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Poverty in the UK |
The Justice and Peace Commission belongs to the Leeds Church Action on Poverty Group. The group has recently organised poverty hearings and, in partnership with the Leeds Church Institute, held a one day Conference with the theme ‘What make an Equitable City ’. At present the group is working on the production of a worship resource book, and the Church Action on Poverty’s ‘Living Ghosts’ Campaign. Living Ghost’s Campaign. Increasing numbers of refused people seeking asylum are being left without basic hospitality and the means of life. They are removed from their accommodation and financial support is stopped two weeks after their case for asylum is deemed to have ‘failed’. They remain here often due to there being no means to return home, living a life of destitution as opposed to returning to a country they fear. Faith groups across the country have been called upon to show Christian compassion and hospitality to those in need. This has been through basic food parcels for the week, which in fresh produce includes: two potatoes, two onions, one tomato, two pieces of fruit. The Red Cross also have a destitution fund for refused asylum seekers that provides £5 a week for travel expenses. But, faith groups and the provisions of the Red Cross is not sustainable, and neither is such a situation acceptable. It is Government policy that creates ‘Living Ghosts’ and thus, it is our government that must act. First, people seeking asylum should have access to a fair and just legal process. CAP shares the concerns of many other groups that in speeding up the asylum process, valid cases for asylum are being failed. Secondly, people seeking asylum should not be made homeless and left without means of supporting themselves until the can be returned to their home country. A ‘Living Ghost’, is so called because they have lost the rights afforded to a person seeking asylum, but have never gained the rights of a refugee. CAP is campaigning against people being written out of existence as ‘ a failed’ asylum seeker, CAP believes in a society where no one is deliberately made destitute. The Government’s short comings on asylum and immigration should not result in people seeking asylum being forgotten. Refused asylum seekers are human: they are people who are still seeking asylum. Please support the ‘Living Ghosts’ Campaign in calling upon the Government to allow people seeking asylum to sustain themselves and contribute to wider society through paid work. Where this is not possible, to re-instate benefit entitlement to people refused asylum until such a time as they are ready to return safely to their home country. For more information see:
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