Guildford Refugee Action Group

Addressing the problems of refugees in this country is a group of Christians who work together as Guildford Refugee Action Group (GRAG), comprising representatives of the churches, business, police, the legal profession, immigration practitioners, visitors to detainees, and academia.

The group is very clear in their view that every asylum seeker has a right, under International law, to be in Great Britain, while their claim is being determined.  In protecting the rights of those individuals, they offer the following services;

•    Help churches become informed and concerned
•    Provide speakers and preachers
•    Assist individual refugees
•    Find sureties for refugees applying for bail
•    Support the Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group
•    Arrange conferences and seminars
•    Campaign for better treatment of refugees
•    Network with refugee groups across the country
•    Monitor legal and other developments in the UK and EU

Why do Refugees need our help?

For the many refugees who reach Britain, they will have endured a hazardous and often dangerous journey which began with escape from their own country.  Their only belongings may be limited to the clothes they stand up in.  In the more serious cases, the refugees have been hunted by police or militia in their home land, and had their passports seized by those authorities intent on imprisoning, torturing and very possibly killing them.

The British Government tries to refuse entry to all who lack the required documentation.  It is admitted that this penalises not only the criminals but also refugees.  Many serious asylum seekers are thereby left no choice but to attempt illegal entry to Britain.  Thus “criminalising “ the whole process of seeking asylum.

Guildford Refugee Action Group has established a widespread reputation amongst many similar groups, organisations and national bodies all working towards the same aims; this is further strengthened by their contacts within the Home Office and Immigration Service.

How can Volunteers help?

•    In your area, find out who are refugees and get to know them
•    Listen to refugees telling their stories
•    Support a refugee
•    Give special concern for those without the right family re-union and who are therefore often the most isolated

Roles for volunteers include the following:
•    Escorting a refugee  to Croydon Immigration Headquarters or to their port of entry for interview or to obtain a work permit.  Simply by being present with the refugee as a member of the British public and helping him/her have the confidence to present his case, is often all that is needed
•    Visiting refugees who are being detained at the Gatwick Immigration Detention Centre.  Church members across our own and other Dioceses have participated in this area of the work which involves a weekly visit to the refugee to whom they are assigned
•    Attending an Immigration Court Hearing  for an asylum seeker’s bail hearing or appeal.  It is noticeable that the care with which these procedures are dealt is improved when members of the British public are present
•    Become well informed in the legal and other procedures surrounding the needs of refugees so that volunteers develop some valuable expertise in this field.
•    Campaigning - contacting local MPs, the Minister for Immigration and the Home Secretary over particular refugee predicaments where injustice is feared to have been committed, or where the system appears to have been at fault.  Publicity campaigning in local churches and communities with leaflets can also raise awareness of important issues (leaflets are available from GRAG)


If you have any questions regarding supporting refugees in Britain, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Other Useful Contact Addresses:

Refugee Council, 240-250 Ferndale Raod, Brixton, London, SW9 8BB
tel: 0207 346 6770
email: info:refugeecouncil.org.uk

Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, 115 Old Street, London EC1V 9JR              
tel: 0207 251 8708
email: info@jcwi.org.uk

Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees, PO Box 7, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0YT
tel: 01883 717 275
email: info@aviddetention.org.uk

Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, 111 Isledon Road, Finsbury Park, London, N7 7JW
tel: 0207 697 7777

Christians Aware, 2 Saxby Street, Leicester LE2 0ND
tel: 0116 254 0770

British Red Cross Society, 78-80 Walton Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 5DW
tel: 0845 054 7222

London Churches Refugee Network, London Diocesan House, 36 Causton Street, London, SW1P 4AU
tel: 0207 932 1121
rmail: chris.brice@london.anglican.org

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