Back in March, our chief Executive Denise spoke to the Legal Education Foundation about her experiences of the pandemic and lockdowns. She said, “The last year has shown that the core of the organisation works. It isn’t about a building. It is based on communication.” Together, GMIAU staff took 3,097…
In 2019, the government launched the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) for European/EEA nationals living in the UK to safeguard their rights after Brexit immigration changes. It’s supposed to ensure that anyone who was in the UK before 31 December 2020 can secure their immigration status. The Prime Minister pledged to…
In our 2021 report, published last week, we looked at the impact of the Covid-19 on our work – its impact on us as an organisation and on the people we support throughout the North West. Looking at the period from March 2020-March 2021, we found that the pandemic and…
The past year and the Covid-19 pandemic has shone new light on the collective need to keep our communities safe. We’ve seen measures, like the Everyone In campaign, protect more people from destitution and homelessness than was thought politically possible. This is because it was understood that homelessness is a…
A wholesale attack on the right to seek safety in the UK Today we’ve submitted our evidence to the consultation on Priti Patel’s New Plan for Immigration. Based on over thirty years’ experience providing free immigration advice in the North West, we believe the ideas in the plan are rehashed,…
Written by GMIAU volunteer Challoner Zon When the Home Secretary describes impassioned anti-racism protests as “dreadful”, and a government commissioned race report belittles Black Lives Matter protesters as “idealistic”, we should all be worried. This is not a new perspective from the current government; it represents an escalation, another step…
Today, March 23rd 2021, is the one year anniversary of the first UK lockdown. At the time, we packed up and left the office, thinking it would just be for a few weeks. And in the following months we began to reflect on what we could learn from this year…
In this guest blog by Charlotte at The Booth Centre and Independent Homeless Partnership Coordinator Niall, they explain the Manchester Homeless Partnership. A joint approach between Manchester City Council, charities, businesses and volunteers is making sure people have a place to sleep. Severe cold weather can be a life-or-death situation…
A year ago today, Manchester City Council signed a pledge to its children and young people affected by Brexit immigration changes. The pledge set out three practical commitments so that Manchester’s “looked after children and care leavers will not become part of the next Windrush generation.” A year later, as we…
In autumn 2018, we started talking to local authorities across the North West about how they support children in care and care leavers with insecure immigration status. Funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation (alongside Bristol Refugee Rights, The Children’s Society and PAFRAS in Leeds, and South London Refugee Association) we…