Cameron deflected a lot of the negative press by highlighting the role of charities and volunteering in filling the gap in service provision. But a study by London-based LVSC found that 51 percent of volun-

tary organizations in the capital have had to close services in the past year despite increasing demand.

Furthermore, although demand for volunteering has increased, the capacity to support volunteers has decreased.

Worryingly, both these studies suggest that, as with the public sector cuts, the reduction in funding and services are disproportionately affecting poorer areas.

In London, boroughs such as Hackney, Bromley and Waltham Forest have each lost millions in funding. Among those hit are numerous small refugee and migrant

groups along with organisations supporting volunteering.

However, it is charities supporting children and young people who have been the most affected.

One such charity is The Crib, an organisation based in Hackney that works with 11-24 year olds who are NEET (not in education, employment or training) or at risk of offending.

The Crib offers support and advice to young people and runs projects aimed at raising their ambitions and building relationships between them

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and their communities. They work closely with local police, schools and elderly community groups.

Third sector cuts have meant that the organisation has lost 75 per cent of its public funding, equating to over 200,000 pounds a year.

Project manager Janette Collins says that they have yet to secure alternative funding despite facing rising demand for services.

“We are constantly asked to help out in high anti-social behaviour areas” she said. “We used to run three youth clubs in areas of high gang violence but due to cutbacks we’ve gone from working with 200-plus young people a quarter to working with 16”.

It’s not hard to see how all this intensifies the general impact of the cuts. Back in March I wrote how the spending cuts were likely to increase poverty, unemployment and crime. Poverty figures are unlikely to be available for a while, but latest unemployment figures show a rise of 38,000 unemployed between March and June this year. Unemployment stands at nearly 8 per cent. The number of unemployed males aged 16-24 is around one in four, and a study by the Institute of Public Policy Research suggests that nearly 50 per cent of black British 16-24 year-old males are out of work.

A study found that 51% of voluntary organisations in the capital have had to close services in the past year despite increasing demand

Another study funded by O2 found that a quarter of 16-24 year-olds are depressed about their employment prospects. Then, in August, we had the riots. Now, one must be mindful of making over-simplistic assumptions about the complex causes of these events. To say they were determined by the cuts would be foolish, but Cameron’s attempts to blame them on simple “criminality” is equally so. They cannot be seen in isolation from the reduction of public and third sector youth ser-

The cost of legal aid cuts

If the proposed cuts to legal aid are implemented, the Government risks losing us money in addition to denying the poorest and most vulnerable of our society legal representation.

Legal aid is funding provided by the government to give those without the means, access to legal advice. It costs the government an estimated £2.2 billion a year, though this in turn is a mere 13% of annual UK legal expenditure, the remainder of which goes to private firms.

It is also equivalent to just two weeks public funding for the NHS, as highlighted by the Justice for All campaign.

In their bid to reduce the fiscal deficit, the Ministry of Justice proposes to slash the legal aid budget by 15%, making a saving of £350 million. Practically, this will mean that 18 of the 57 law centres around the country may have to permanently close their doors. However, the cuts may prove to be a false economy.

In a recent report from the Citizens Advice, for every £1 spent on legal aid, the state saves £8.80 on benefits, £7.13 on employment and £2.34 on housing advice, to give a few examples.

Under the current proposals, the areas which would no longer be funded by legal aid would include employment law, most housing and family law (excluding homelessness and domestic violence), debt advice, and immigration law.

The Ministry of Justice estimates that this will leave between 455,000 and 505,000 people without access to legal advice in these areas. The Legal Aid Group argues that the

figure could be much higher.

Walk-in law centres, such as the Migrants Resource Centre, have provided a lifeline to many who see the legal system as a foreign language, not least migrants and asylum seekers. To lose them would therefore have a huge adverse impact on our society.

The Immigration Law Practitioners Association has expressed concern for a while over current pay structures and funding regimes in legal aid. In their response to the Government’s consultation paper on the proposed cuts, they state that the new proposals present a ‘grave threat’ to the availability and quality of work Figures from 2009 Migrants Rights Network reports reveal that 37% of all appeals regarding Home Office immigration and asylum decisions were allowed. Without the right advice, those appeals would not have been granted, adversely affecting the lives of thousands of families in the UK. Migrants are not the only members of our society who could be affected, however. Employment, family and housing law are all pervasive areas, the restriction of access may leave a wide range of people without legal redress, particularly those who are already vulnerable.

In addition to saving money, the Ministry of Justice cites ‘unnecessary litigation’ as a reason for the cuts. It claims legal aid has expanded into too many areas of law, encouraging people to resolve their problems though the courts rather than seek out alternative solutions. The problem is that there may not be any ‘alternative solutions’ for many people seeking to rely on legal aid. Since the beginning of the law centre movement, over 40 years ago, service provision has expanded, but only in response to need.

In place of advice centres the government proposes to introduce telephone helplines for legal aid funded advice: Operators would assess a caller’s eligibility before transferring them to an advisor. While this may be an efficient way of dealing with relatively clear cut cases, more complex matters may find themselves lost in bureaucracy.

The Ministry of Justice argues that cuts will be mitigated by, amongst other things, cases being taken on by the community advice sector.

However, volunteers, who make up a large section of the workforce in advice centres, are already strained. Without professional support they will not have the capacity to deal with the volume and complexity of many cases, and it is unlikely that pro bono efforts will help to shoulder much of the burden.

In essence, the Government’s proposed cuts to legal aid would prove a false economy. The Chancellor has recently admitted the need to revise the economy’s expected growth figures amid fears of a double-dip recession. It is exactly in such financially strained times that ‘the big society’ needs to become a reality, by providing the most vulnerable with access to the legal advice that is rightfully theirs. Only by doing this can we achieve social and financial stability.

By Anna Bowsher

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cuts article!

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vices and the impact this is having.

Collins’ organisation works in one of the boroughs most affected by the riots. “The reoffending rate with our young people has risen. Young people feel like there is no hope” she says.

“We had to close one of our centres that housed 64 young people every Friday night. Young people engaged in cooking, music and fashion workshops. We also delivered family support and CV writing. Young people feel let down by the council and are unable to understand the reasons for the cuts”.

Another organisation affected is The Peace Alliance, a multi-agency organisation consisting of faith groups, community leaders and the police working to reduce crime and promote cohesion in Tottenham, Haringey.

Haringey is one of the most diverse boroughs in London. It is also facing

As with the public sector cuts, the reductions in funding and services are disproptionately affecting poorer areas in London

some of the most severe public sector cuts. It has the highest unemployment rate in London. 75 per cent of the youth service budget was recently cut and 8 out of the borough’s 13 youth centres were shut down. Tottenham was the area where the recent rioting first broke out. The Peace Alliance is facing a reduction of 63 per cent of public funding and has yet to find alternative financial means.

According to Reverend Nims Obunge, Chief Executive of the Alliance, the organisation is working flat out and is struggling to rebuild community relations in the aftermath of the riots.

“Of course we have had to reduce our services, like many other organisations in a similar situation. But it’s no use complaining about what’s happened and how difficult things are.

We must remain strong. I have faith

in the goodwill of volunteers in this community”.

The government has defended its actions by stating that charities must become less dependent on state funding and seek out other alternatives.

But where? Funders such as trusts and the national lottery are already heavily over-subscribed and to make up the deficit there would need to be 6.6 million new private donors, or existing donors would need to give an extra 32 pounds each. Interestingly, the government has just announced a new Transforming Local Infrastructure model for charities. This promotes a social enterprise approach, encouraging streamlining and merging among organisations.

So perhaps the ultimate legacy of Cameron’s Big Society will be that charities end up behaving more like private businesses.

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No justice from Welfare Reform Indira Kartallozi explains why the introduction of the universial credit system, or changes to benefits enitlements will not lift people out of poverty

The Welfare Reform Bill 2011 represents the biggest change to the UK’s welfare system in over 60 years. Most crucially, it includes the introduction of a universal credit system, as well as a wide range of changes to social benefits, all with the intention of making the welfare system fairer and simpler.

I welcome the policy’s objective to simplify the benefit system.

However, I do not believe that the new system will be fairer or that it will improve work incentives for a household. The policy states that the “universal credit should support all people to participate fully in society, including remaining in or returning to work; it will encourage families to get a job”.

So how is this going to work?

The universal credit will replace current means-tested benefits. As from October 2013, all benefits – including income support, income based job seekers allowance, income related employment and support allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit, child tax credit and working tax credit – will be abolished. These, together with crisis loans, community care grants and budgeting loans, will be replaced by single payments to each beneficiary’s account, subject to an overall cap or maximum benefit.

The employment minister Chris Grayling states that in “the households that are likely to be affected by the cap, approximately 30% of them will contain somebody who is from an ethnic minority.” Since the government has projected a maximum of £500 per week it is clear

that large families will be affected.

When the government’s child poverty strategy was unveiled earlier this year it claimed to have a new approach to tackling poverty by “strengthening families, encouraging responsibility, promoting work, guaranteeing fairness and providing support to the most vulnerable”. Yet, at the same time, the government has cut crucial funding of services that provide support to the most vulnerable families, such as the closure of Children Centre’s across London.

The child poverty strategy highlights support that the government will offer parents to find work tailored to the particular barriers they face. Yet, they later introduced changes to benefits entitlements that will affect access to key support services, such as the right to free English classes. Specifically, all those in inactive benefits (such as income support, housing benefits) are expected to pay 50 per cent of the cost of their courses.

In an article for the Daily Mirror, CPAG Chief Executive Alison Garnham states: “Poverty for Britain’s children is now predicted to rise in the coming years and the £18 billion of benefit cuts will help drive this. The cuts to services will hit the poorest hardest too. It is grossly unfair to target children and families facing hardship when the bankers are back to their bonuses and tax cheats are costing us billions. This bill means too many vulnerable people are set to be losers, and too many people will find the promise to make work pay is not being kept.”

As an advice worker, working with homeless families, I cannot help but feel uncertain for the future welfare of the families I support and advise. I don’t see how the Welfare Reform Bill 2011 and the

introduction of the universal credit system, or changes to benefits entitlements will lift people out of poverty How will it support the families to achieve financial independence when further barriers are created?

How can the same government that wishes ethnic minorities to integrate into the society and wants

parents to find a job proceed to cut crucial services and the support in place to help alleviate poverty?

Indira Kartalozi is the Senior Advice and Outreach Worker for CARIS Haringey working with homeless families, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

The government has cut crucial funding of services that provide support to the most vulnerable familes, such as the closure of Children Centres across London

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Tortured for freedom i Jaffar al-Hasabi was tortured in Bahrain for distributing leaflets which called for democratic reforms and equal rights. Interview by Eva Sanchis

Jaffar al-Hasabi

Before the Arab Spring reached Bahrain in February a crackdown on political activists was already underway in the small Gulf state, ruled by the Sunni Al Khalifa dynasty. It was 10 pm on a hot August night during Ramadan last year when security officials arrested Jaffar al-Hasabi at Bahrain International Airport as he returned from a holiday with his family.

The 39-year-old father of five said he was jailed and tortured for six months, during which time he was beaten, kept suspended, deprived of sleep, given electric shocks and forced to sign a confession. He was accused of terrorism and plotting to overthrow the government, charges

that he denies and that could have resulted in a death sentence.

Al-Hasabi was among 23 Bahraini activists arrested in a clampdown ahead of parliamentary elections last year. That was not the first time he had been detained by the Bahraini government. In 1995 he applied for asylum in the UK after he was tortured in Bahrain for distributing leaflets which called for democratic reforms and equal rights for the Shia Muslim majority to which he belongs.

Since then, the computer technician and minicab driver has been living in London with his family, and after 2005 started to visit Bahrain again occasionally. He became a British national in 2009.

in Bahrain

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Al-Hasabi and other detainees were finally released under royal pardons at the height of the uprising on February 23rd, following calls from protesters for their release. The other detainees also said that they had been tortured, charges that the government denied. Shortly after his release Al-Hasabi returned to the UK, but most of the others were detained again in the crackdown that followed the protests. When I recently met Al-Hasabi, who is now receiving assistance from REDRESS, the NGO I work for which helps survivors of torture, he said he is still experiencing pain in his back and that he feels weak most of the time.

During the interview he talked about how he came to Britain, his latest detention and the uprising in Bahrain.

Why did you apply for asylum in 1995?

I was working as a computer technician in Bahrain and through my small business we had been distributing leaflets, just collecting speeches from different people that called for democratic reforms and a constitution. I was arrested and tortured severely. When I was released the authorities followed me for more than three months. One morning I heard that my friends had been rounded up. I fled the country that afternoon.

Why were you arrested again in August of last year?

After my father died in 2005 I started going to Bahrain again to see my family.

I never had any difficulties until on August 16, when I came back from a

The 39-year old father of five was jailed and tortured for six months, during which he was beaten, kept suspended, deprived of sleep, given electric shocks and forced to sign a confession visit to Iran with my mother and two daughters, I was arrested by security forces at the airport. They took my passport, my mobile, my watch, everything; they blindfolded and handcuffed me and took me to a prison called The Fort in Manama, where I was interrogated and tortured for nearly 40 days. They accused me of being a terrorist and getting money from a foreign country to plot against the government. They wanted me to confess to something I hadn’t done, so they tortured me and kept asking me the same questions. Then they moved me to another prison outside Manama, where the worst of the torture stopped, but I still had to beg to go to the toilet and I could not sleep because the guards would bang on the cell to wake me up. continued overleaf 

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What was the most terrifying moment during your detention?

The isolation, the beatings, and the fear every day that I was going to die. When you are blindfolded all the time, and you can’t see, and you are inside a small cell in the basement, it’s scary.

Why were you released? What happened after that?

Because the government came under pressure from the UK and because the Arab Spring started in Tunisia and Egypt and then happened in Bahrain and after that in Yemen and Libya. The pressure was so great they couldn’t resist it.

People were protesting on the streets. If they had kept us in jail for any longer it would have backfired on them.

But when they cracked down on the revolution on March 15th they came to look for us. I had already left the country, but they took most of the other activists and now they are in jail. Two or three people are in hiding. Luckily I’m here, but I’m worried about them.

Do you think that they are being tortured?

Of course they are being tortured, and more severely. Four detainees died in recent months in jail. They can’t kill political figures, but they are being tortured severely. One of them can’t move his arms as a result of the electric shocks. Another, who is disabled, was forced to crawl to the toilet because they wouldn’t

give him his crutches. Now they have been sentenced to life in prison. The government has called an international committee to investigate torture, but the crackdown on the street, the revenge by the regime against the people is severe. More than 33 people have been killed on the streets and more than 3,000 have been sacked from their jobs, so thousands of families are suffering. The government released 147 detainees a few days ago, but there are still more than one thousand people in jail. Everybody is scared, but people are continuing the uprising against the regime, because if they stop, they’ll never get reform.

What political reforms would

you like to see in Bahrain?

The people of Bahrain should write their own constitution, rule themselves and elect their government, because we have been living in a military or police state since independence from Britain 40 years ago. People are scared when they go in or out of the country.

We want to end this police state.

We want democracy and we want the people not to be scared any more.

Do you have hope that the situation in Bahrain will change?

It could change if the international community and the UN apply more pressure. It could also change if America and Britain stop their double standards. They

are protecting the regime and the royal family because they are their friends. They don’t care about the people being killed or about the crackdown. My hope is that because the new generation is more educated and new technology makes people more aware these days of what is happening in these countries, hopefully one day we will see these killers and torturers facing the same fate as Hosni Mubarak, being tried and facing jail.

Yo u c an r ead mor e about J aff ar al - H asa bi cas e her e: w w w.r edr es s . o rg / c a s e - d o c k e t / a l l e g a t i o n - l e t t e rto-un-special-rapporteurs-onj aaf ar- al- has ab

Arab spring in Bahrain Bahrain (officially the Kingdom of Bahrain) is a small archipelago of islands in the Persian Gulf on Saudi Arabia’s east coast.

Population: 1.2 million The Arab Spring: Pro-reform protests started in Bahrain on 14th February, inspired by the uprisings that began in Tunisia in December and in Egypt.

The protests were repressed on March 14th by the Bahraini authorities with the help of troops from neighbouring Gulf States like Saudi Arabia.

Their demands: The majority of the population is Shiite, the Bahraini monarchy is Sunni. The protesters call for political representation and reform, economic justice and human rights. They also demand a new constitution, a government elected by the people and economic and social reforms to create a fairer distribution of wealth, employment and housing.

Casualties: According to Amnesty International at least 34 people have been killed since last February, 500 have been detained and 2,500 have been dismissed or suspended from work. At least four people have died in custody in suspicious circumstances.

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A Day in the Life Elena Noel Elena Noel is the founder and chair of the organisation Empowering People for Excellence. She recently received the Civic Award from the Mayor of Southwark for Voluntary Work/helping people in the community I run workshops on building better community relations, I also work individually with parents whose children are at risk of being excluded from school, and I also provide sup-

port and advocacy for individuals who are unable to enforce their rights.

For example, I ran workshops with the Somali Community to improve their networking and also ran work-

shops on Cohesion, Belonging, Diversity and Conflict with six formers at Bacon’s College which helped them to get the Gold Award for Diversity from Ofsted.

Most of the new users get referred to me by word of mouth.

I’ve got good links in the local community and with the police as I’ve worked in Southwark for over 11 years, previously as a mediator. I try to address social exclusion, children getting into gangs, parental/ child relationship breakdown. We try to encourage everyone to have a positive dialogue.

I love it when I work with groups and see positive change.

I ran workshops on stop and search with the police force so that young people understood their rights and the police built better relations with the young people.

I work with faith groups and it was great to see that on the night of the riots some of these groups were on the streets advising people and

calming the situation. I’ve worked with women who were victims of domestic violence.

In one case, I helped a woman and her child to be rehoused after she had been living for 3 months on the floor of a community centre. She was very scared and I went with her to the Domestic Violence Officer to get support.

She didn’t seek advice elsewhere due to lack of information mainly.

People don’t know where to go and who to trust. Some, like this lady, have no family and friends to turn to.

I can’t say the recent riots have had an impact on my work. There are always tensions in Southwark – some are systems issues, others to do with race and social issues.

Young black people struggle to see their place in the world. I like to work with them to give them new perspectives on their situation and how they can turn their lives around.

I am organising the first South London Apprenticeships Fair for 16-25 year olds on 25th October 2011 in Liberty House, Cottage Green. We are encouraging employers, career advisers and young people to attend.

The other key piece of work is a research project on hate crimes inflicted on people with disabilities.

Reporting of these crimes is very low but anecdotal conversations seem to indicate that there is a problem and that it is due to lack of awareness.

For further information go to: www.southlondonapprenticeshipfair. co.uk.

Helping us find a better school Mulki and her two sons, age six and eight spent the day with Elena, looking for a new school. “The first time I met Elena was about three years ago when a neighbour, who was racist, called me and my children black bastards and other things. He once shouted at us when my sons were playing outside the house.” Eventually

the council contacted Elena and the man was later moved from the estate.

“The second time Elena helped me, was when my eight year old was being bullied at school. She came to the school and talked to the bullies and did mediation. The bullying stopped while she was there but when she left, it started again.” Mulki

lowers her voice, as she continues; she doesn’t want her sons to hear. “One day my son said a teacher had asked to see his willy.” Of course I took it to the authorities, but The Police wanted to interview my son alone. I said no.”

Mulki took both of her sons from the school. Mulki describes the third grade as an emotional crisis for her

eight year old. son “He cried, broke things and acted out, so I called Elena again to see if we could find a new school and some extra help because he has fallen behind in his studies.

She did a lot of work today and I am hopeful we’ll find a better school soon for my sons.”

By Ellen Davis Grefberg

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The art of social change Pan Intercultural Arts is an art organisation working with London’s deprived communities to encourage integration, build confidence, communication and transferable skills for future training and employment The Synergy Project uses a range of art forms to give deprived young people a voice on society and the cuts. It also provides an opportunity for young people at risk of crime and anti-social behaviour to focus on something positive for their futures, learning technical and transferable skills for employment and training.

For eight years, Pan Intercultural Arts has worked with London’s deprived communities as well as with young refugees and asylum seekers using theatre, song, music, photography, dance, film, creative writing and visual arts to encourage integration, build confidence, communication and transferable skills for future training and employment.

Their latest project - the Synergy Integration Project - engages young people who live in the most deprived areas of Camden using urban music, dance, graffiti art, drama and film to explore current issues that affect young people The project works in partnership with youth organisations and youth centres in the borough targeting young offenders, care leavers, refugees and asylum seekers and those not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Separate groups are then brought together to work towards an interactive multi-arts event at Camden’s Roundhouse to give young people a voice on issues that affect them.

“Over the past 2 years participants have spoken a lot about the divide between young people and the Police in London. There is a lot of frustration on the street but also so much talent. Synergy offers the opportunity to use that talent to find positive solutions whilst developing skills and aspirations for a better future” says Laura Cowan, the project manager of Synergy.

Fortune is a theatre group for young refugees and asylum-seekers aged 16 – 26. The group provides along with psychotherapists and social workers, group support. Using voice work, improvisation, expression, movement and storytelling exercise, we can equip participants with the tools they need in such challenging situations”, explains John Martin, Artistic Director of Pan Intercultural Arts.

Pan’s council grant for office rental has been cut. As social and youth services get cut, young people need projects like Pan intercultural Arts to provide the personal, social and creative development that is already scarce for deprived young people in the city. Despite the cuts, Pan’s projects are expanding to meet the needs of many deprived young people. Laura Cowan says, “We know it makes a lasting difference to the young people’s lives.”

The New Londoners

Ben Mansilla- Campbell

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“Pan gives opportunities to people my age that they wouldn’t usually get”

Aaliyah Grant “I was quite aggressive in my speaking. I was a lot louder… it helped me to, like, listen to other people’s opinions. It’s kinda shown me what other people’s views of my aggressiveness is like…and I’m thinking, wow, is that how I look? Wow, maybe I should just stop.”

Dieuxmerci Kimpembe

“When I came first to this country I had no real family, I couldn’t speak English, I couldn’t communicate with people I had no confidence. Since I joined the Fortune group, I shared my ideas, my experience of my life with them. They were happy to help me with all these kind of things. Pan is a family to me, I’m really excited to be with the group and enjoy the moment.”

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The New Londoners

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My Latin American London

Latin Americans started to appear in London in relatively large numbers in the early 70s when applications for refugees from the continent were opened. By Carolina Ramirez It is commonplace today to say that the character of both migration and ethnic diversity in London is changing, a context in which Latin Americans are acquiring relevance as one of the fastest growing migrant groups within the UK. Latin Americans started to appear in relatively large numbers in the early 70s when applications for refugees from the continent opened - noticeably those from Chile, as well as Argentine and Uruguay. The majority of them were political forced migrants, predominantly left-wingers, unionists and students, who left their countries due to facing persecution and exile imposed by the repressive dictatorships of the Southern Cone.

Today the migratory landscape appears transformed both in terms of the reasons that trigger movement

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and in relation to the places where those who increasingly arrive in Britain come from.

The research entitled ‘No Longer Invisible’ estimates that 186,500 Latin Americans live in the UK, of which 60% reside in London. Those from Brazil and Colombia form the largest groups, followed by Ecuadorians, Bolivians and Peruvians. As in the last available Census (2001) here, their main reasons for moving to the UK are primarily identified as ‘economic’, with more women than men moving between continents – yet we know that political and economic factors are deeply entangled.

This research also resembles those studies that have appeared in the Runnymede Trust’s publications (www.runnymedetrust.org), indicating that Latin-Americans in the UK are individuals with high levels of qualification, who experience deskilling by performing low paid and low skilled jobs.

We do not have much information about second generation Latin Americans, either about the interactions between individuals from different migratory waves or regarding the contact among Latin Americans and the broader English society. In this context, this might be an opportunity to look at those ‘spaces’ which have formed across London – such as El Carnaval del Pueblo and others – in which diverse individuals come to interact with the broader and increasingly complex multicultural society.

A slice of Colombia in the heart of Brixton Restaurant Review by Ros Lucas In the covered avenues, just behind the colourful markets in Electric Avenue, there is a slice of Colombia amongst the plethora of eating places for every taste and nationality. We chose the “El Rancho de Lalo” for lunch which served a typical Columbian lunchtime meal. At the brilliant menu price of £6 I chose sopa de plantano – plantain soup – and my colleague sopa de mandango- - which I understand was tripe. I couldn’t quite bring myself to order this!

The first course was followed by pork fillet, rice and salad which was excellent and my colleague chose chicken fillet.

The restaurant was full of southamericans – men, women and children – and there was a constant stream of customers.

There didn’t appear to be any other menu than that on the blackboard which was a choice of two soups (as described) and variety of grilled meat with rice and salad.

Although desert was not included in the menu price, for purposes of research I thought I’d try a typical Columbian dish. Up came (and neither I or my Chilean colleague got the name right) breva, which was a portion of soft cheese like mascarpone, a fig in black syrup and what seemed like caramel instant whip (created I’m told from boiled condensed milk).

The three flavours worked well together but proved too much for both us, even though we were sharing it.

The total bill was £15 for two – all washed down with “agua de panela” – still not sure what that was. I can’t wait to go back to try some of the other restaurant outlets in this trendy, vibrant part of south London.

El Rancho de Lalo 1stAvenue,Brixton.

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No room for carnival

Since 1999 El Carnaval del Pueblo has added a new face to the diverse and multicultural landscape of London. This year it has been cancelled due to refurbishment. Carolina Ramirez reports Months ago in the City Hall building, during the launch-event of an important research report whose title suggested the end of the long-lasting invisible character of Latin Americans, the Deputy Mayor of London highlighted the contribution made by this group to the ‘cosmopolitan’ character of London.

This contribution has become tangible, it was said, through the amenities and services that we can enjoy today. Just take a walk on the streets of Lambeth or Southwark – two of the boroughs with a major concentration of Latin Americans - and you will be able to see, hear, smell and taste the various ways in which Latin Americans have daily shaped our lived experience of the city.

Nevertheless, regardless of these palpable signs of their presence, we should not naively assume that the issue of invisibility has been overcome.

This is a matter that has acquired renewed relevance today when one of the social scenes where Latin Americans have been able to engage with the city (and acquire visibility) on their own terms has been abruptly cancelled.

As many Londoners may know – particularly those of Latin American ancestry – including the residents of Lambeth and Southwark, El Carnaval del Pueblo has been ‘suspended’ this year due to refurbishment and development in Burgees Park.

To understand the relevance of this festival and, consequently, the disappointment

and concern that its interruption has brought to the community formed around it, we need to go beyond our idea of it as a simple ‘multicultural spectacle’.

El Carnaval del Pueblo has been since 1999 a central space for Latin Americans to meet and it has provided an opportunity to make room for them, as there are many Latin Americans who still remain largely hidden in a structural invisibility.

This is for the most part relevant to those who have arrived in the UK during the last decade and who largely (but not exclusively) participate in this annual event.

According to research made in conjunction by Queen Mary University, LAWRs and the Trust for London, more often than not these newcomers perform invisible jobs (they are noticeable in the cleaning and catering industry) and report experiences of abuse and exploitation in their workplace, as well as various constraints on their daily well-being, such as language barriers, exclusion from public health services, low quality accommodation and overcrowding, amongst others.

Conversely, the interactions and practises implicated in cultural activities, such as El Carnaval del Pueblo, offer alternative means of social support for them, as well as a way of emotionally dealing with their on-going experiences of exclusion and dislocation. Likewise, as some of us were able to appreciate in-situ at last year’s festivities, the carnival also provides a platform for the diffusion of some of the initiatives targeted at them by varied NGOs, charities and other civil organizations.

More importantly, this involves a form of appropriation that – by developing a multi-sensory engagement with the scene - does not exclude but incorporates the wider social and physical context of London, namely the city dwellers and their material setting. Hence, this event, which is seemingly a merely entertainmentbased event, and which as such is often devalued as a means of social empowerment, might be able to positively allow individuals to renegotiate their sense of belonging to the UK as part of rather than separate from the rest of society.

Let us return to the launch event mentioned above, in which Latin Americans’ contributions to the multicultural landscape of London was celebrated by some of the authorities. It is crucial that the often straightforward discourses that (rarely) emerge ‘from above’ go hand in hand with our capacity and willingness to provide and, more importantly in this case, maintain the meaningful spaces that some groups have progressively generated for themselves as well as for the broader public. This is not to say that El Carnaval del Pueblo is the magic solution to deal with issues of migrants’ sense of belonging and integration. Instead, it is to say that in order for Latin Americans to become ‘no longer invisible’ it is vital for them to go forward and not backwards in the creation of environments that allow Latin Americans to actively embrace their cultural background as well as the wider environment that they occupy at present.

Red Snapper with coconut milk Serves: 4

2 pounds red snapper fillets 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 scallions, chopped 2 tablespoons curry powder 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup olive oil 1 to 2 Scotch bonnet peppers, seeded and chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 2 cups coconut milk 1 cup water 2 tomatoes, roughly chopped 2 onions, sliced 1/4-inch thick 10 cilantro sprigs

Cut the red snapper into small pieces and place in a bowl. Season with the salt, black pepper, scallion, and curry powder.

Allow the fish to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

When you are ready to proceed, heat the butter and oil in a large saute pan. Add the fish and saute until it is lightly browned on both sides. Add the peppers, garlic, coconut milk, water, tomatoes, and onions. Cover the fish and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pan, and simmer until the fish is tender, about 20 to 25 minutes, adding more water if necessary. Also, add a touch more curry, if necessary, for your taste. Finish with fresh cilantro leaves.

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Photo Story Brixton Market

The Market began on Atlantic Road in the 1870’s and subsequently spread to Brixton Road which had a very wide footway.

Brixton market sells a wide range of foods and goods but is best known for its African and Caribbean produce, which reflect the diverse community of Brixton and surrounding areas of Lambeth.

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There is some controversy over the selling of live African snails. As of 2009, this practice is still continuing in the covered market areas.

Many people of African or Caribbean origin travel to Brixton from across London to shop and there is also some tourist trade. In recent years there has been some growing gastronomic food-tourism.

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What’s On London Events Casa Latin American Theatre Festival 2011 Oval House 17-23 October Six original creations from companies in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela

www.casafestival.org.uk

Spanish Night Kings Place 27 October, 7.30pm Margarita Escarpa and Ricardo Gallén, two young virtuosi of the Spanish guitar, are giving a concert in London.

From £13.50

www.kingsplace.co.uk Mourid Barghouti Southbank Centre 3 November, 7.30pm Palestinian author Mourid Barghouti presents his second volume of memoirs, I Was Born There, I Was Here. £15

www.southbankcentre.co.uk State of Emergency 8 November, 7.45pm Southbank Centre

London Jazz Festival 11-20 November Southbank Centre

World press photo 11-29 November Southbank Centre

Soleïman Adel Guémar, Luljeta Lleshanaku & Amjad Nasser. Three poets from Algeria, Albania and Jordan read and discuss their work. £8

Jazz musicians from all over the world come to play at this annual ten-day celebration of jazz.

This festival presents a wide range of original outdoor performances. Free

www.southbankcentre.co.uk

www.southbankcentre.co.uk

www.worldpressphoto.org

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Voices from No Man’s Land

The poems, published on this space are by refugees and asylum seekers living in London To be an asylum seeker

By Handsen chikowore

To be an asylum-seeker is like a jumbo jet Your presence always create noise To be an asylum-seeker is like a media telescope You are always in the media domain day by day To be an asylum seeker is like an unwelcome visitor You are always reminded of your departure To be an asylum seeker is like a cow in the paddock Your movement and freedom is strictly limited To be an asylum seeker is like to be under house arrest You report every week to the police station To be an asylum seeker is like an orphan Everyone sees you as a burden To be an asylum seeker is like a curse There is no right thing that comes from you To be an asylum seeker is like an egg on the rock You are exposed yet vulnerable To be an asylum seeker is like a heap of rubbish No one respect you or acknowledge you To be an asylum seeker is like seaweed You are isolated from the rest sea plants To be an asylum seeker is like walking blindly You never know what is going to happen with your case To be an asylum seeker is like a caged bird You are protected yet you don’t have freedom.

Drawing by Ian Drummond

Alien

The asylum seeker

Beneath sky’s muted mantle I squat under the pattering awning Inside my snug wrappings Sheltering from a stark thought.

Better in this grey land Of nondescript invisibility To hide day’s questions.

Better not to weigh reality But be some fish in the shade Of a stone shelf within a pond Than ponder that Which I cannot ask myself Nor answer. Retire rather To some hidden place Where no face recognises Nor interrogates.

I am anonymous in my address, I am a borrowed shadow Bordering the world.

He wishes Pharaoh of the ancient Egypt Was the Home office At least he did not want to deport the Israelites to Canaan In constant fear of the police he lives Lest they should arrest him His dream is to have the papers Its dream that could end in detention Away from the world Away from family and friends From a frying pan into the fire.

By Bart Wolffe

By Hasani Hasani

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Education Advice Studies

Health Advice Stress

I have just arrived from Spain and I do not speak English. Where can I go to study?

You are eligible to enrol in any college paying the fee as a home student.

Alternatively, you can study in community centres where colleges often run free classes. If you know how to use internet, you can visit the following websites: www.london.floodflight.co.uk; www.nextstep.direct.gov.uk; www.hotcourses. co.uk Do I need to pay for the classes?

Some colleges charge a fee; others offer free English courses if your level is basic. The rule is that you need to pay if you are not in receipt of any benefit.

Community centres generally offer free English courses.

I have been unable to find work, what can I do, where can I go?

Depending on your level of English, you can get advice by phone (free) or on the website through www.nextstep.direct.gov.uk It is very important that you speak with an adviser as they will help you understand how the labour market works in the UK, what jobs are available, what you can do and how you can plan your future goals. They will be able to give you tips on your job search including how to write a good CV, how to apply for jobs, where to search for vacancies etc. There are useful web pages work such as www.totaljobs.com or www.direct.gov.uk where you can search for work.

Many people decide to work part-time in any sector while they improve English.

Some people also decide to do a work placement or voluntary work in their professional field so that they can get relevant UK work experience. An adviser will be able to give you information and advice on volunteering/internships as well.

Alternatively you can visit your local Volunteer Centre or www.doit.org.uk I was working as a carpenter in Spain. Can I work in my profession in UK? How can I know if my training is valid in UK? NARIC, www.naric.co.uk, is “the National Agency responsible for providing information, advice and expert opinion on vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications from over 180 countries worldwide” You can also visit the Job profiles section of www.nextstep. direct.gov.uk to see what entry requirements and qualifications in your sector are needed in the UK.

By Laura Marziale Community Education and Employment Team Coordinator at the Migrants Resource Centre

What’s the best way of dealing with stress?

The keys to good stress management are building emotional strength, being in control of your situation, having a good social network and adopting a positive outlook.

How can I prevent stress?

Be active. Feeling physically strong can help feeling strong mentally. Exercise won’t make your stress disappear, but it will reduce some of the emotional intensity you’re feeling, clearing your thoughts and enabling you to deal with your problems more calmly.

Will I be less stressed if I cut down on my social life?

Be sociable. Colleagues, friends and family can help you see things in a different way and find solutions to your problems.

But set aside a few nights a week for alone time.

How can I build confidence in dealing with stress?

A: Setting yourself goals and challenges and learn new things can help you build confidence.

Feeling more confident you’ll be able to deal with stress in a more positive way.

How can longer days at the office be avoided?

Work smarter, not harder.

Good time management would let you improve the quality of your work without working longer hours!

(Based on Professor Cary Cooper, occupational health expert at the University of Lancaster stress-busting techniques).

By Ambra Caruso Health Inclusion project coordinator at the Migrants Resource Centre