OCCASIONAL NEWS FROM FRIENDS WITHOUT BORDERS (PORTSMOUTH)

​MP’s Surgery

​The MP for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, has started running a monthly surgery for asylum seekers at our drop-in. This is great - two of his assistants come and give advice – valuable as they have access to the Home Office (a special telephone number) which we do not: there are things an MP can do which we cannot. As far as we know we are the only drop-in in the country offering an on-site MP’s surgery. We arranged the service and are sharing it with the Red Cross.

​Allotments

​A small group of volunteers are taking some of our clients to a Community Allotment where they have already painted the shed and planted out some carrots and onions. It is very healthy for people living in dire poverty to have something useful to do. They are, of course, not allowed to work.

Housing

​Part of Mrs May’s “hostile environment” is to deprive asylum seekers of a place to live or the right to rent at a certain stage in the application process.

We have a number of clients in this category and have recently carried out a survey to find out how many and how they are sustaining themselves.

It was a small survey but indicates that about 20 are currently homeless - 15 “sofa surfing” and 5 living on the streets. A volunteer is currently preparing a report and proposals as to how we can help them – you will be hearing more!

​Liverpool Trips and Signing-on

Royal Liver Building © Beverley Goodwin

​We have had a number of people recently who have had to go to Liverpool to hand over papers for a fresh asylum application.

We also have a number of clients who are required to “sign-on” at a local police station – until recently Portsmouth but now Fareham 9 miles away. Friends Without Borders pays for these journeys, the costs of getting to Liverpool vary but we’ve recently decided to give all travellers a straight £100 to include a little money for refreshment en route.

A Fareham trip costs £5 return on the bus. One trustee has drafted a letter of protest to his MP. We hope that others will send similar letters – it’s better if you rewrite in your own words – but political pressure really is needed.

​Portsmouth to be a “City of Sanctuary”

​A group have been working on this for a while and an official launch by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire is planned for Wednesday 19th June at All Saints. More information in due course.

​One World Week

​OWW is from 21st to 28th October with many local churches taking part with a variety of events. We were particularly interested in:

• A World without Borders – a talk and discussion at the Portsmouth Friends’ Meeting House on Tuesday 23rd from 19:00 till 21:00. This is in partnership with Journeys Festival.
• One World Week Celebration at the Discovery Centre, St John’s RC Cathedral on Wednesday 24th from 14:00 to 16:30. Activities, stalls on theme of change. Do think about what you might come and do! Cakes from around the world

Journeys Arts Festival

​This is from 19th - 28th October and has a good website with full programme details.

​Retirement

​I have been the Chairman for some years now but have told trustees that I propose to retire at the next AGM in Spring 2019.

​I do not propose leaving the charity or giving up all the work I do but I shall be 75 next birthday and feel it’s time for someone else to take the helm.

With very best wishes,
Michael Woolley, still Chairman