The Leicester Faiths Support Group for Asylum Seekers and Refugees welcomes members of communities whose Faiths are expressed in scriptures and traditions, and collaborates with all concerned to help those who are seeking sanctuary from persecution.

Through its meetings and other activities the Support Group aims:

to gather information about the needs of asylum seekers and refugees and to disseminate this information, especially amongst the communities with which it is linked

to encourage these communities to provide resources of food, clothing, friendship, personal support and help for asylum seekers and refugees, especially through the British Red Cross and Centres with which the Support Group is linked

to act together to put pressure on MPs and the government to legislate in relation to asylum seekers and refugees, in ways which are conducive to the dignity of the individual and in harmony with internationally agreed standards of justice and compassion

The Leicester Faiths Support Group for Asylum Seekers and Refugees was formed in 2000 and has been mainly supported by Christians, Quakers and Jews; at various times members of the Bahai, Buddhist, Muslim and Sikh faith communities have also supported the Group and we are looking forward to working more closely with these communities in the future.

It meets bi-monthly to facilitate the sharing of information about local and national events, initiatives, campaigns and other developments and to encourage involvement by faith communities in local activities. It does not rely on any formal sponsorship but receives occasional donations from individuals and communities. It is represented at meetings of the Voluntary Sector Forum for Asylum Seekers and Refugees.

The Faiths Support Group focuses primarily on practical engagement. It helped to set up and supports the work of a number of local asylum seeker and refugee projects such as the Welcome Project, the Women’s Welcome Project and the Centre Project. It encourages faith communities to donate food and other useful items to the British Red Cross to support its work with destitute individuals. It helps to support financially the annual Destitution Survey undertaken by the Voluntary Sector Forum for Asylum Seekers and Refugees, and participates in the annual STAR collection of gifts for distribution to asylum seekers in December. It collaborates with ASSIST through the donation of funds to support greater use of gym and swimming facilities among refugees and asylum seekers in need of therapeutic sporting activities.

The Faiths Support Group also engages with relevant political issues. It takes up concerns of policy with Members of Parliament, for instance in relation to asylum seekers’ right to work, deportations and the detention of asylum seekers and their children. It circulated among faith communities the Refugee Council’s myth-busting booklets prior to the 2010 general election to help combat discrimination.

In 2008, the Group secured funding to produce Scriptures and Traditions and the Care of Asylum Seekers and Refugees, a booklet containing extracts from traditions and scriptures of relevance to our care for asylum seekers and refugees, with contributions from the following communities: Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Quaker and Sikh. It is the only known publication of its kind in English and is quoted as a resource in religious studies curricula. Extracts are also included in the National City of Sanctuary Handbook.

Since the formation of the Group, building sustained links with communities beyond those currently attending has been an ongoing challenge. Leicester City of Sanctuary is currently working closely with the Faiths Support Group to promote its work, and to reach out to members of other faith communities and encourage them to become involved in the group. Relevant developments will be reported in the regular City of Sanctuary newsletter and forthcoming meetings will be advertised. The Group has a webpage on the Leicester City of Sanctuary website.

Bi-monthly meetings normally take place at the Friends Meeting House, 16 Queens Road, Leicester LE2 1WP.

For details of future Faith Support Group meetings or for any other information, contact:

Gill at Leicester City of Sanctuary on: 07716 073403, or Leicester@cityofsanctuary.org or

Sally at the Leicester Faiths Support Group on: 0116 2703053 or sruane@dmu.ac.uk