Ealing & Acton Support Enterprise (for now)

Last drop-in before the summer break saw the children playing, the craft table in full flow, and lots of goodies from @cityharvestnyc.bsky.social @vodafonegroup.bsky.social and others to distribute. See you all in September #refugeeswelcome

Outrageous use of language! The @bbc ought to think harder. But also this could be the introduction of safe, legal routes which we’ve all been looking for. No-one wants smugglers or small boats. A proper application process (like for the Ukrainians) is what’s needed.

They could save the money on enforcing this by letting asylum seekers work.

For about two minutes!

@refugeeweek.bsky.social continues in #Ealing with our communities joining together to make art speak for us… alongside #UWL students… bringing colour and joy

Wonderful @RefugeeWeek fun at @johnperrynps yesterday. And they were so pleased to see Z, our lovely volunteer barber, offering free haircuts to young (mostly) and old. #refugeeswelcome

Integrating different cultures as two of our asylum-seekers leave today’s drop-in with a generous haul of groceries courtesy of @felixprojectuk and @CityHarvest_LDN #refugeeswelcome

Lots of young children at our drop-in this week. Early half-term? Luckily we had plenty for them to do, including the famous, free haircuts. Z will be snipping more at @johnperrynps @RefugeeWeek celebration. #refugeeswelcome

Lovely to see people volunteering to prepare the best roast potatoes in west London. Whatever else our brilliant cooks serve, there’s ALWAYS roast potatoes (most asylum-seekers can’t access ovens, so a real treat) We need a LOT - enough for 100 or more each week. #refugeeswelcome

All ready for our big clothes and (about 25) suitcases to #Ealing’s asylum seekers & refugees tomorrow. Thanks to @Goods4Good, #BigYellow, other donors & volunteers/new volunteers from @opdc.bsky.social

Good to be part of the launch of #Ealing becoming a Borough of Sanctuary.
So proud of one of our asylum-seekers, who spoke no English when she arrived, learnt only with us for a year, making a speech in English to a full hall including Ealing’s mayor & @blerinahashani.bsky.social
#RefugeesWelcome

Our barber had such a busy day yesterday… several chaps (as usual), a couple of kids wanting sharp, razor cuts, and Ros: pillar of the church who leads our art, knitting and crocheting activities. She emerged looking very smart and tidy #refugeeswelcome

There’s a first time for everything. This Thursday we tried out a choir (not a church choir, just a happens-to-be-in-a-church choir!) so everyone could have a go at singing. Really generous of a local conductor to volunteer to start it up. #RefugeesWelcome

Government considering sending failed asylum seekers to Balkans Home Office officials have discussed proposals to set up overseas "return hubs"

It doesn't matter if it is Rwanda, or Balkans, it doesn't matter if it is classed as offshoring or outsourcing and it doesn't matter if it is Tories or Labour doing it, shipping people who were seeking safety to a random third country is inhumane, and potentially illegal.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Our K usually volunteers as a barber. And much appreciated too. But yesterday he applied his cutting and chopping talents to making the prettiest salads we’ve seen in some time. So appetizing. (And yes, those fasting could take some home to eat later) #refugeeswelcome

More new people arrived today. We see about 40 applications to attend a month. And of course others get status or get randomly moved away or find themselves with English classes all Thursday. And others we see regularly for a year or more.. #refugeeswelcome

Ho for #BigYellow today - have to keep our stash of nappies somewhere as there’s no room in the church. Suddenly no size 4s. Thanks to #Goods4Good for providing them #refugeeswelcome

We are three years old today! And celebrating by looking for our first paid role: a two day pw operations manager. You need empathy with refugees, skills with volunteers and organising, a little IT and to be local to Acton. Appealing? See here for details: drive.google.com/file/d/10lO_...

Was also thinking that….

@easeealing.bsky.social @westlondonwelcome.bsky.social @zoejardiniere.bsky.social @asylummatters.bsky.social @loucalvey.bsky.social @alfdubs.bsky.social plus those lovely starter packs.

Small boats: Union and bishops criticise refugee citizenship ban Some 147 signatories of a letter say the recently-implemented rule will

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Our volunteer barber had several clients today. Wonderful to see what a difference a sharp haircut makes to a chap “My wife will love this” says M, as he emerges… #RefugeesWelcome

It was a joy to tell J at 2200 on election night, that he would NOT be deported to #Rwanda. Today, it was a joy to celebrate his brand new refugee status. But we bottled telling him he could now never be a citizen because of how he arrived in the U.K.

Over the moon to hear our last @RefugeesAtHome guest, J, has finally got refugee status after a long haul, detention at #BrookHouse for #Rwanda, bailed to us and a wait of over two years for an interview. Hope to see him at @EASEealing drop-in tomorrow.

Maybe one for @ealingcouncil.bsky.social ?

Stashing away the #Goods4Goods goodies at #bigyellow as can’t manage a distribution before next term. Just as well we have some storage (7 sewing machines should be moving out soon) #refugeeswelcome

Cross-Party group of Parliamentarians Call for Urgent Action on Safe Routes for Refugees The APPG on Refugees is today launching a significant new report urging the UK Government to improve safe and legal routes for refugees, as part of a comprehensive response to the challenges of irregu...

Ahead of 2nd reading of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill next Monday 10th February, MPs and Peers from the APPG recommend improvements to safe and legal routes be included in the legislation:
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/latest/news/...

'Targeting smuggling gangs alone won't reducee deaths in the Channel' Lord Alf Dubs, who fled the Nazis as a child, has warned that enforcement alone will not stop deaths in the Channel after 78 people died trying to reach the UK last year

Targeting smuggling gangs alone won't reduce deaths in the Channel.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Ukrainian refugees face losing jobs and homes due to UK visa extension uncertainty Home Office process will leave some with eight-week gap when they are unable to prove right to live and work in UK

I don’t think politicians or civil servants understand how all this works in real life. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

And a welcome to @bsky.app for @larissapelham.bsky.social - our Director…
#RefugeesWelcome too