Everyday actions for everyone
A bunch of cheap tulips, a big toothy smile, a cup of tea (made to your exact specifications) – all simple and effective ways to give someone a little spring in their step. See, it really doesn’t take much to make a difference to someone’s day.
All the tips given here will help your neighbourhood (and the UK in general) become a friendlier place where people can get on and achieve their full potential. Browse and choose from our list of everyday actions, do a few (and then maybe a few more) and start seeing how all this small-time niceness adds up to something much, much bigger. And if you’re feeling rather proud of yourself, you can let us know about all the nuggets of niceness you’re personally responsible for.
Get chit-chatting
Once you’ve got familiar with the facts about asylum, make sure you use every opportunity to use chit-chat power and put the record straight. Once people understand why people flee their homes and hear about the difficulties they face here, then hopefully they’ll spread the word too.
I nicely but firmly put someone straight about a no-good asylum fib
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Lisa from Preston
I told my house mate that asylum seekers often don't choose the country they end up in, and that not all of those who are in the UK, chose to be here.
Sally from Wells
I sent your myth busting booklet to UKIP headquarters after hearing 2 or 3 UKIP campaigners talking complete nonsense about asylum seekers and economic migrants in the street.
I explained the difference between a migrant worker and a refugee
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Jenny from London
I talked to a cab driver about the sorts of situations refugees might be fleeing from. Hopefully, he'll now be able to tell other passengers about the facts rather than the fibs.
With help from RAP, I ran my own awareness session
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Rosy from London
I gave away lots of winter clothes I didn't need anymore to asylum seekers who are facing the cold weather without enough money to buy warm clothes. New North London Synagogue holds drop in sessions which provide asylum seekers with clothes, good food, medical advice and legal aid- if you live in north london get in volved!
Useful stuff to get you started
Here's some places where you’ll find lots more heavyweight facts about asylum seekers and refugees:
RAP's infovault
Mobiles, Money and Mayhem: the facts and fibs about asylum
RAP’s shop
And don’t forget you can also contact us if you need support and more info.
Pass that book on
Keeping a copy of our guide Mobiles, Money and Mayhem: the facts and fibs about asylum in your back pocket means that your asylum facts will always be boxfresh. Then when you’re completely au fait with asylum, spread the word and pass it on.
I ordered 20 of your very helpful booklets to pass around
So I'm ready to set the record straight big-time.
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Disha from London
It's hard to find out the facts about asylum so the MMM booklets are great. I always carry a stash to give to friends, taxi drivers etc.
Useful stuff to get you started
Mobiles, Money and Mayhem: the facts and fibs about asylum
RAP’s shop
Speak up
The media have got a lot to say about asylum seekers. If you believed some of the headlines, you’d be inclined to think that most are strolling round town robbing our grans and eating swans for their tea.
Keeping quiet means that some parts of the media will continue to bandy about asylum mistruths and nonsense whilst asylum seekers and refugees will carry on living in fear, worried that all British folk think badly of them. Here’s some ways to stop those extreme views getting quite so out of hand.
I put a journo straight about asylum
A newspaper article/TV programme had told a horrible/outlandish/plain old wrong story about refugees. I decided to write to them and put them straight…
If an article or programme has really overstepped the mark, then contact the Press Complaints Commission at www.pcc.org.uk or call their helpline on 0845 600 2757. For broadcast media you can contact Ofcom at www.ofcom.org.uk or call 020 7981 3040.
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Julia Ravenscroft, press officer from Refugee Action
Refugee Action needs to ensure journalists report stories accurately. When the Daily Express wrote about 'illegal asylum seekers' we contacted them and explained there is no such thing and they printed a correction. There is no excuse for inaccurate terminology any more, as all journalists have been issued with guidelines on reporting by the Press Complaints Commission. We have also written directly to individual reporters to point out inaccuracies and exaggerations in their stories. If the letters page includes comments by readers which are also unfair and inaccurate we make sure we write our own letter to point out the facts and defend asylum seekers.
I gave a journo a pat on the back
Today I read a brilliant story/watched an informative bit of telly that set the record straight about people seeking sanctuary in the UK. I wrote and said well done you.
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Julia Ravenscroft from Refugee Action
When journalists do a good job it is very important to tell them you appreciate their work - then they are more likely to want to work with you again. For example, we regularly work with the social affairs editor on East Midlands Today, who always does a good job of reporting asylum stories accurately and wit h sensitivity. We always make sure we compliment the high quality of his work and maintain a good relationship even when there is not a current story we are working on.
Useful stuff to get you started
www.exiledjournalists.net
www.mediatrust.org
www.mediawise.org.uk
www.icar.org.uk
www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/pub
www.oxfam.org.uk/uk
www.pcc.org.uk
www.ofcom.org.uk
Lend a hand
If you think you might like to go a step further and have a bit of time that you’d like to spend doing something for newcomers in your area, then don’t be shy - get involved. Choose from the list below to work out what kind of volunteer you could be and exactly how you can make a difference.
I’ve volunteered with a befriending project
Projects such as Time Together are often the only way that newcomers get to meet ordinary British folk.
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Julia Ravenscroft from Manchester
I have been a mentor with the Time Together Project and have mentored a lady from Eritrea for the past year. We set out specific goals when we first met - she wanted help with English language, with employment and socialising as she didn't have many English friends or acquaintances. We have worked toget her on job applications, on how to do interviews and on her English homework. We have also cooked for each other - traditional English and then Eritrean food, - we go on days out and talk about our lives. I think I have gained a lot from being a mentor. I have made a new friend, learned about her country and culture and got satisfaction from seeing her grow in confidence. I am sure we will be lifelong friends.
Rebecca from Kendal
I was a mentor in Brighton to a young girl from East Africa. Initially she needed help with the English language, form filling, and trying to find employment. The first few times we met we just tried to get to know each other and then we wrote down some goals that we were going to try and meet, along with a timescale. During her pregnancy we became closer as I helped her learning about the NHS, and everything that goes with having a baby! I've moved away now but we keep in contact and I know that we'll always be friends...in fact she was a great support when I became pregnant a year after she had her baby!
I’ve put my talents to good use...
...by training a refugee football team/volunteering with a sports or arts project/helping people practise English.
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Ellie from Sheffield
I've gone along to a local Conversation Club for people learning English where local migrants, asylum seekers and refugees get to practise their English skills in a relaxed environment. I've been lucky enough to meet lots of interesting people from all over the world, I've learned a lot, and I've made some good friends in the process. Not to mention the free tea and biscuits!
Useful stuff to get you started
www.refugee-action.org.uk
www.aviddetention.org.uk
www.timetogether.org.uk
www.do-it.org.uk
www.redcross.org.uk/TLC.asp?id=77818
www.bitc.org.uk
www.volunteer.ie
www.volunteering-wales.net
www.volunteerscotland.org.uk
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
www.volunteering.org.uk
Make money matter
If you’re a busy person who’d love to help but doesn’t have the time, then digging into your pockets is a very worthwhile option.
I raised money for refugees simply by shopping on the high street
By using the links on the Easy Fundraising website when I shopped online, I donated up to 15% from every purchase I made straight to Refugee Action.
It didn’t cost me a penny extra, and the website has most of the high street covered, including John Lewis, the Apple Store, HMV, Office, Waterstones, the White Company, Tesco, Opodo, Thomas Cook, Lastminute.com, and Virgin Atlantic.
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I gave my old stuff a new lease of life
I've gladly parted with all the clothes/food/toys/generally useful stuff that I don’t need anymore and given it to local charities and community groups who pass it all onto asylum seekers in need.
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I gave some of my hard earned cash - and I Giftaided it too!
This means that the government gives Refugee Action an extra 28% on your money for free – a whopping £14 extra on a £50 donation.
Use our refugee converter to work out exactly how to put your pennies and pounds to good use.
- £5 - A pint and a bag of chips on the way home OR let someone chat to a loved one in their war-torn homeland.
- £20 - Cinema tickets for two, fizzy-pop and pick n’mix OR accommodate a destitute asylum seeker for a night.
- £50 - Steak supper for two washed down with a bottle of vino OR pay for a ticket to get someone to their asylum interview at the Home Office.
- £100 - Tickets to a music festival OR buy books to help asylum seekers improve their English at a drop-in centre.
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Useful stuff to get you started
To donate:
www.refugee-action.org.uk
www.easyfundraising.org.uk
www.justgiving.com
www.missionfish.org
www.everyclick.com
To give your old stuff a new home:
www.redcross.org.uk
www.oxfam.org.uk
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
www.ldsg.org.uk
www.asylumlink.org.uk
www.liverpoollighthouse.com/volunteer.html
www.migrantsresourcecentre.org.uk
Pester power
Once you’re a fully fledged noise-maker, start making your opinion matter even more by lobbying your MP or local councillor. When you get a reply from your MP or other decision-maker, send it back to us and we’ll give you advice on how you can reply – this type of campaigning really gets results. If you sign up with Refugee Action’s current campaign, we promise to email or write to you with actions you can take to help change policies which force refused asylum seekers into destitution.
I joined a local/national campaign on refugee and asylum issues
And I got stuck into petition signing, letter-writing, demos and sleep-outs. Our campaigns page tells you about Refugee Action's very own campaign.
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Useful stuff to get you started
www.refugee-action.org.uk/campaigns
www.theyworkforyou.com/mp
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/gettinginvolved/campaign
www.star-network.org.uk
www.medact.org
www.ecsr.org.uk
www.amnesty.org.uk
http://aegistrust.org
