Restore Supporting Refugees From Across The Globe
The war in Ukraine brings refugees to the forefront of our news as we witness the devastating horrors that millions are fleeing. Just a matter of weeks ago life for Ukrainians was ‘normal’, now life hangs by a thread. The need to flee persecution and find sanctuary has been repeated around the world over and over again.
It’s been extremely heartening to hear of the response to the Homes for Ukraine scheme where British people are taking up the opportunity to generously host Ukrainian refugees. There’s a huge amount of information available and we’ve put some on the Restore website to help those who wish to explore the Homes for Ukraine scheme further.
We recognise that not everyone is able host and that there are refugees from many other countries in our city too. Their plight may not have the same media focus as Ukraine at the moment, but the need for safety, the need for welcome, the need for community is felt by many refugees and asylum seekers regardless of their country of origin. If you would like to support refugees, but are unable to host, then please consider another option: becoming a befriender with Restore. This gives you the opportunity to meet a refugee or asylum seeker every 2 weeks to offer welcome, help with conversational English and help with adjusting to a new city and culture.
An asylum seeker wrote about her experience of being befriended, “My Befriender turned out to be the best friend I ever had in my life. She is very kind-hearted and takes very good care of me. She is always ready to listen to me at any time and has helped me to regain my self-confidence by her kind support.”
A volunteer wrote about his motivation to befriend, “I wanted to do my bit to make Birmingham a welcoming place for asylum-seekers and refugees, all who have been through horrendous experiences, very often cut off from family and trying in very difficult circumstances to make a new life for themselves in Birmingham. What is special about Restore is that befriending allows for a more informal relationship to develop, which is greatly appreciated by both sides.”
If befriending sounds appealing, then please come along to our next training course via Zoom in June to find out more and decide if it’s an opportunity for you. Over 30 people have signed up, but there’s room for more!
Part of our remit at Restore is to work for change that will bring improvements to services for refugees and the way they are treated. So, it was a huge disappointment that the Nationality and Borders Bill recently became law without being amended to offer greater protection to refugees. However, it was great to see Bishops speaking truth to power and supporting amendments to the Bill in the House of Lords. We were also encouraged and grateful that many people wrote to their MPs highlighting the need to protect refugees. These are issues beyond party politics – they are issues of justice, issues of how we treat people made in the image of God, issues of who is included (or excluded) in our response to the call of Jesus to welcome the stranger.
The number of refugees across the globe is an international challenge and the UK needs to play its part. Along with many others, we are horrified by the announcement to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda and fob off our responsibility. It’s a policy that is currently being challenged through the courts to explore the legality of the proposed scheme in international law.
On lighter note, we’re delighted that we’ve been able to restart our social activities for refugee families with a trip to Think Tank and the Science Garden and to Beaudesert Park in Cannock to enjoy the countryside, climbing, go-karting and a delicious BBQ.
Please pray:
• For our response – as individuals, as a church, as a city and as a nation - to the call of Jesus to welcome the stranger which includes all refugees wherever they originate from including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Eritrea, Yemen, Sudan….
• For the training course in June for more participants and that participants would be inspired to become befrienders
• For recruitment of a new Communications and Administrative Officer
• For Birmingham to continue to be a City of Sanctuary where all refugees are welcomed and integrated
• Give thanks that Restore has been granted a Community Welcome Pass from Birmingham Museums which gives free entrance to some of Birmingham’s museums and opens up new possibilities for our men’s, women’s and families social activities
• Give thanks for ongoing financial provision from individuals, churches and grant making trusts and pray this would continue.
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Jeremy Thompson
Restore Manager
