A message to people living in asylum hotels in Greater Manchester
We are voluntary and community organisations based in Greater Manchester. We are writing to say that you are WELCOME here in our communities. We understand that you may not have chosen to come to Greater Manchester, but we hope that you will be able to feel safe and secure, and that this can feel like home. Across Greater Manchester, there are organisations and groups who will stand alongside you with care, solidarity and hope.
- We know that living in a hotel for a long time can be a difficult and sometimes hostile experience. We understand that it may not feel like a home.
- We know that, unfortunately, there are some people who don’t like refugees who spread misinformation about asylum hotels. We understand that this can make you feel unsafe.
- We know that the asylum process can be scary. We understand that the way the Home Office communicates with you can feel hostile. We also understand how hard it is to find a solicitor to support you through the process.
We want you to know that we stand in solidarity with you during what can be a difficult and uncertain time.
We also want you to know that the people who show hostility are a minority – they do not speak for our communities.
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE AS MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
Useful resources
Find local services: Kompasi
Find information about keeping yourself safe: Right to Remain and Hope not Hate
Find information about the asylum process: Right to Remain Toolkit
Want to be a volunteer? Macc volunteer centre
Download this statement as a PDF
Download this statement as a PNG
Signed by
1) Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit
2) Asylum Matters
3) Caritas Shrewsbury
4) Manchester Homelessness Partnership
5) Revive
6) Booth Centre
7) Right to Remain
8) We Are Survivors
9) Middleton Co-operating
10) Sector 3
11) The Eagles Wing
12) George House Trust
13) Manchester Settlement
14) Boaz Trust
15) Macc
16) Back on Track
17) Safety4Sisters
18) Manchester Refugee Support Network
19) The Big Life group
20) Make a Difference GM
21) Heaton Norris Community Centre
22) Olive Community Project
23) Oneworld Unitybridge CIC
24) Fikawelie Caribbean and African Mental Health CIC
25) BRASS
26) Culture Bridge MCR
27) Salford CVS
28) Just Psychology CIC
29) Manchester Mind
30) Conversation Over Borders
31) Mandem Meetup
32) Greater Manchester Migrant Destitution Fund
33) RevAmp Repair Café (Openshaw)
34) St. Barnabas Church
35) YARAN NORTHWEST
36) Greater Manchester Tenants Union
37) Visit from the Stork
38) TRC Sexual Abuse & Rape Support Greater Manchester
39) Caritas Salford
40) African Rainbow Family
41) Manchester Migrant Solidarity
42) Creative Support
43) Limelight Health and Wellbeing Hub
44) St John’s Centre
45) Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST)
46) LEAF Globe Wellbeing Communities
47) Great!
48) Manchester City of Sanctuary
49) Support for Wigan Arrivals Project (SWAP)
50) The Bond Board
51) Justlife Foundation
52) Moss side millennium powerhouse
53) Manchester Feminist Coalition
54) Trafford Community Collective
55) Groundwork
56) The Counselling & Family Centre, Altrincham
57) Trafford Green Party
58) Flourish Together CIC
59) BHA For Equality
60) Trafford Carers Centre
61) Manchester Sikh Foundation
62) Beyond Barriers
63) Altrincham Baptist & The Hub, Altrincham
64) Music Action International
65) Methodist Central Hall
66) Citizens Advice Manchester
67) Stockport Refugee Support Group
68) Greater Manchester Law Centre
69) Trafford South Foodbank
70) Growing Together Levenshulme
71) MASH (Manchester Action on Street Health)
72) Emmaus Mossley
73) Manchester Care and Repair
74) Pankhurst Trust (Incorporating Manchester Women’s Aid)
75) Refugees & Mentors CIC
76) EMERGE 3Rs
77) Somali Adult Social Care Agency
78) Manchester Migrant Solidarity
79) Stretford Public Hall
80) Mustard Tree
81) Trafford North Foodbank