Arman’s Story
Arman* was age disputed upon arrival to the UK from Iran. He was helped by a solicitor and his age was accepted. He has been granted refugee status and has moved on to independent living after turning 18 years old.
Age Assessments: the role of a Guardian
In this guest blog, practitioners at The Children’s Society describe their experiences supporting young people through the age assessments process, and how our guide will be useful. Unaccompanied young people come to the UK seeking safety and an opportunity to continue their lives.
Hiwa’s Story
These are the words of Hiwa*, a young person GMIAU supported, who came to the UK from Iran. He was detained following his age being disputed. A solicitor helped to secure his release from detention, and Hiwa subsequently had his age accepted.
Reading in lockdown: the GMIAU book blog
We like books. It’s one of the things we talked about before lockdown when we were catching up over the tea round (on our floor: lots of coffee, an Earl Grey and a builders brew with a splash of milk) or standing around the office photocopier while it spewed out…
31 years of GMIAU: a look at our archives
In 2019, our 30th birthday gave us a chance to look over some materials from our early days, from the founding of GMIAU in 1989. As we approach our 31st birthday, the events of 2020 have shed new light on our history and our role, then and now. The Covid-19…
Because every child has the right to dream: working with children to secure British citizenship
What do you dream of? Here are Hanna’s dreams. She wants to study finance and accounting. She’s thinking about which universities – maybe Scotland or Wales. Time to get to know another part of the UK. She’s got big dreams. Of travel. Of soaking up learning like a sponge. It’s exciting.…
Why we need to #LiftTheBan: “I’m a doctor who, in the middle of a global health pandemic, cannot work”
This week’s blog is expertly written by someone we support at GMIAU. For more information about the #LiftTheBan campaign, and the campaign’s newly released report, go to https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/ I want to speak with you. But I can’t tell you my name. I live in Greater Manchester. I’m a mum.I’m a doctor. I’m seeking asylum.The…
This week in Parliament: the Domestic Abuse Bill and the people it leaves behind
The 2019-21 Domestic Abuse Bill is currently moving through the Houses of Parliament, and is now in the Report stage. Various groups – like Safety4Sisters, Southall Black Sisters, the Latin American Women’s Rights Service, and the Step Up Migrant Women coalition – have spoken out about the inadequacies of the…
A year to go: three things local authorities must do so that children don’t miss out with Brexit immigration changes
30 June 2021. One year today. The last day for our friends, family members and neighbours affected by Brexit immigration changes to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. The opening of the EU Settlement Scheme in March 2019 seems a world away. The bus stop posters with cups of tea,…
Keyworker promises: media circus or real and lasting change?
We wrote recently about lockdown providing “opportunities to make gains against the Hostile Environment that seemed wildly optimistic at the start of 2020” especially for last month’s low skilled migrants, re-branded as the essential keyworkers they always were. There are so many differences in our individual experiences of the last…