Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migration Network

GRAMNet Information Bulletin, 29th April 2019

Dear GRAMNet friends

As ever, we have a lot to look back to and much to look forward to. The GRAMNet seminar series concluded in April with an excellent talk by Olivier Esteves, but more talks, seminars and workshops are planned during Refugee Festival Scotland in June.  The GRAMNet film series is in full swing and we have had some great screenings and lively post-screening discussions. There are two more films left in this year’s series, and they are both moving, beautiful and thought-provoking, so look out for them. GRAMNet’s Postgraduates are getting ready for the annual Camas retreat, and we wish them sunny weather, engaging conversations and plenty of gentle, relaxing moments.

Below are some more activities to look forward to in the coming weeks. We look forward to seeing you.

Events

9^th and 10^th May
Migration and Mobilities Research Network Annual Conference 2019
Getting Stuck…Moving On…
Edinburgh Napier University, Craiglockhart Campus, 219 Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH14 1DJ
Drawing on a diverse range of research and case studies, the Conference will examine the interrelations of structure and agency, space and time in both the ‘traditional’ forms and sites of confinement (e.g., ghettos, camps, places of detention, prisons and other places of exception), and more broadly within conceived social, political and economic contexts, which enable and sustain the processes of being ‘stuck’, the states of ‘stuckness’, and the acts of ‘moving on’ as part of everyday life mobility.
For full details and to register, please visit the conference website.

Saturday 11^th May, 11.00am – 2.00pm
Scottish Action for Refugees Collection Event in Cranhill
Cranhill Community Centre, 200 Bellrock Street, Cranhill, Glasgow G33 3HE
Scottish Action for Refugees host a collection of items such as clothes, toys, personal hygiene products and bedding to be send to people in need in Syria.

Wednesday 15^th May, 6.00pm (doors open 5.45pm)
GRAMNet/BEMIS Film Series
Stitching Palestine
Documentary: Palestine (2017); director: Carol Mansour
Running time: 78 mins; Arabic with English subtitles
Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD
Twelve Palestinian women sit before us and talk of their life before the Diaspora, of their memories, of their lives and of their identity. Their narratives are connected by the enduring thread of the ancient art of embroidery.
The film is being screened to mark Nakba Day.
You can follow the film series on the GRAMNet blog.
The screening is free of charge and everyone is welcome.  Seats are allocated on a first come, first serve basis.  Please arrive early to ensure a seat.

Tuesday 21^st May, 5.00 – 7.00pm
Decolonising Education Panel Event: Schools, Power and Inclusion
Senate Room, Main Building, University of Glasgow
This panel event brings together esteemed international scholars: Boaventura de Sousa Santos (University of Coimbra, Portugal), Carmen Medina (University of Indiana), and Elizabeth Walton (University of Nottingham) to raise and discuss critical issues around decolonisation in Education.
For full details and to register, visit the Eventbrite page.

Wednesday 22^nd May, 10.30am – 1.30pm
Decolonising Education Workshop: Schools, Power and Inclusion
Room 224, St Andrew’s Building, 11 Eldon Street, University of Glasgow
The half-day workshop aims to build and strengthen collaborations with researchers across disciplinary boundaries who are interested in the emerging issue of decoloniality in education and research. With a focus on the design of practice and inquiry, we will focus on themes including:

 

• Decoloniality and inclusive education
• Regional and International Policy in relation to coloniality
• Eurocentric epistemologies and curricula
• The ‘Souths’

For full details and to register, visit the Eventbrite page.

 

Tuesday 28^th May, 2.00 – 7.00pm
Education, Mobilities and Migration – Workshop and Book Launch
Guest speaker: Dr Johanna Waters (UCL)
Room 433A/B, St Andrew’s Building, University of Glasgow, 11 Eldon St, G3 6NH
This half-day workshop and book launch is aimed to foster engagement amongst scholars of education, mobilities and migration. Based on a series of short papers and workshop discussions, the event will showcase the research and teaching within the School of Education at the University of Glasgow, inviting students and guests to consider the ‘problem’ of migration for education – at various scales.
Tickets are limited.  For full details and to register, visit the Eventbrite page.

Wednesday 19^th June, 5.15 – 6.30pm
GRAMNet Book Club
Café Bennu, 262 Woodlands Road, Glasgow G3 6NE
We will be discussing Aeham Ahmad’s ‘The Pianist of Yarmouk’, which has just been published in paperback by Penguin.  Everyone is welcome.

Sunday 23^rd June, 4.00 – 7.00pm
Scotland Our New Home
Kinning Park Complex, Glasgow
MORE – Migrants Organising for Rights and Empowerment presents an evening of poetry and storytelling.  Join MORE and members of the community to explore the multiple stories shared by migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow.
Tickets, which are free, can be booked on the event Facebook page.

Calls for Papers

Organizing Migration and Integration in Contemporary Societies
University of Gothenburg, 6 – 9 November 2019
Growth in international migration has prompted a diversity of efforts to manage global migratory flows as well as improve and streamline the economic, social and political integration of migrants into the host countries.
The Centre on Global Migration and the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, therefore invites scholars from many disciplines and all parts of the globe to the Organizing Migration and Integration in Contemporary Societies Conference.
The deadline for submissions is 15^th May.  Visits the Gothenburg Research Institute for full details.

GRAMNet Blog
GRAMNet’s regular blog series publishes posts by researchers, practitioners, activists and policy makers working with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
If you are interested in submitting a piece of writing, or would like to discuss ideas for a contribution, please email our blog co-ordinator, Alex: a.colta.1@research.gla.ac.uk. . Contributions should be no longer than approx. 1500 words. We are happy to anonymise posts and would encourage contributors to include any complimentary photographs (or other audio/visual materials).

Training Courses

Positive Action in Housing Training
Edinburgh, 30^th April
Rights and Entitlements of EEA Nationals (9.30am – 12.30pm)
Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (1.30 – 4.30pm)
Glasgow, 14^th May
Rights and Entitlements of EEA Nationals (9.30am – 12.30pm)
Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (1.30 – 4.30pm)
Stirling, 28^th May
Rights and Entitlements of EEA Nationals (9.30am – 12.30pm)
Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (1.30 – 4.30pm)
Glasgow, 11^th June
No Recourse to Public Funds (9.30am – 12.30pm)
For full details and to book any of these courses, please visit http://www.paih.org/training/.

Notices and Opportunities

Scottish Detainee Visitors – recruiting for Board of Trustees
Scottish Detainee Visitors (SDV) are recruiting new members for their Board of Trustees!
If you have a keen interest in advocating for reform in the immigration detention system and are committed to supporting people in detention and after release, you can play a key role in our strategic and operational decisions. SDV are particularly keen to hear from people with expertise in the following areas:

 

• Human resources
• Financial planning and/or accounting
• Policy development and advocacy
• Charity governance

Applications from people from BME backgrounds, from people with experience of immigration detention, and from younger applicants are strongly encouraged.
For more information and to apply visit http://sdv.org.uk/volunteer/mc/

 

New publication – Decolonising Multilingualism: Struggles to Decreate
In this groundbreaking text, Alison Phipps pulls together ethical approaches to researching multilingually in contexts of pain, conflict and crisis; the position of the researcher; and the question of multilingualism and anglonormativity.  It is both global and local in scale, ranging from Scotland to Ghana, Aotearoa/New Zealand to Sudan.
A 50% discount is available until 30^th June by visiting the Multilingual Matters website and using the code PREORDER50 at the checkout.

Accentricity – new podcast
Accentricity is a podcast about language and identity: how the way that we talk relates to who we are. Series 1 is now available on podcasting apps and via the website: https://www.accentricity-podcast.com/episodes-1
Episodes 5 and 6 are a 2-parter about multilingualism, featuring GRAMNet founder Alison Phipps and researchers from the Bilingualism Matters research centre at the University of Edinburgh. These episodes aim to bring together academic research and theory with the stories people tell about their experiences of multilingual life.

New report – The Global City: Lessons from 20 Years of Scottish Migration Research and Ways Ahead
The London International Development Centre (LIDC) Migration Leadership Team have just published a report following a Global Migration Conversation hosted by the Scottish Refugee Council and GRAMNet in January.  The Migration Leadership Team aims to development a new funding strategy and decision support tool alongside other outputs including a best practice toolkit for equitable global partnerships.
The report is available to download.  You can also keep up with the conversation by following the Team on Twitter - @migration_team and #migrationconversation as well as following the blog series.

New article – A Grudging Rescue: France, the Armenians of Cicilia, and the History of Humanitarian Evacuations
GRAMNet convening group member Benjamin Thomas White has a new article out on the history of humanitarian evacuations, which can be found here: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/722743 (or email Ben if you would like to read it but don’t have access).

New IOM publication – Everyday Sites of Violence and Conflict
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has just published a report by Frazer Macdonald Hay, ‘Everyday Sites of Violence and Conflict: Exploring memories in Mosul and Tal Afar, Iraq’.  In light of growing concerns over the positioning and sustainability of effective peacebuilding efforts in Iraq, the research explores the notion that within a post-conflict environment, there is an important social and political layer of everyday life, which is relatively unnoticed by the peacebuilding establishment engaged in reconciliation and social cohesion processes.
The full report is available to download.

Counter-Islamophobia Kit launched
The Scottish launch of the Counter-Islamophobia Kit (CIK) took place recently in Glasgow.  The ground-breaking project contains key actionable messages to be conveyed to policy makers, national governments, professionals, civil society, the media and practitioners from across the EU.  The project seeks to identify dominant anti-Muslim narratives employed in Europe, and compares the use and efficacy of prevailing counter-narratives to Islamophobia across eight EU member states.

Positive Action in Housing – new advice service for BME private tenants
A new service has been established by PAiH providing advice to BME private and prospective private tenants on their rights and on appropriate private housing options and how to enter or change private accommodation.  Advice sessions are taking place on Wednesdays (2.00 – 5.00pm) and Fridays (10.00am – 12.30pm) in the PAiH offices, 98 West George Street, and on Fridays (1.30 – 4.30pm) at 343 Victoria Road, Glasgow G42 7SA.  For more information, contact Tim Lehuraux, Project Manager: tim@positiveactionh.org.

Call for ESOL volunteer participants
The teaching of English to refugees and asylum seekers is an integral part of the integration strategy put forth by the Scottish government, with much of this critical work being done by volunteers. This study, under the University of Glasgow’s International Masters in Adult Education for Social Change, would like to invite current volunteer English teachers of refugees and asylum seekers to share their views on their volunteering experiences by participating in one time, forty five minute long interviews. There are no right or wrong answers, and a variety of opinions would prove insightful to forming an idea of best practice and areas for improvement within volunteer English language provision. If you would like to participate, or if you would like more details, please contact Robert at 2339878L@student.gla.ac.uk.

WISH project – Welcome, Inclusion and Support Hub for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Europe
WISH is a new project which aims to create an online platform (WISH) mapping the initiatives that offer support to migrants in Europe. This will enable refugees and asylum seekers to find sources of support and assistance, and will help the various European volunteering initiatives to provide better information and to facilitate communication between themselves and the people they wish to help.
If your organisation would like to join the project, you can complete an online form here.

Mandala Consultants
Mandala Consultants is a new community interest company (SC612378)  based in Glasgow. Our mission is working collaboratively to nurture resilience and wellbeing within individuals, organisations and communities and to support social change.
We are committed to supporting positive social change and tackling trauma where it is experienced in individuals, groups, communities and work places. Our approach is influenced by the principles of Community Development, Psychotherapy and Counselling. We aim to work alongside organisations who work with marginalised communities, offering -

 

• Community development and community engagement support
• Facilitation and organisational development
• Support for organisational wellbeing
• Training and events
• External Supervision and Support

When you engage Mandala Consultants you are supporting us in our wider aim to establish a free counselling and psychotherapy service for refugees and asylum seekers and a service for people working with trauma who are experiencing vicarious trauma, crisis, stress or burnout.
We have a number of open training programmes on a range of topics related to vicarious trauma and working with trauma in Glasgow and Edinburgh which are currently available to book through Eventbrite. All of these are available to be run as ‘ in house’ courses.
We can be followed on Facebook.

 

Lingo Flamingo – free English lessons
Would you like to improve your English in 2019?  Lingo Flamingo is a social enterprise initiative offering free English lessons to local adults at its Language Nest on Fridays.  10.30am – 12.00 noon – women’s only class, 4.00 – 5.30pm – general class.  155 Deanston Drive, Shawlands, Glasgow G41 3LP.  Phone 07950 475820 to book a place or visit www.lingoflamingo.co.uk. 

BME Political Shadowing Scheme
For over ten years, CRER has operated a BME Political Shadowing Scheme, which aims to address and challenge the under-representation of Black and minority ethnic groups in elected office and in the wider political arena in Scotland. Through this programme, participants are given bespoke training on Scottish and UK politics, equalities, campaigning and lobbying, and the media. This is followed by an opportunity to shadow a Member of the Scottish Parliament or a city councillor, providing valuable hands-on experience in the world of Scottish politics.
The scheme is open to all BME individuals who want to gain political experience, further their understanding of Scottish politics, advocate race equality issues, and ultimately address the under-representation of BME groups in elected office.
The scheme is free for participants and requires a time commitment of approximately two days per month over a six month period.
The deadline for applying to this scheme is Monday 26^th November 2018. Please email Annabelle@crer.org.uk for information on how to apply.

Arts for Advocacy Toolkit
‘Arts for Advocacy’ is an inter-disciplinary research project funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund at the universities of Edinburgh and Keele. It seeks to develop innovative, interdisciplinary, and participatory arts-based methods to facilitate critical engagement and advocacy relating to forced displacement in Morocco.  The project has launched a toolkit (available in English, French and Arabic), drawing on fruitful discussion during the project’s activities in the UK and Morocco which will be of interest to artists, practitioners, activists, community leaders and researchers.  The toolkit is available at http://artsforadvocacy.org/toolkit/.

Advocacy Network
The Advocacy Network is currently being developed by the Refugee Council. The aim of the Network is to create a nationwide platform for people who are working with refugees and people seeking asylum. The aim is to make it easier for you to have access to information about relevant changes to law and policy, share calls for action, meet and discuss how we can be more strategic and influential in order to achieve good changes for people we work with.
Kama, the Advocacy Network Co-ordinator, would be interested to hear from you about your work, issues that you face and how to address them.  You can contact Kama at Kama.Petruczenko@RefugeeCouncil.org.uk.
You can join the Network: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/advocacynetwork) and scroll down to the bottom of the page in order to join.  Membership is free and open to anyone who is interested in knowing more about current policy, influencing and campaign work in the UK.

Campaign launch of the Lift the Ban Coalition
A campaign was recently launched to lift the ban on people seeking refugee protection from working.  For more information of the coalitions and its report on recommendations, visit www.lifttheban.co.uk.  The report details the moral, social, health cohesion and economic case for lifting the bank on work for women and men seeking safety and protection in the UK.

Room for Refugees
If you work with refugees and asylum seekers you may wish to know about Positive Action in Housing's fast, online referral system for caseworkers wishing to assist destitute refugees, asylum seekers and those with No Recourse to Public Funds who are at risk of destitution or insecure housing and need assistance to rebuild their lives.  For full details of this groundbreaking scheme go to www.roomforrefugees.com or  http://www.paih.org/host-a-refugee/.

Cranhill Development Trust
Cranhill Development Trust is an integral part of its community, responding successfully to the complex needs of Cranhill since 2002. A key to the success of the Trust has been its ability to adapt services and activities to meet the changing and diverse needs of people living there.
Its full programme of community based activities and services include working with families and individuals, providing information and advice (e.g. Scottish Refugee Council advice outreach for asylum seekers and refugees), health services (e.g. healthy cooking sessions and physical activities), education services (e.g. ESOL classes, IT classes and training opportunities), leisure opportunities (e.g. a lunch club, toddler group, community meals), a community café, a community garden and nearly new shop.
To find out more and for the full programme of events, visit http://www.cranhilldt.org.uk.

Get In:Formation
Get In:Formation is a new programme aimed at young BME women aged 16 to 25 hosting dance and art activities in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation.  Participants will also have the opportunity to cook and eat together.  Dance on Wednesday takes place at St Ninians Church, 1 Albert Drive, Glasgow G41 2PE from 5.00 – 7.00pm.  Art on Thursday takes place at YCSA, 48 Darnley Street, Pollokshields, Glasgow G41 2SE from 5.00 – 8.00pm.  For more information or to register, please contact RaisahAhmed@ycsa.org.uk.

Blether Friendship Club
The Blether Friendship Club provides a safe space for people of different backgrounds and nationalities to meet each other in a diverse, supportive and relaxed atmosphere, make new friends and help each other, and find out about (free) events going on in the city.  The club meets on Mondays from 6.00 – 8.00pm in The Project Café, 134 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G3 6ST.  To find out more, visit the Project Café website, email bletherglasgow@gmail.com, phone 07340 866978 or just come along.

Music in Detention
Music In Detention works with immigration detainees, bringing them together with professional musicians and local communities to share, create and enjoy music, enabling often-ignored voices to be heard in new ways.
For more information and to listen and view work from detainee and community projects, visit the Music in Detention website.

The Sound Lab Sunday Shindigs
The Sound Lab offer free media and arts tuition and programmes to disadvantaged groups throughout Glasgow.  The Sunday Shindig programme is aimed at new Scots, but also existing Scots, celebrating integration throughout Glasgow.  The programme involves drumming, guitar, DJ and singing activities and runs every Sunday for 12 weeks at two venues: Glasgow Music Studios, Osborne Street, Glasgow G1 5QN (12.00 – 2.00pm) and Kinning Park Complex, 43 Cornwall Street, Glasgow G41 1BA (2.00 – 4.00pm).  ESOL volunteers are available some weeks.

COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership – Resource Directory
The COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership Resource Directory allows you to search for local resources and services for migrants, including asylum and seekers and refugees, in your area or anywhere in Scotland.  It can be searched on www.migrationscotland.org.uk.  The Migration Library is on the website too which allows you to search for, or contribute, research, policy papers and statistics in relation to migration in a Scottish context.  Its purpose is to improve information sharing and understanding between policy makers, practitioners, researchers and indeed migrants.

University of Glasgow Internship Hub
The Internship Hub is the first port of call for University of Glasgow students seeking an internship. We provide an end-to-end recruitment service and tailored support to the organisations that we work with.
If you have a project that a student could make an impact on, get in touch to find out more about how we can assist you in creating an opportunity and recruiting a student.  We promote voluntary internships for up to one day per week with registered charities and there may also be the opportunity to access funding to offer a paid internship.

Küche
Küche is a social enterprise which uses a socially engaged food practice to create food-led events discussing the anthropology of food in collaboration with multi-cultural chefs living in Scotland. Our mission is to promote integration, overcome social isolation, provoke discussion and celebrate marginalised cuisines!
We host a programme of one-off food led events curated in collaboration with New Scots and Local Scots that celebrate minority cuisines, empower refugees, asylum seekers and other marginalised communities, provoking discussion and activism!  For more information, visits http://www.kueche.co.uk/

Right to Remain Toolkit
The toolkit is a comprehensive but user-friendly guide to the UK immigration and asylum system. It gives an overview of the legal system and procedures, with detailed information on rights and options at key stages, and actions you can take in support of your claim, or to help someone else.  The research, writing, compiling, editing, designing and publishing of the website was all done in-house by the Right to Remain Coordinators, and was paid for by public donations. Right to Remain would like to thank all the people who donated to make this project happen.
Please share the website as far and wide as you can, on Facebook, Twitter, by email etc.  If you use it in anyway, please email home@righttoremain.org.uk with your feedback.  You can also join the new Facebook group.

New Glasgow Libraries Resource – GoCitizen.co.uk
Glasgow Libraries now subscribe GoCitizen.co.uk, an online study resource for candidates preparing for the Life in the UK test or British citizenship test. Access is completely free within any Glasgow Library and can also be accessed from home with a Glasgow Library card.  Find out more on the Glasgow Life website.

Maryhill Integration Network
MIN is an award winning charitable organisation with over 15 years’ experience developing community integration projects in Glasgow. MIN’s programme of activities focuses on participation and creating welcoming spaces through which people from different backgrounds can meet and get to know each other better. Many of MIN’s activities focus on the use of the arts as a tool for integration.  MIN is open to referrals for anyone that would benefit from increased community participation and also accepts applications for volunteering roles where appropriate.  To find out more about volunteering at MIN please visit our website.
Work with us offers a practical and enjoyable expression of your interest in migration and human rights issues.

Sewing workshop for refugees
Mondays, 9.45am – 12.45pm, Govanhill Baths, 99 Calder Street, Glasgow G42 7RA
These workshops are an opportunity for newly arrived and established refugees to take part in leisure activities and use or acquire sewing skills in a supportive, friendly environment.  For information, please phone 0141 433 2999 or email ragstoriches@govanhillbaths.com

LGBTI Refugee Project Portal
ORAM – Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration –hosts an online portal to help official bodies and NGOs share approaches to protecting LGBTI refugees and to adopt best practices in the face of rising persecution of LGBTI people globally.
The LGBTI Refugee Project Portal showcases projects and approaches that enhance the protection of LGBTI forced migrants in the areas of refugee status determination, policy development and research, practical protection measures and staff development. ORAM is encouraging posting of projects that will lead to better treatment of LGBTI refugees across the globe.

English language CONVERSATION Cafe
TALK with Native English Speakers
The regular Wednesday meets in the CRYPT of Wellington as usual from 3pm till 4.45pm.  Everyone who wants to use their social English by chatting with native English speakers is welcome to this weekly, free event. Enter the CRYPT from University Avenue and follow the path round to the right of the building where you will see the CRYPT sign above the door.

Radiant and Brighter: Training for Employment
With particular emphasis on personal skills, qualifications and talent our 12 week programme helps clients to identify available opportunities for employment. 
Extra support is available for individuals who need one to one care.
Business Start-up for Ethnic Minority and Under-represented Groups
Interested in setting up your own business? Radiant & Brighter provides support, help and guidance on all aspects of business start-up.
Training for Organisations and Businesses
We provide a diverse range of tailor made training programmes for Organisations and Businesses. Programmes include; Leadership, Inclusion, cross cultural communication and how to engage with under-represented groups.  For further information, please visit: http://www.radiantandbrighter.com/

Spurway Training
With over nine years’ experience in the refugee sector, Jamie Spurway can be contacted for any training, awareness-raising or public speaking on issues relating to:

• refugees, asylum seekers and survivors of trafficking
• working with interpreters
• wider equality and diversity issues

Contact Spurway Training on jamiespurway@googlemail.com , www.spurwaytraining.com, www.twitter.com/jamiespurway and 07921 439 952

Glasgow Asylum Destitution Action Network (formerly Glasgow Destitution Network) www.destitutionaction.wordpress.com links charities, church and community groups and individuals who are actively concerned about or affected by destitution and homelessness resulting from removal of support following refusal of an asylum application.  The aim is to improve, broaden and communicate the help available.
The network meets every 6 weeks and details of meetings or other information can be obtained from destitution.action@gmail.com.
Regular food donations are needed for several projects which are not food-banks as such but are refugee-orientated projects which give out emergency bags of dry and tinned food, some along with bread and/or other fresh food, along with in most cases advice and emotional support, English classes and volunteering opportunities. A list of these can be found under ‘Food distribution points’ on the regularly-updated colour leaflet on our website. Volunteers are also needed for many projects including the night shelter.

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